Groundbird Gear
  • Home
  • Dog Gear
    • Turtle Top Quilt
    • Trekking Pack with tailored harness
    • Custom Printed saddlebag and harness
    • Harness without pack
    • Additional Saddlebag
    • Ultralight Dog Bowls
    • Ultralight Dog Leash
    • Gift Card
  • Thru Hikers
  • About
    • Who we are
    • Product Specs
    • Sizing
    • Reviews
    • Questions and Answers
  • Contact
  • Blog

Valentines Hike and Three Springs Hostel: A.T. Central VA Hogcamp Gap

2/14/2015

1 Comment

 
Groundbird Gear blog: Hogcamp Gap Appalachian Trial Central VA. Review on Three Springs Hostel. Hiking with a dog. Made in USA dog gear. www.groundbirdgear.com
I realize Valentine's Day isn't a hugely popular "holiday." But we can probably all agree that celebrating love, whether Agape, Philia or Eros is important no matter what form that celebration takes. This year for us, it did not come in the form of Russel Stovers and flowers. (Although I do like getting flowers and prefer any chocolate but Russel Stovers!) I'm so glad our celebration came in the form of a night at Hogcamp Gap and a night at the fairly new Three Springs Hostel in Central VA on the Appalachian Trail (North of Rt 60/Buena Vista, South of the Tye River).

Our church had a sermon on "What is Love" (queue the Haddaway song) recently. There is no one definition! Because love is not easily definable, it must be other-worldly: out of this world! On Wed night as we were pitching our tent under a perfect blanket of vast cosmos, we were engulfed with this other-worldly LOVE. Seemingly so unreachable for some, and yet always SO near to ALL. 

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
    let the sea resound, and all that is in it.
12 Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them;
    let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.
Psalm 96:11-12
Groundbird Gear blog: Hogcamp Gap Appalachian Trial Central VA. Review on Three Springs Hostel. Hiking with a dog. Made in USA dog gear. www.groundbirdgear.com
Groundbird Gear blog: Hogcamp Gap Appalachian Trial Central VA. Review on Three Springs Hostel. Hiking with a dog. Made in USA dog gear. www.groundbirdgear.com
Groundbird Gear blog: Hogcamp Gap Appalachian Trial Central VA. Review on Three Springs Hostel. Hiking with a dog. Made in USA dog gear. www.groundbirdgear.com
You know us, love of course also comes in the form of a sweet black and white face, always so thankful for these trips to "the woods" as he calls it. We enjoyed some day hiking in the Mt. Pleasant/Hogcamp Gap area and let me tell you, it was nice to not carry a full pack!
Groundbird Gear blog: Hogcamp Gap Appalachian Trial Central VA. Review on Three Springs Hostel. Hiking with a dog. Made in USA dog gear. www.groundbirdgear.com
Picture
Picture
Groundbird Gear blog: Hogcamp Gap Appalachian Trial Central VA. Review on Three Springs Hostel. Hiking with a dog. Made in USA dog gear. www.groundbirdgear.com

Three Springs Hostel
http://www.threespringshostel.com/

It was so great to meet Oma and Marcia, the owners of the Three Springs Hostel! We sure enjoyed our stay and were glad they allowed Cooper since it's the off season and we ended up being the only hikers there that night. One of our plans for this mini trip was to spend Thurs night on top of Priest Mountain at the shelter and it was probably below zero up there with high winds, so-- glad we didn't!

The hostel's first season was last year and I'm sure they will have even greater success this year. For $54 (tax included) you get a comfy bunk in the 6 bed bunk room, Oma makes you dinner and breakfast, you get to love on Skiddy the kitty, laughs from Marcia, a shuttle from either Hogcamp Gap or Rt. 60, and long distance calls from the landline. A pretty great deal! We had spaghetti with meat sauce and a salad for dinner, yum! And breakfast was fried eggs, bacon, toast, cheese grits and Marcia tried out her new test kitchen recipe, a ham omelette made in the waffle maker! The food was great!

