WhiteBlaze Pages 2024
A Complete Appalachian Trail Guidebook.
AVAILABLE NOW. $4 for interactive PDF(smartphone version)
Read more here WhiteBlaze Pages Store

Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 26
  1. #1
    Registered User Pumba's Avatar
    Join Date
    05-11-2012
    Location
    Boiling Springs, PA
    Age
    55
    Posts
    160
    Images
    32

    Default Thinking of through hiking SNP 1st week in July

    I have the opportunity, I think, to get 8 days off from work starting July 1st. I'm thinking of through hiking the AT in SNP. I was wondering a few things and was hoping for some opinions.

    1. Which would be preferred if you have a choice and why: NOBO or SOBO?
    2. I've read here that resupply is not too much of an issue because of the camp stores. What types of products do these stores sell, and are they really good for resupply? I plan to take full advantage of the three restaurants on site for at least three meals, but that leaves a lot of meals still to deal with.

    Any encouragement or feedback would be appreciated. I hiked a very small portion (a few miles) this past weekend while hiking other trails, and the trail seemed quite mild. Is it a difficult trail to hike? I've been out of the game for a while, except for a few recent short hikes (15 miles tops). Am I biting off more than I can chew?

    Thanks!
    -------------------------------------------
    ~Brian

    “I don't know what lies around the bend, but I'm going to believe that the best does.”
    -- L.M. Montgomery

  2. #2

    Default

    Personally, I'm neutral on northbound vs. southbound.

    The stores at Loft Mountain and Big Meadows have enough groceries to meet most hikers' resupply needs.

    Re meals, there are 4 locations:

    Loft Mountain Wayside - off the trail down on Skyline Drive
    Big Meadows - either the wayside or the restaurant at the lodge
    Skyland - restaurant at the lodge
    Elk Wallow - wayside

  3. #3

    Default

    Yeap Cookerhiker pretty much sumed it up, the A.T in S.N.P is varily mild not alot of PUDS. RED-DOG

  4. #4
    Registered User
    Join Date
    08-12-2009
    Location
    Spring Lake, MI
    Age
    58
    Posts
    1,470

    Default

    You can definitely resupply at the park stores. It won't be gourmet food, but expect to find ramen, jerky, granola, and Yuengling (cheaper than water!). Make sure and have lunch or dinner at Big Meadows, breakfast at Skyland, and blackberry shakes at ElkWallow!

  5. #5
    Registered User
    Join Date
    03-07-2007
    Location
    Frederick Maryland
    Age
    68
    Posts
    2,064
    Images
    15

    Default

    You can get nice big blackberry ice creams (cup or cone) at Big Meadows Wayside. Then sit out on the lawns in front and enjoy.
    "All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us."

  6. #6
    Registered User Studlintsean's Avatar
    Join Date
    03-26-2012
    Location
    Northern Virginia
    Age
    37
    Posts
    1,003

    Default

    I did a small part in SNP last month and saw lots of wildlife ( bear , deer, owl , etc)

  7. #7
    Registered User Pumba's Avatar
    Join Date
    05-11-2012
    Location
    Boiling Springs, PA
    Age
    55
    Posts
    160
    Images
    32

    Default

    I just found out from work that I CAN get this time off, so I'll be heading up to SNP on 7/1. I haven't decided yet if I'm going to go NOBO or SOBO. I'm leaning toward NOBO. My wife is planning on picking me up at whatever end I'm at and shuttling me back to my car. I'm so excited!
    -------------------------------------------
    ~Brian

    “I don't know what lies around the bend, but I'm going to believe that the best does.”
    -- L.M. Montgomery

  8. #8

    Default

    It might make more sense to hike NOBO so that when your wife meets you at the end of the hike, you're on the way home as you drive back to your car. If you hike SOBO, she has to drive you 100 miles back north to get your car.

  9. #9
    Registered User Pumba's Avatar
    Join Date
    05-11-2012
    Location
    Boiling Springs, PA
    Age
    55
    Posts
    160
    Images
    32

    Default

    Very good point!
    -------------------------------------------
    ~Brian

    “I don't know what lies around the bend, but I'm going to believe that the best does.”
    -- L.M. Montgomery

  10. #10
    Registered User canoe's Avatar
    Join Date
    04-29-2012
    Location
    Tyner, NC
    Age
    67
    Posts
    949

    Default

    My wife and I are planning on hiking the SNP starting July 8th starting from waynesboro. Have a good hike P

  11. #11

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Cookerhiker View Post
    It might make more sense to hike NOBO so that when your wife meets you at the end of the hike, you're on the way home as you drive back to your car. If you hike SOBO, she has to drive you 100 miles back north to get your car.
    Plus you can walk right into one of the pubs in Harpers Ferry and get a Guinness Stout, whereas in Rockfish Gap there's nothing.

