Does anyone know good mountains anywhere close? Need the fix of the climb. Trails or no trails doesnt matter. Just want it to be high.

Sorry, can't think of any in this area...
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Old Rag is probably the best (and most crowded) within short driving distance. Lotsa rock-scrambling to get to the top.

Gonads & Strife Wrote:
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> Sorry, can't think of any in this area...


lolllll

Are THOSE what them darn, dark hills are that I see over that yonder sumtimes??

Elle Diabla Wrote:
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> Are THOSE what them darn, dark hills are that I
> see over that yonder sumtimes??


That's right. And if you listen REEEEEEL close you can almost hear...
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Climbing wall @ REI in Fairfax.

mm ok

The highest climb you can do in NoVA is Hawksbill Mountain at 4050 ft. Start in Berry Hollow on the backside of Old Rag, there's an NPS parking lot there on SR 600 at the edge of the park boundary, starting elevation is under 1000'. Pay your fees then go up the Cedar Run Trail. It's a fairly steep climb with a couple water crossings and cascades all along the way. In the vicinity of the horse trail juncture you can actually see where Cedar Run springs out of the mountainside. When you reach Skyline Drive at 3400', cross the road and continue up the Hawksbill trail to summit at the highest point in the Shenandoahs.

On your way down, hang a left at the road's edge to pick up the AT for about 2/3 mile, until you reach Crescent Rock Overlook. A steep rock staircase there leading back up to Skyline Drive will kick your ass. Then across the road from the parking lot, pick up Limberlost Trail. That'll lead you over to White Oak Canyon aka the waterfall hike. There's a weird basalt column formation there. White Oak Canyon Trail leads back down to the starting point with several spectacular waterfalls and vistas and some pretty steep sections.

This is about a 12-mile circuit and you'll want to get an early start so you can explore the falls and take lots of pictures. Check out www.hikingupward.com there are many other mountain hikes you can do within a couple hours' driving distance.

G Wrote:
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That'll
> lead you over to White Oak Canyon aka the
> waterfall hike. There's a weird basalt column
> formation there. White Oak Canyon Trail leads
> back down to the starting point with several
> spectacular waterfalls and vistas and some pretty
> steep sections.
>
> This is about a 12-mile circuit and you'll want to
> get an early start so you can explore the falls
> and take lots of pictures. Check out
> www.hikingupward.com there are many other mountain
> hikes you can do within a couple hours' driving
> distance.

Loved the White Oak. It was my wife's first mountain hike ever. We had
a small pup tent and two sleeping bags. Not much else. Going down the
trail was fantastic but the climb back up is another story. When we
reached the bottom we discovered we'd left most of our food in the car
and all we had in the backpack was a pack of Ritz crackers and a bottle
of wine. The camping area is very limited and mostly rocks. An inflatable
mattress pad would have been very nice. A bear visited nearby that
night and all I had was a 3inch pocket knife. No fires were allowed
either. Don't know if that's a permenant policy or not but there was
a severe drought that year. I'd do it again but next time remember
the food and pack a .357 Mag.

Dharmabum Wrote:
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> Does anyone know good mountains anywhere close?
> Need the fix of the climb. Trails or no trails
> doesnt matter. Just want it to be high.




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Are you serious? You can see the mountains from Fairfax County they are so close. Have you ever driven on 66? Drive west for about 15 minutes (from where I live in Centreville with no traffic) and you are in the mountains.