The property has a neat story. The land was originally owned by the owners of Sweetbrier College. They passed it down to an adopted son and at that time it was 100 acres. He had a working farm and then sold it to a guy who made it into a hunting retreat. That man created the pond out front which is fed by one of the three springs. I asked Oma if anyone swims in there and she said not by choice, it is just too cold! This place is so special and I guarantee you will have a great rest here. Folks like Oma and Marcia add to the atmosphere of the AT trail family. They love to serve and their mission is to make your day full of light and healing.
Groundbird Gear blog: Hogcamp Gap Appalachian Trial Central VA. Review on Three Springs Hostel. Hiking with a dog. Made in USA dog gear. www.groundbirdgear.com
Groundbird Gear blog: Hogcamp Gap Appalachian Trial Central VA. Review on Three Springs Hostel. Hiking with a dog. Made in USA dog gear. www.groundbirdgear.com
Groundbird Gear blog: Hogcamp Gap Appalachian Trial Central VA. Review on Three Springs Hostel. Hiking with a dog. Made in USA dog gear. www.groundbirdgear.com
Groundbird Gear blog: Hogcamp Gap Appalachian Trial Central VA. Review on Three Springs Hostel. Hiking with a dog. Made in USA dog gear. www.groundbirdgear.com
Groundbird Gear blog: Hogcamp Gap Appalachian Trial Central VA. Review on Three Springs Hostel. Hiking with a dog. Made in USA dog gear. www.groundbirdgear.com
Groundbird Gear blog: Hogcamp Gap Appalachian Trial Central VA. Review on Three Springs Hostel. Hiking with a dog. Made in USA dog gear. www.groundbirdgear.com
Groundbird Gear blog: Hogcamp Gap Appalachian Trial Central VA. Review on Three Springs Hostel. Hiking with a dog. Made in USA dog gear. www.groundbirdgear.com
Oma, the hostel owner
Groundbird Gear blog: Hogcamp Gap Appalachian Trial Central VA. Review on Three Springs Hostel. Hiking with a dog. Made in USA dog gear. www.groundbirdgear.com
Groundbird Gear blog: Hogcamp Gap Appalachian Trial Central VA. Review on Three Springs Hostel. Hiking with a dog. Made in USA dog gear. www.groundbirdgear.com
Groundbird Gear blog: Hogcamp Gap Appalachian Trial Central VA. Review on Three Springs Hostel. Hiking with a dog. Made in USA dog gear. www.groundbirdgear.com
Groundbird Gear blog: Hogcamp Gap Appalachian Trial Central VA. Review on Three Springs Hostel. Hiking with a dog. Made in USA dog gear. www.groundbirdgear.com
Groundbird Gear blog: Hogcamp Gap Appalachian Trial Central VA. Review on Three Springs Hostel. Hiking with a dog. Made in USA dog gear. www.groundbirdgear.com
Groundbird Gear blog: Hogcamp Gap Appalachian Trial Central VA. Review on Three Springs Hostel. Hiking with a dog. Made in USA dog gear. www.groundbirdgear.com
Groundbird Gear blog: Hogcamp Gap Appalachian Trial Central VA. Review on Three Springs Hostel. Hiking with a dog. Made in USA dog gear. www.groundbirdgear.com
On Friday we climbed Tar Jacket Ridge up from Hogcamp. We found some ice on the dirt road and tried out our new MICROspikes. They work great! 
Groundbird Gear blog: Hogcamp Gap Appalachian Trial Central VA. Review on Three Springs Hostel. Hiking with a dog. Made in USA dog gear. www.groundbirdgear.com
Groundbird Gear blog: Hogcamp Gap Appalachian Trial Central VA. Review on Three Springs Hostel. Hiking with a dog. Made in USA dog gear. www.groundbirdgear.com
Groundbird Gear blog: Hogcamp Gap Appalachian Trial Central VA. Review on Three Springs Hostel. Hiking with a dog. Made in USA dog gear. www.groundbirdgear.com
Running to keep warm, it was 5 degrees
Groundbird Gear blog: Hogcamp Gap Appalachian Trial Central VA. Review on Three Springs Hostel. Hiking with a dog. Made in USA dog gear. www.groundbirdgear.com
Groundbird Gear blog: Hogcamp Gap Appalachian Trial Central VA. Review on Three Springs Hostel. Hiking with a dog. Made in USA dog gear. www.groundbirdgear.com
Groundbird Gear blog: Hogcamp Gap Appalachian Trial Central VA. Review on Three Springs Hostel. Hiking with a dog. Made in USA dog gear. www.groundbirdgear.com
The top of Tar Jacket Ridge
Groundbird Gear blog: Hogcamp Gap Appalachian Trial Central VA. Review on Three Springs Hostel. Hiking with a dog. Made in USA dog gear. www.groundbirdgear.com
Groundbird Gear blog: Hogcamp Gap Appalachian Trial Central VA. Review on Three Springs Hostel. Hiking with a dog. Made in USA dog gear. www.groundbirdgear.com
Groundbird Gear blog: Hogcamp Gap Appalachian Trial Central VA. Review on Three Springs Hostel. Hiking with a dog. Made in USA dog gear. www.groundbirdgear.com
Groundbird Gear blog: Hogcamp Gap Appalachian Trial Central VA. Review on Three Springs Hostel. Hiking with a dog. Made in USA dog gear. www.groundbirdgear.com
A view of the Religious Range.
1 Comment

Winter Backpacking on the A.T.: Three Ridges and Mau-Har Loop

2/2/2015

2 Comments

 
My friend Kathleen and I decided it was time, once again, to get out of Baltimore City and high-tail it for the woods! We ended up picking just the right two days for this strenuous overnight trip. It was not too windy nor too cold and we had clear skies! Couldn't ask for better weather for an end-of-January backpacking trip! We parked at Reed's Gap (aka Reid's Gap) in Virginia (about 20 miles South of Rockfish Gap/Rt 64/Rt 250/Waynesboro; South of Shenandoah National Park. Please note: The Blue Ridge Parkway was closed and we used 664 to get up to the parking area. As usual, this busy trailhead was filled with cars. We got there around noon on Sat. The hike up shadow-cast Bee Mountain was a bit slippery with packed snow and ice from other hikers. It is a relatively steep climb and we noticed that there were chunks of ice the size of large gravel mixed in with the packed snow: possibly fallen icicles.
Groundbird Gear blog: Three Ridges Mountain on the Appalachian Trail and Mau-Har Trail. TATC-maintained section. Winter Backpacking trip with a dog.
Groundbird Gear blog: Three Ridges Mountain on the Appalachian Trail and Mau-Har Trail. TATC-maintained section. Winter Backpacking trip with a dog.
Kathleen was really glad to be back in the rhodo-lined trail!

In about 1.7 miles we reached Maupin Field campground and shelter area. We didn't walk down to the shelter, but kept up our pace and continued on, now climbing Three Ridges Mountain. This loop hike is very special to me. I've hiked it with many friends throughout the years prior to my thru-hike. It's about a 3.5 hour drive from where we live and so worth the drive for the views and incredible workout. You don't soon forget this hike, as your body reminds you of it a couple of days after and the overlooks become ingrained in your mind. It has become a special place for my family as well: my parents are now members of the Tidewater Appalachian Trial Club, the group that maintains the A.T. from Rockfish Gap to the Tye River, including Three Ridges and the Mau-Har Trail.

Groundbird Gear blog: Three Ridges Mountain on the Appalachian Trail and Mau-Har Trail. TATC-maintained section. Winter Backpacking trip with a dog.
Groundbird Gear blog: Three Ridges Mountain on the Appalachian Trail and Mau-Har Trail. TATC-maintained section. Winter Backpacking trip with a dog.
Groundbird Gear blog: Three Ridges Mountain on the Appalachian Trail and Mau-Har Trail. TATC-maintained section. Winter Backpacking trip with a dog.
A nicely built stone staircase on the way up to the first overlook: "Hanging Rock" on Three Ridges,.
Groundbird Gear blog: Three Ridges Mountain on the Appalachian Trail and Mau-Har Trail. TATC-maintained section. Winter Backpacking trip with a dog.
Kathleen making some lunch on top of Three Ridges, Hanging Rock Overlook
Groundbird Gear blog: Three Ridges Mountain on the Appalachian Trail and Mau-Har Trail. TATC-maintained section. Winter Backpacking trip with a dog.
Cooper taking a break at the overlook.
Groundbird Gear blog: Three Ridges Mountain on the Appalachian Trail and Mau-Har Trail. TATC-maintained section. Winter Backpacking trip with a dog.
Cooper's yellow and grey Trekking Pack. The ridge in the background is what we are about to descend.

We decided it would be nice to make our hot meal at the overlook instead of waiting for camp when it would be dark and cold. (Who enjoys doing "the dish" in the dark and cold at camp in winter??) There was a cold wind on Hanging Rock but the sun and view warmed us and we all enjoyed the break. From this spot we climbed another 300 feet in elevation to the tree-covered top of the mountain and then began the 3.5mi descent and lost 2,000ft in elevation to Harper's Creek Shelter. (Knee killer). 