  12. #12

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by john gault View Post
    Plus you can walk right into one of the pubs in Harpers Ferry and get a Guinness Stout, whereas in Rockfish Gap there's nothing.
    Front Royal is much closer and there are a few cool-looking restaurants & pubs in the historic downtown. a fact I only discovered a few months ago despite 30+ years of hiking in SNP.

  13. #13
    Registered User Pumba's Avatar
    Join Date
    05-11-2012
    Location
    Boiling Springs, PA
    Age
    55
    Posts
    160
    Images
    32

    Default

    Can anyone tell me if there is parking available along Route 522 where the AT crosses it? If I technically want to hike the length of the park, I'd want to hike to this point, rather than to the last/first parking area along Skyline drive at the Front Royal end.
    -------------------------------------------
    ~Brian

    “I don't know what lies around the bend, but I'm going to believe that the best does.”
    -- L.M. Montgomery

  14. #14
    Registered User johnnybgood's Avatar
    Join Date
    11-28-2007
    Location
    Midlothian,Virginia
    Posts
    3,098
    Images
    76

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Pumba View Post
    Can anyone tell me if there is parking available along Route 522 where the AT crosses it? If I technically want to hike the length of the park, I'd want to hike to this point, rather than to the last/first parking area along Skyline drive at the Front Royal end.
    With recent vandelism problems at Rt.522,parking there overnight is not advisable. A better option would be to leave your car at the 4-H center near Front Royal. This is just north of the SNP boundry so technically you will enter through the parks northern end.

    Go to their website and download a parking waiver form, fill it out and send it back. Scroll down under " more information" and click on AT hikers.
    www.nova4h.com/
    Getting lost is a way to find yourself.

  15. #15
    Furlough's Avatar
    Join Date
    03-17-2004
    Location
    Northern Virginia
    Age
    62
    Posts
    900
    Images
    124

    Default

    deleted input as I was unable to attach parking document.
    Last edited by Furlough; 06-02-2012 at 10:23. Reason: Could not attach document

  16. #16

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Cookerhiker View Post
    Front Royal is much closer and there are a few cool-looking restaurants & pubs in the historic downtown. a fact I only discovered a few months ago despite 30+ years of hiking in SNP.
    Oh Crap, I didn't even think of that. Everytime I thru hike SNP I always include Harpers Ferry, it's just automatic, I simply just cross US 522 everytime. Although, in 2008 I did visit Front Royal for the first and only time and it is a nice town with good service.

  17. #17
    Registered User Pumba's Avatar
    Join Date
    05-11-2012
    Location
    Boiling Springs, PA
    Age
    55
    Posts
    160
    Images
    32

    Default

    How much further is it to Harpers Ferry? It looks to be quite a distance.

    Thanks for the tip on the parking. Where would you then access the AT?
    -------------------------------------------
    ~Brian

    “I don't know what lies around the bend, but I'm going to believe that the best does.”
    -- L.M. Montgomery

  18. #18
    Registered User johnnybgood's Avatar
    Join Date
    11-28-2007
    Location
    Midlothian,Virginia
    Posts
    3,098
    Images
    76

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Pumba View Post
    How much further is it to Harpers Ferry? It looks to be quite a distance.
    It's about 54 miles, I believe.
    Thanks for the tip on the parking. Where would you then access the AT?
    Park your car in the lot across from the pool. To get to the AT it's a short walk downhill , turn left and the access trail is next to a shelter (across the street from the pond and street lighting). The trail intersects with the AT in well under a mile.
    Getting lost is a way to find yourself.

  19. #19
    Registered User Pumba's Avatar
    Join Date
    05-11-2012
    Location
    Boiling Springs, PA
    Age
    55
    Posts
    160
    Images
    32

    Default Thinking of through hiking SNP 1st week in July

    Cool. Thank you. I has the dumb today. I was asking because that's where my wife will pick me up, not where I will be parking. I've decided to park at Rock Fish and hike nobo. Would the 4-H lot still be a good access point for her to sit and wait (or for me to sit and wait) or is 522 ok for that? Just trying to find the best place to meet up with her, and neither of us are familiar with that area.
    -------------------------------------------
    ~Brian

    “I don't know what lies around the bend, but I'm going to believe that the best does.”
    -- L.M. Montgomery

  20. #20
    Registered User johnnybgood's Avatar
    Join Date
    11-28-2007
    Location
    Midlothian,Virginia
    Posts
    3,098
    Images
    76

    Default

    Not being familiar with the area, then Rt.522 would be better. The parking there is basically a pull off dirt lot but the AT crosses right there.
    Getting lost is a way to find yourself.

Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
++ New Posts ++

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •