Troop 349

Hiking Campout

White Oak Canyon

Shenandoah National Forest

Syria, VA

Oct 1 - 2, 2016

Deadline for permission slip & payment: Tues, Sep 27

 

“A  boy  on  joining  wants  to  begin  Scouting  right  away.”    Lord  Baden-­‐Powell  2  

   

White Oak Canyon has some of the most spectacular waterfalls in the Shenandoah National Park. Combining two out-and-back hikes, White Oak Canyon & Cedar Run, this loop starts at the bottom of the valley and cuts over near the top of the ridge. With five major falls, numerous smaller cascades and pools, this circuit hike is one of the best.

This will be a “Test Hike” meaning we will hike as if we are on a backpacking trip with full gear, although we will be using a base camp at Graves Mountain Lodge, a few miles from the White Oak Canyon/Cedar Run Parking area.

Plan to travel light with all your gear in a backpack while leaving room for crew gear.

*** Bring all your drinking water. Bring $$ for the return trip ***

There will be water at the Lodge’s camping area but we want to treat this trip as if we don’t have access to water like an extended hike. Time permitting, we may stop for lunch on the way back.

Note: You can use this hike to meet the 5 mile requirement for the Hiking Merit Badge. We will not be specifically working on this merit badge but you can get credit if you get a Blue Card. This is the responsibility of the Scout to follow up on.

Weather outlook: Assume low 70s during the day, 50s at night. Bring rain gear and layers so you can add or take off during the day. Suggest extra socks to rotate during hike.

 

“A  boy  on  joining  wants  to  begin  Scouting  right  away.”    Lord  Baden-­‐Powell  3  

   

   

White  Oak  Canyon/  Cedar  Run  Hike  

To get to the Parking area, we will leave the Lodge to take a right onto Old Blue Ridge Turnpike and then take a left onto Weakley Hollow Rd. We will follow for about 5 miles to Chad Berry Ln. Coordinates: 38.53927, -78.34935

 

Source:    Images  and  Route  http://www.hikingupward.com/SNP/WhiteOakCedarRun/  

 

 

 

 

“A  boy  on  joining  wants  to  begin  Scouting  right  away.”    Lord  Baden-­‐Powell  4  

   

We  will  do  a  minimum  of  going  to  the  main  White  Oak  overlook  (#4  below).    If  the  decision  is  to  continue  on,  we  will  cover  nearly  8  miles  if  we  do  the  full  loop.  

1. Begin  up  the  blue  blazed  White  Oak  Canyon  (WOC)  Trail,  at  the  top  of  the  upper  parking  area  next  to  the  SNP  ranger  station.  Shortly  cross  a  steel  footbridge,  then  arrive  at  the  intersection  of  the  Cedar  Run  Trail  that  will  be  your  return  route.  Stay  straight  on  the  WOC  Trail  as  it  winds  to  the  right,  then  crosses  another  steel  footbridge  over  WOC  Run.    

2. Follow  the  blue  blazed  trail  on  the  right  side  of  WOC  Run  reaching  the  WOC/Cedar  Run  Connector  Trail  in  0.6  miles.  Stay  straight  on  the  right  side  of  WOC  Run  for  another  0.7  miles,  cross  a  small  stream,  then  arrive  the  base  of  the  first  set  of  major  falls.  

3. The  trail  will  now  make  several  switchbacks  as  the  grade  gets  steeper,  then  reaches  the  second  set  of  falls  in  0.6  miles.  Again,  the  trail  will  switchback  several  times,  then  become  less  steep,  and  arrive  at  a  concrete  marker  for  the  base  of  the  main  WOC  falls.  To  see  the  falls  from  the  base,  follow  the  side  trail  straight  for  100  yards.  Continue  uphill  on  the  WOC  Trail  as  it  steeply  climbs  the  last  0.1  miles  to  the  main  WOC  falls  overlook.  

4. Continuing  uphill  from  the  main  overlook,  and  shortly  arrive  at  the  yellow  blazed  Bridge  Path  Trail  that  comes  in  from  the  right.    DECIDE  TO  TURN  BACK  OR  CONTINUE  FOR  REST  OF  HIKE.  

5. If  decision  is  to  continue  on,  stay  straight  then  cross  WOC  Run  in  another  40  yards  at  the  horse  rail.  If  WOC  Run  is  high,  continue  up  the  right  side  of  WOC  Run  and  cross  a  footbridge  in  120  yards.  

6. After  crossing  the  run  follow  the  wide  yellow  blazed  WOC  Fire  Road/Horse  Trail.  In  1.6  miles  the  WOC  Fire  Road/Horse  Trail  will  veer  right.  Stay  left  on  the  narrower  yellow  blazed  trail,  marked  on  a  concrete  post  as  "Horse  Tr  To  Big  Meadows".  In  0.6  miles  the  horse  trail  intersects  the  blue  blazed  Cedar  Run  Trail.  

7. Turn  left  downhill  on  the  blue  blazed  Cedar  Run  Trail,  then  in  1.3  miles  cross  Cedar  Run.  In  0.2  miles  after  crossing  Cedar  Run  reach  the  top  set  of  main  falls  at  Halfmile  Cliff  known  as  "The  Slide".  60  yards  below  the  main  falls  is  a  pool  where  Cedar  Run  passes  through  a  narrow  gorge.    

