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Author Topic: TR 3 Ridges The Priest Mau Har Trail AT  (Read 972 times)
32ozgatorade
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« on: June 09, 2008, 02:36:35 PM »
Hikers..  32oz HiMaintenance and 3 hikers from ODATC.
Due to gas prices etc the 5 of us piled into my SUV and we made this hike an 'amended lariat' hike of some of the steepest climbs on the AT in VA.

We arrived at Love Gap (MP 17 on the Shenandoah Parkway) Friday night and hiked 1.6 miles up the fire road to the Maupin Fields Shelter.  There we met Old Buzzard/Tonto, a thruhiker, and his side kick.  I have never met a character quite like Old Buzzard, but he could be described as certifiable...  By the time the evening was over he had proceeded to shave off half of his beard, leaving me no other choice but to rename him halfbeard.  While he talked nonstop his friend never said a word.  Apparently he had assumed upwards of 5 personalities on the trail, and was leaving all kinds of cryptic messages in the log books.

After a horrible nights sleep due to heat and bugs we parted ways with 'halfbeard' and hit the trail at 6:30 Saturday proceeding south on the AT towards the Tye River.  The flowers and trees were blooming (actually some of them were past bloom) so it made for a great hike.  We stopped at Hanging Rock before proceeding to the summit of 3 Ridges.  Then it was on to a gorgeous view from Chimney Rock before we desended rapidly towards the Harpers Creek shelter and then down to the Tye River.  We reached the Tye River at 11:30 and took a break and a quick dip in teh cool water. We stayed there until 1:00 enjoying the cool water and shade, knowing that the next 4 miles would involve a 3000 ft climb up to the Priest during the hottest part of the day.

There is no let up going up the Priest from the North, you just climb and climb and climb. About halfway up it seems like you don't even concentrate on your surroundings, you just concentrate on making it to the top.  It gets very rocky in some spots which doesn't help much, and that combined with the heat made the hike a challenge.  We finally made it to the Priest Shelter a little after 5, and I for one was absolutely exhausted.  I never thought 13.6 miles could feel THAT bad.

At the shelter we met EZdoesit a thru hiker making his 5th AT soujourn. He also absolutely loved the trail name HiMaintenance.  The bugs were horrible so we all receeded to the comforts of our tents quite early.  

We hit the trail at 6:45 Sunday for the 4.8 mile decent back to the Tye River.  Getting there at 8:45.  After a brief rest we started the climb back up the AT to the MauHar Trail. The AT rises 1000 ft via a series of switchbacks during the 1.7 miles to the junction with the MauHar Trail, and we made it in about 50 minutes.  

Leaving the AT, the MauHar trail continues to rise before making a steep decent down to some water falls.  It then rises steeply, joining the AT at the Maupin Fields Shelter.  On a normal hike I would have taken a ton of pictures, but by this point I just wanted to make it through the hike.  

We arrived back at the car around 12:30 and drove into Waynesboro to spend a little $$$$ at Rockfish Gap Outfitters before heading back to Richmond.

This section of the AT is really gorgeous, even if it is challenging.  The views form Hanging Rock and CHimney Rock at awesome, and the flowers and tress this time of year are gorgeous.  We slept to the music of several bard owls on both nights, and the Tye River provides a great place to cool of.  Overall a great hike!!!!!!!!!

Pictures to follow...

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yotaman
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« Reply #1 on: June 11, 2008, 04:07:01 PM »
Thats an awesome hike. Love that area. You should lead a fall hike there.
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Creek Dancer
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« Reply #2 on: June 12, 2008, 04:12:29 AM »
Nice trip report.  I guess I missed another great one.  I've already done this section twice, once each direction, but hiking it again would have been like listening to a favorite song.  I was out of town, or I would have gone with you guys.
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Some people take the road less traveled.  Some people take the straight and narrow.  I just cut through the woods.
32ozgatorade
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« Reply #3 on: June 13, 2008, 06:43:08 AM »
[quote yotaman]Thats an awesome hike. Love that area. You should lead a fall hike there.[/quote]

I think we can definately arrange something... Granted the views aren't as dramatic as McAffee Knob and Tinkers CLiff but with Hanging, Chimney and Spy Rocks as well as Crabtree Falls you can definately relax and enjoy the scenery...

I may actually be going out again in Late July for another tour.  This gentlemen that I hike with is heading to CO for some hiking and he wants to do go up and down the Priest and then back up 3 Ridges as a day hike.

We'll plan someting in the fall..

I started putting pictures out on webshots but the operation got aborted.. I will try again tonight....

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32ozgatorade
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« Reply #4 on: June 15, 2008, 05:29:24 AM »
http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/563776826yQzSMS


Here are the pictures... I am still putting them in chronological sequence....

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