WTH #2: Mary Flips the Byrd! (Moderate 6.5 Miles, 1550' Revelation Gain)

Hiya!

Our Whitney Training Hikes (WTH) series continues! Hike #2 requires 4.34 miles and 1320’ of elevation gain.

IMPORTANT NOTE: You do not need to have attended any preceding WTHs to join this one! You can join any number of the hikes in this series as you see fit :)

This hike is a moderate 6.5-mile traipse up and down the Appalachian Trail to Byrd’s Shelter #3 and back with 1550’ of elevation gain. It’s essentially identical to this hike on Alltrails, except with an added bump-out to Mary’s Rock: (Byrd's Nest 3 Shelter via Appalachian Trail on AllTrails
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/virginia/byrd-s-nest-3-shelter?sh=abzsgd&utm_medium=trail_share&utm_source=alltrails_virality ). We’ll start at 10:00 AM, move at a pace around 1.5-2 mph, and break for lunch midway at about noon. We’ll take plenty of breaks for rest and water, ending the hike at around 3:00 PM. Afterward, we hope you join us at Veditz Brewing Company for a beer: (https://veditzandcompany.com/)

The parking for this trailhead is the Panorama Upper Parking Road Lot, which is immediately to the left on Skyline Drive when you enter the park from US-211. The Google maps pin is here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/vuh4rDKWUacEAjtSA, or you can search for “Mary’s Rock Summit Trailhead on Google Maps. Bathrooms are available at the trailhead.

We hope to see you on the trail!

HIKE AND WEATHER INFO:

This hike is in Shenandoah National Park and requires an entry fee or a national parks pass to enter. The weather is expected to be in the mid-30s to mid-40s, so please dress warmly and in layers. Always over-dress! You can always shed layers if you get too warm, but you can’t don clothes you didn’t bring in the first place!

CARPOOLING:

We encourage those with cars to carpool others to the trailhead - you're the ones who make LMH great!

If you're a driver that is willing to drive, please post a comment on the event page with the following information:
(1) Number of seats
(2) Meeting location
(3) Meeting time (recommended departure time from DC is 8:00 AM).

As a rider, please comment on the driver's post to take a seat or post in the comments that you need a ride so a driver can find you. Riders are encouraged to help their driver out with the cost of gas.

BACKGROUNG INFO ABOUT LMH: Please remember that this group is an informal group of friends and volunteers intitiating trips under the common adventurer model (http://www.ronwatters.com/CADefine.html). We do expect our members to be familiar with the best practices of hiking. This is not a group for first time hikers and is NOT a group for those seeking hiking instruction.

We are also not professionals, nor are we trained hike leaders, nor do we scout out hikes. We plan hikes for fun. You are responsible for your own welfare and safety at all LMH events. Be careful to choose hikes only within your own physical abilities and hiking knowledge; take maps, suitable clothing, provisions (at least two liters of water plus any food or medical supplies you might require) and equipment, and act responsibly and safely at all times.

Act responsibly and safely: if you ever believe you may be lost, follow the advice of the US Forest Service (https://www.fs.fed.us/visit/know-before-you-go/if-you-get-lost)

LMH organizers and members shall not be liable for any injuries, loss or damage to persons or property, direct or consequential, arising out of any aspect of LMH activities. By attending this event, you represent that you have read, understand, and agree to the contents of our waiver of liability in the following link (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pQ0dedcqlyjc_Aib3TEbTX4gQRQt4C7FeCmsAPyTxd4/edit?tab=t.0)