Bear Church Rock, Shenandoah National Park (April/6/2024)
Apr 12, 2024 13:06:49 GMT -5
Post by GaliWalker on Apr 12, 2024 13:06:49 GMT -5
Three weeks ago, I'd visited Church Rock, northwest of Shenandoah National Park. So, it was only fitting that I continue the theme and visit Bear Church Rock. This was located on the east side of the park, just a few miles south of ultra-popular Old Rag Mountain.
It was cool and breezy, as I began my hike around 7:15am. A gentle climb alongside the scenic Rapidan River for the first half mile, followed by another moderately graded uphill stroll beside an equally pretty Staunton River, made for a pleasant start.
2.25mi after turning onto the Staunton River Trail, I took a left onto the Jones Mountain Trail, where the gradient increased dramatically, as did the wind. I'd been hearing it howl atop the mountaintops; now I was in the thick of it. I hiked past the turn-off for Jones Mountain Cabin, planning to hit it on my way down, and up to the Bear Church Rock vista. As I stepped out onto the large rocky vista, I was blasted by 60mph winds. It was impossible to stand under the buffeting, so I was careful to stay well away from the edge, beyond which was (or what looked to be) a steep drop. Even breathing was difficult because my breath was getting snatched away. And it was cold in the fierce wind. Normally, I'd have stayed at this great viewpoint for an hour. In this case, I was up there for barely 10min before I decided to call it a day.
On the way down, I did a quick 0.6mi side-trip to check out Jones Mountain Cabin. I finally saw the first other hikers once I was halfway down the Staunton River Trail. I warned them about the high winds up top, and they told me they'd already seen a tree fall down right in front of them, which was a bit surprising to me because it was much calmer down in the valley. Just a few minutes from the car, I heard a crashing sound to my left and saw a tree topple over! Finally...an answer to the age old question of whether a tree makes a noise when it falls in the forest.
Stats: 8.5mi, 2210ft elevation gain, 4.25hrs
It was cool and breezy, as I began my hike around 7:15am. A gentle climb alongside the scenic Rapidan River for the first half mile, followed by another moderately graded uphill stroll beside an equally pretty Staunton River, made for a pleasant start.
2.25mi after turning onto the Staunton River Trail, I took a left onto the Jones Mountain Trail, where the gradient increased dramatically, as did the wind. I'd been hearing it howl atop the mountaintops; now I was in the thick of it. I hiked past the turn-off for Jones Mountain Cabin, planning to hit it on my way down, and up to the Bear Church Rock vista. As I stepped out onto the large rocky vista, I was blasted by 60mph winds. It was impossible to stand under the buffeting, so I was careful to stay well away from the edge, beyond which was (or what looked to be) a steep drop. Even breathing was difficult because my breath was getting snatched away. And it was cold in the fierce wind. Normally, I'd have stayed at this great viewpoint for an hour. In this case, I was up there for barely 10min before I decided to call it a day.
On the way down, I did a quick 0.6mi side-trip to check out Jones Mountain Cabin. I finally saw the first other hikers once I was halfway down the Staunton River Trail. I warned them about the high winds up top, and they told me they'd already seen a tree fall down right in front of them, which was a bit surprising to me because it was much calmer down in the valley. Just a few minutes from the car, I heard a crashing sound to my left and saw a tree topple over! Finally...an answer to the age old question of whether a tree makes a noise when it falls in the forest.
Stats: 8.5mi, 2210ft elevation gain, 4.25hrs