Groundbird Gear blog: Three Ridges Mountain on the Appalachian Trail and Mau-Har Trail. TATC-maintained section. Winter Backpacking trip with a dog.
Groundbird Gear blog: Three Ridges Mountain on the Appalachian Trail and Mau-Har Trail. TATC-maintained section. Winter Backpacking trip with a dog.
Groundbird Gear blog: Three Ridges Mountain on the Appalachian Trail and Mau-Har Trail. TATC-maintained section. Winter Backpacking trip with a dog.
Groundbird Gear blog: Three Ridges Mountain on the Appalachian Trail and Mau-Har Trail. TATC-maintained section. Winter Backpacking trip with a dog.
Groundbird Gear blog: Three Ridges Mountain on the Appalachian Trail and Mau-Har Trail. TATC-maintained section. Winter Backpacking trip with a dog.
Picture
The obligatory selfie for our mothers. I can hear my mom saying now: "This is the epitome of what it means to 'Enjoy your youth.'" This photo makes us look like we're 20! :)
Groundbird Gear blog: Three Ridges Mountain on the Appalachian Trail and Mau-Har Trail. TATC-maintained section. Winter Backpacking trip with a dog.

This section of the A.T. is a doozy even for thru-hikers. It's one of those rare occasions of 3,000ft of elevation gain and loss within 10 miles. Three Ridges is on one side, the Priest on the other and the Tye River in between. If you have several days for a trip, I recommend hiking Three Ridges, the Priest and Spy Rock and get a shuttle back to your car from the fish hatchery near Spy Rock or go all the way to Hogcamp Gap.

Groundbird Gear blog: Three Ridges Mountain on the Appalachian Trail and Mau-Har Trail. TATC-maintained section. Winter Backpacking trip with a dog.
The Priest Mountain viewed from Flat Rock Overlook on Three Ridges Mountain.
Groundbird Gear blog: Three Ridges Mountain on the Appalachian Trail and Mau-Har Trail. TATC-maintained section. Winter Backpacking trip with a dog.
Groundbird Gear blog: Three Ridges Mountain on the Appalachian Trail and Mau-Har Trail. TATC-maintained section. Winter Backpacking trip with a dog.

We had some laughs when we got to camp and realized the tent we had carried was not the tent we thought we were carrying! Powder River and I have a nice non-free-standing tent collection from Tarptent, Six Moon Designs and Gossamer Gear. I give all the credit to Powder River for the gear/tent obsession which led us to starting Groundbird Gear for backpacking dogs. Anyway, in our gear storage area at home, all of the tents are lined up on a shelf in similar sized stuff sacks. The Tarptents are made from the same pale green-grey silnylon. Instead of grabbing the tarp and inner of the two-piece Tarptent Stratospire, I had grabbed the single-man Contrail and the inner of the Stratospire. It actually worked out with me, Kathleen and Cooper piled into the one-person tent. We were quite warm and thankfully there was no condensation so our bags which were touching the tent walls did not get soaked. I will be marking the outside of each tent's stuff sack!

