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hang on little buddy, spring is coming

Another Saturday and another giant snow storm.  Fortunately this time around the accumulation was not 22″, but a much more manageable 6-7″.  Just like before it snowed all day on Saturday so I was stuck in my house trying to keep myself busy.  On Sunday the snow was easy to remove thanks to my new shovel, no more bucket for me!  After a lazy morning I decided to go for a hike at Prince William Forest while the snow was still hanging in the trees and the ground was not to disturbed.  I also thought it would be a great opportunity to take some pictures.  I have been to the park in spring, summer and fall of course, but never after a winter snow fall.

Compare the same bridge as seen during Spring and Winter.

When I arrived I found the park was indeed open but the visitor center was closed and the gate leading into the park interior was closed.  It made sense, who knows what the roads looked like inside the park, near the entrance they where at least plowed.  My bright idea of visiting the park was shared by many others that day as the lots had over a dozen cars.  I expected some people to be there, just not this many.  While hiking I ran into several people on the trail, most of them on cross country skies.  We don’t get much good snow fall in the area so they where taking every opportunity to get some skiing in.  Getting a relatively late start, the skiers and other hikers packed the snow pretty well so I didn’t have to hike through 6″ of virgin snow.  I was actually hoping to find a little that I could hike through, but as far as I went into the park someone had always been there before me.

great shot of the river, trail, trees and sky

For a couple of hours I walked several miles through the park.  I was amazed at just how quite the park was, very tranquil and serene.  There was no noise form other people, or cars and most of the animals were hunkered down for the day because of the snow.  Actually it was kinda fun at times I would see loops of animal tracks in the snow, but for the most part there was no sign of life.  The trails I took eventually dumped me off at the main road.  I thought taking the road back to my truck would be easier and shorter than walking back through the forest.  When I was able to look at a map it was the furthest from the truth.  I should have just backtracked on the trail.  It would have been much better scenery and I could have avoided all the cars that started to flood into the park when the main gate was opened.  Most of these genius didn’t take the time to drive slowly on the icy roads.

Having hiked in the snow only once before, this was definitely a lot of fun.  The last time there was only a dusting on the top of Robertson Mountain.  Sunday in Prince William Forest was 6″ of wonderful snow and a heck of a lot closers to my house.

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I know its the middle of December.  So not only is it the middle of a shortened shopping season, but it’s COLD as crap outside.  The whole shopping thing I didn’t mind about, I would much rather be outside than shopping any day.  As for the cold I just purchased a new North Face Amplitude three season jacket and was looking forward to doing some torture testing on this piece of equipment.  So I didn’t want it to be just cold, the high for Saturday was in the mid-forties, I wanted it to be really cold.  And that means a trip to the mountains.

Robertson Mnt trail marker

I decided to head to my local mountain range in the Shenandoah National Park for an afternoon hike up a mountain.  I didn’t want to do Old Rag this time, but I did picked a mountain in the same general area.  I decided on Robertson Mountain which is the next mountain over from Old Rag.  With it being the same height I knew it would be a challenge hiking up.

When I arrived at the mountain I was surprised to see about a dozen cars in the over flow lot, so much for getting a parking spot close to the trail head.  I figured with the cold and being around Christmas fewer people would be willing to hike up the mountain, boy was I wrong.  One of the people I ran into while hiking commented on seeing me.  He was surprised to see someone else out hiking on such a perfect day.

snow atop Robertson Mountain

After almost a mile hike to the park entrance I started down the Weakley Hollow fire road till I got to the Robertson Mountain Trail head.  I passed it on my last circuit hike of Old Rag and thought it would be a good alternative hike to Old Rag.  Hiking up Robertson Mountain was almost straight up, definitely a steeper climb than Old Rag.  It was disheartening every time I would look up the trail.  Then when I looked behind me the trail just disappeared after 30′ or so.  Once above 3,000′ or so there was snow on the ground.  Just a light dusting, but snow non the less.  This high up the mountain it never melted.

About 2:30 hours after starting my hike I made it to the summit of Robertson Mountain.  Just off the trail was an obvious overlook spot that I walked to.  I couldn’t wait to see what the view was like and I wanted to sit and take a break for a while.  When I found the clearing the view was spectacular.  On my right side across the valley was Sky Line Drive and to the left I was eye level with the summit of Old Rag.  It was great to see that mountain for a different view.  Nothing but rocks jetting out with little vegetation.  I got a much better idea of just how bare the top of that mountain is.

I spent about 30 minutes just sitting on the rocks looking out.  I was the only person up there so it was very peaceful and quite.  The only sounds were a couple of black crows squawking every now and then and the rustle of the trees from the driving wind.  Eating my lunch I solved all the problems of the world in the peace and tranquility.  Unfortunately by the time I got down to the bottom of the mountain all the problems returned.  Ugh, my work is never done.

Another great hike.  I wouldn’t mind hiking up once when there is a few inches of snow on the ground.  Have not only the top of the mountain but the entire valley covered in a fresh white blanket of snow.  That would make for some great pictures.

summit of Robertson Mountain