"Every mountain top is within reach if you just keep climbing." --Barry Finlay
Lyndhurst, VA--Road Trip #3
Humpback Rocks (HR) was the main focus for my road trip. It had been a rough year, and I wanted to do something special for my birthday. My friend Jim B. pointed me in the direction of Afton, a beautiful area outside of Charlottesville. I wanted to climb a mountain--or at least something close to a mountain anyway, and then I found HR. There is something about setting a goal, working hard, and reaping the rewards at the end. Of course, there are many rewards at the end of a mountain, but the main purpose is the priceless view.
Here are some details for you:
If you are coming from Charlottesville, take I-64 West to exit 99 and turn onto US 250. You will see the sign for Skyline Drive/Blue Ridge Parkway on the right. Once you follow the parkway, it will take you about 5 miles until you see Humpback Rocks Visitor Center on the right. Just a smidge up the road on the left is Humpback Gap Overlook and the picnic area. This is where you want to park. If you need to use a restroom, you can drive across the street to the visitor center -I wrote a review (http://www.yelp.com/biz/humpback-rocks-visitor-center-and-farm-museum-lyndhurst)-. If you're there during the off season, you're out of luck. Make sure you use the bathroom before you go! Not even a port-a-potty.
HR is a greenstone outcrop with a summit elevation of 3,080 feet. The trail to HR is about 45 minutes--give or take a few depending on your fitness level. The first half of the one-mile trail is "easy" but a steep 700'+ ascent. By "easy" I mean it is a well-maintained, wide, gravel trail that has many benches along the way. However, since I am used to living close to sea level, the immediate steep ascent, and the altitude got my heart pumping and my lungs screaming right away. I had to tell myself it wasn't a race; I used the benches and rested when I needed to catch my breath.
The second half of the climb was more difficult in terms of being careful where you step. There are "stairs" a few times, lots of rocks, and switchbacks. Make sure you look for the blue-blazed signs because part of the trail doesn't look like a trail. Don't worry--there are lots of blue-blazed signs--just pay attention.
The view at HR is spectacular as you look over the Shenandoah Valley and the Blue Ridge Mountains; you scramble on top of the rocks and it can be a bit scary at first. I was lucky enough to have the whole rocks to myself. It can be quite windy up there, but I wasn't cold during a 70° day with the sun shining down on me.
Reminders:
* Bring water!
* Keep an eye on the time so you don't get lost on the rocks when it's dark. Also, it's smart to keep a flashlight with you when you're hiking.
* Carry a map/trail guide with you. I did have cell reception the whole time there (even on the top!), but you never know. It's better to carry the information with you just in case. There are parts of the park where you don't get a signal.
* It's always better to have a hiking buddy with you.
Also, there is a trail that takes you to Humpback Mountain (HM) if you're looking for a bigger adventure. You can check out a blog about it here: http://hikingshenandoah.blogspot.com/2013/11/humpback-mountain.html. I had wanted to continue on to HM, but being alone, I thought it would be best not to attempt it. Not many people use that trail, and if something were to happen, I might have been stuck.
HR was a challenging hike for me, but that was what made it so wonderful. My adventure made me feel alive, and the view at the end was absolutely worth it. Compared to other "mountains," HR wasn't all that difficult, which is great for a beginner like me. Maybe now I can set my sights on Old Rag Mountain...
**If you're wondering if you can do it, you can! It was harder than I thought it would be because I'm used to walking/hiking 4 miles easily. The steepness was the tricky part. I saw little children and older people on the trail. For the record, I didn't end up sore at all the next day, but my lungs did hurt later that night. Just take your time and you will be fine. read more