Groundbird Gear blog: Three Ridges Mountain on the Appalachian Trail and Mau-Har Trail. TATC-maintained section. Winter Backpacking trip with a dog.
Harpers Creek Shelter
Groundbird Gear blog: Three Ridges Mountain on the Appalachian Trail and Mau-Har Trail. TATC-maintained section. Winter Backpacking trip with a dog.
Groundbird Gear blog: Three Ridges Mountain on the Appalachian Trail and Mau-Har Trail. TATC-maintained section. Winter Backpacking trip with a dog.
Groundbird Gear blog: Three Ridges Mountain on the Appalachian Trail and Mau-Har Trail. TATC-maintained section. Winter Backpacking trip with a dog.
I'm sure this is obvious to many, but I did not realize it until Kathleen pointed it out: it's called the "Mau-Har" Trail because it is the trail between the MAUpin Field Shelter and the HARpers Creek Shelter! Duh, Bobwhite!
Groundbird Gear blog: Three Ridges Mountain on the Appalachian Trail and Mau-Har Trail. TATC-maintained section. Winter Backpacking trip with a dog.
Groundbird Gear blog: Three Ridges Mountain on the Appalachian Trail and Mau-Har Trail. TATC-maintained section. Winter Backpacking trip with a dog.
Groundbird Gear blog: Three Ridges Mountain on the Appalachian Trail and Mau-Har Trail. TATC-maintained section. Winter Backpacking trip with a dog.
As you may recall from my blog post about our trip to Grayson Highlands this November, Kathleen LOVES to identify fungi! We weren't really sure what this stuff was, possibly decaying chicken of the woods... best not to eat it! :)
Groundbird Gear blog: Three Ridges Mountain on the Appalachian Trail and Mau-Har Trail. TATC-maintained section. Winter Backpacking trip with a dog.
Kathleen started speaking poetry as we climbed the Falls of Campbells Creek on the Mau-Har. She said "The Appalachians aren't about the mountains, but about the rivers. The rivers carved the mountains and placed the boulders." I never knew theses mountains are sandstone. You can tell because when the rock breaks it makes "play-dough" shapes instead of right angles. Also, sometimes I've seen sand on top of mountains and this explains why! I always new the Appalachians were ancient but if I knew how they were formed, I had forgotten. Thanks Kathleen!
Groundbird Gear blog: Three Ridges Mountain on the Appalachian Trail and Mau-Har Trail. TATC-maintained section. Winter Backpacking trip with a dog.
Groundbird Gear blog: Three Ridges Mountain on the Appalachian Trail and Mau-Har Trail. TATC-maintained section. Winter Backpacking trip with a dog.
The Mau-Har Trail is not for the faint of heart. It has grueling ups and downs. Well worth it for this fun 3/4 mile section next to the Falls of Cambells Creek. Can't wait to go back in July and enjoy those swimming holes!!
Groundbird Gear blog: Three Ridges Mountain on the Appalachian Trail and Mau-Har Trail. TATC-maintained section. Winter Backpacking trip with a dog.
Groundbird Gear blog: Three Ridges Mountain on the Appalachian Trail and Mau-Har Trail. TATC-maintained section. Winter Backpacking trip with a dog.

Yeah, it took us about 3 hours to do the 3.8 miles from Harpers Creek Shelter to Maupin Field. I say that just to show how strenuous the Mau-Har Trail is. Quite worth it and we were looking for a good workout! The temperature dropped as we came back up to the Maupin Field Shelter and I put the camera away. The descent down Bee Mountain back to the car was so icy, I wish we had micro spikes!! No joke! We had to slide down on our butts and then skip the last bit and just walk on the Parkway to get back to the car. We immediately drove into Waynesboro and since Wheezies Diner (terrible name, I know) was closed, we ate at the Mexican restaurant across from the infamous Tastee-Freeze. Yum! I'm not sorry that I was too tired to make it to the Super Bowl party when I got home. We had a great weekend and I'm so glad we were able to break up the dreary urban winter that drags on and on here in Baltimore! It's much nicer to be out in the cold and moving than caged in a grey city. Thank God for healthy bodies and beautifully maintained trails through the most special parts of Creation!

2 Comments

    Author:

    Bobwhite
    (Marie Sellenrick)
    A.T. SOBO 2011

    Please subscribe below and receive an email when I create a new post! Thanks!

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    September 2019
    August 2019
    September 2018
    August 2018
    September 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    April 2014
    January 2014
    November 2013
    September 2013

    Categories

    All
    2000 Miler
    Adirondacks
    Appalachian Trail Thru Hike
    A.T. In MD
    A.T. In PA
    A.T. In VA
    Backpacking With A Dog
    Best A.T. Overlooks
    Cloud Peak Wilderness
    Colorado Trail
    Dog Harness
    Dog Hiking Pack
    Dog Jacket
    Green Mountain Boys
    Hikes In WY
    Hiking In Polar Vortex
    Hiking With A Dog
    Lake Placid
    Long Distance Hiking With A Dog
    Minimal Elevation Gain Hike
    Mountian Harbor Hostel
    Spy Rock
    Teton Crest Trail
    The Long Trail
    Three Springs Hostel
    Thru Hiking With A Dog
    Tmax And Topo's Hostel
    Trail Magic
    Turtle Topquilt
    Winter Hiking With A Dog
    WY

  • Home
  • Dog Gear
    • Turtle Top Quilt
    • Trekking Pack with tailored harness
    • Custom Printed saddlebag and harness
    • Harness without pack
    • Additional Saddlebag
    • Ultralight Dog Bowls
    • Ultralight Dog Leash
    • Gift Card
  • Thru Hikers
  • About
    • Who we are
    • Product Specs
    • Sizing
    • Reviews
    • Questions and Answers
  • Contact
  • Blog