8. Continue  downward  on  the  Cedar  Run  Trail  for  0.5  miles  where  the  blue  blazed  trail  makes  a  sharp  left  to  cross  Cedar  Run  for  the  last  time.  After  crossing  Cedar  Run  follow  the  trail  for  0.3  miles  to  the  intersection  of  the  WOC/Cedar  Run  Connector  Trail.  Turn  right  downhill  on  the  Cedar  Run  Trail  towards  RT600,  and  in  0.4  miles  arrive  back  at  the  WOC  Trail  intersection.  Turn  right,  re-­‐cross  the  steal  footbridge,  and  arrive  back  at  the  parking  area.  

 

“A  boy  on  joining  wants  to  begin  Scouting  right  away.”    Lord  Baden-­‐Powell  5  

   

Saturday, Oct 1  

Time Event POC Remarks 0700 Arrive American Legion SPL, QM Class A uniform for travel.

PLEASE ARRIVE PROMPTLY!!!! 0715 Depart SPL Trip is approx. 2 hrs, need to get

underway quickly. 0717- 0915 Travel to Graves Mountain Lodge 0915-1000 Check In at Lodge and establish

tent locations ASM, SPL Class B uniform

1000 - 1015 Travel to Hike Parking Area SPL Will need vehicles for both gear and Scout transport

1015 - 1215 Hike to Main White Oak Overlook

SPL

1215 – 1300 Break for lunch SPL Assess whether to continue on loop or return to parking lot

1300 – approx.. 1600

Hike rest of loop or return on same trail

SPL

1600 - 1615 Travel back to Lodge camping area

SPL

1615 – 1700 Set up camp and prepare for supper

SPL

1700 - 1830 Supper and clean up SPL and PLs

Sunset 18:37

1830 - 1930 Free time

1930 - 2100 Troop Campfire Informal. Review of day’s events

2100 - 2130 Settle into tents and lights out

Saturday, March 21

Time Event POC Remarks 0700 Wake-up SM & SPL Sunrise 06:54 AM

0700-0900 Breakfast and clean-up By Patrol 0900-1100 Travel back to American legion

and, time permitting, stop off for lunch

SPL Class B uniform

1100 - 1200 Distribute Troop Equipment for cleanup

1200 Pick-up at American Legion

 

“A  boy  on  joining  wants  to  begin  Scouting  right  away.”    Lord  Baden-­‐Powell  6  

   

Directions to Graves Mountain Lodge, 3626 Old Blue Ridge Turnpike,

Syria, VA 22743:

From the American Legion 400 N Oak St, Falls Church, VA 22046

Left out of Parking lot onto N Oak St toward Fulton Ave

Turn right onto VA-7 / W Broad St

Use right lane to take ramp for I-66 West toward Front Royal 1.7 mi

At exit 43A, take ramp right for US-29 South toward Warrenton / Gainesville 23.2 mi Keep straight onto US-15 S / US-29 S / Lee Hwy 33.9 mi (Follow signs for U.S. 17 S/Culpeper/Fredericksburg) Keep straight onto US-29 S / James Madison Hwy 44.7 mi

Turn right onto Rt. 609, Hoover Rd 1.9 mi Road name changes to W Hoover Rd 7.5 mi Turn right onto VA-231 / N Blue Ridge Tpke 0.6 mi Bear left onto Old Blue Ridge Tpke 3.9 mi Turn left onto Graves Mountain Ln 0.2 mi

If there is cell phone coverage, Andrew Mitchell 571.277.7905

24/7 Emergency Room:

UVA Culpeper Hospital, 501 Sunset Lane, Culpeper, VA 22701 Phone: (540) 829-4100 From Lodge or Park Parking Area: Follow 670 South to 231 S and then onto 609. Take 609 to 29 North to 29 Business (Madison Rd) to Culpeper. Take right on Sunset Lane

Until our next adventure      

 

“A  boy  on  joining  wants  to  begin  Scouting  right  away.”    Lord  Baden-­‐Powell  7  

   

BSA TROOP 349, FALLS CHURCH, VA PERMISSION SLIP

Event: White Oak Canyon Hiking Trip Location: Shenandoah National Forest Date: Oct 1 – 2, 2016 As the parent or legal guardian of: _____________ I give my permission for him to participate in this outing with Troop 349.

I will provide transportation. Out Back Both Including driver, my vehicle holds _______ people.

Name(s) of Parent(s) planning to attend: ____________ Parent cell #:

My Scout understands: All travel is in Class A uniform No electronics permitted (iPod, MP3, cell phone, etc)

Funds attached: $25 per participant (covers food, lodging, mileage, camping area) $25 for adults I give permission to the uniformed adults of Troop 349 to render first aid. In the event of emergency, I give permission to the physician selected by the adult leader-in-charge, to hospitalize, order anesthesia, order injection, or secure other medical treatment, as s/he determines to be appropriate. I further agree to hold Troop 349 and its uniformed adults blameless for any mishaps that may occur during this outing, except for clear acts of negligence or non-adherence to BSA policies and guidelines. In case of emergency, I can be reached by phone at: or: If I cannot be reached, contact: Phone: Medical Insurance company: Policy number: My son: Has the following medical condition(s) that uniformed adults must be aware of: . Has no medical condition. Requires the following medication(s) that uniformed adults must supervise and assist in administering (also provide time & quantity): . Takes no medication Signed: _____________________________ Date: (Parent or Guardian)

DUE WITH PAYMENT BY TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 27, 2016.