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Scotts Gap, Two Times
Scott's Gap Loop, Jefferson Memorial Forest
I've gotten caught in stormy weather on trails several times. Almost every time it has happened, I didn't really plan for a sudden thunderstorm, but I was always prepared with a plastic poncho in my pack, so I was never worried.
On June 15th, the weather called for rain all afternoon, so I was prepared for a wet hike from the outset. I had not hiked the 3 mile Scott's Gap Loop trail for a couple of months and a rainy afternoon seemed like a perfect time to check it out.
I was greeted with drizzly rain at the trailhead and was surprised to find the trail lush with Summer-time plants almost overgrowing the trail in spots. Jewelweed is the predominant flower in bloom right now, including both the orange and pale varieties. Fence lizards greeted me along the first hill, scurrying across the downed tree trunks and limbs.
Pale Jewelweed
As soon as I reached the top of the first climb on the trail (counterclockwise from the trail loop fork) the sky darkened and I was greeted at the bald overlook with a rumble of thunder.
Not a good sign.
Undiscouraged, I continued on for about a mile, passing the shortcut turnoff and then hiking out along the ridge-line. Just before the trail descends into a creek valley, the canopy thins out and it was at this point that the heavens opened the flood gates. On top of the ridge, the clouds rolled in, the thunder rumbled and I was drenched to the bone within a minute.
Standing in the lee of a hickory tree, I debated my options. After a few more rumbles of thunder, I realized that standing under a tree probably wasn't my best strategy either. Forward, I still had several steep hills, all of which would be muddy and running with water. Backward, I only had 2 small hills until I returned to the shortcut on the loop, and the tree canopy was much thicker in that direction, which would save me a bit from the heavy rain. In short order, I decided to head back to the shortcut and walk out from there.
On my return, I experienced another first for me in Jefferson Forest. The clouds in this storm were so low, that I actually got fogged in hiking the ridge back to the shortcut. Just before getting off the trail, the rain tapered off to just a drizzle, but as slippery as my exit was, I knew I had made the right decision to cut my hike short. As a general rule of thumb, don't hike when there is lightning if you can avoid it.
Low Clouds Along the Ridge
Scott's Gap, The Wrong Way
After my exciting little rain out last week, I returned to Scott's Gap on a steamy Sunday afternoon and for whatever reason, I decided to hike the loop clockwise for the very first time. I've been hiking this trail regularly since 1995, and for whatever reason, I've always hiked it counterclockwise.
This hike proved to me that you should never underestimate heat (88 degrees) with humidity ( about 80%) no matter how long a trail might be. I took only 2 pint sized water bottles with me and it turned out to be not enough. Before I was finished, I was lead footed and light headed over the last half mile or so.
I had to face facts: I got cocky.
I've hiked several 10+ mile trails this season, but this was the first real Ohio Valley Summer-time weather I'd experienced since last year. Couple that with the fact that I didn't think a little 3 mile trail could be dangerous and I ended up feeling like a fool.
In addition to being poorly equipped (not enough water) and poorly prepared (I drank coffee instead of water in the morning), the clockwise version of Scott's Gap loop puts a very long and fairly steep hill going up at about the 2 mile mark. Having never hiked the trail in this direction, I'd forgotten about this hill completely, because it was always the descent into my favorite section rather than the hike out.
Much like my rain out hike, I left the trail soaked to the bone, but this time from perspiration rather than precipitation.
Lesson learned? Never underestimate the heat+humidity equation and prepare before you hike. Take more water than you need, regardless of how long your hike might be, especially in the heat.
Smooth Phlox
You can view the other pictures from these hikes in the photo album Rain Out.
I've gotten caught in stormy weather on trails several times. Almost every time it has happened, I didn't really plan for a sudden thunderstorm, but I was always prepared with a plastic poncho in my pack, so I was never worried.
On June 15th, the weather called for rain all afternoon, so I was prepared for a wet hike from the outset. I had not hiked the 3 mile Scott's Gap Loop trail for a couple of months and a rainy afternoon seemed like a perfect time to check it out.
I was greeted with drizzly rain at the trailhead and was surprised to find the trail lush with Summer-time plants almost overgrowing the trail in spots. Jewelweed is the predominant flower in bloom right now, including both the orange and pale varieties. Fence lizards greeted me along the first hill, scurrying across the downed tree trunks and limbs.
Pale Jewelweed
As soon as I reached the top of the first climb on the trail (counterclockwise from the trail loop fork) the sky darkened and I was greeted at the bald overlook with a rumble of thunder.
Not a good sign.
Undiscouraged, I continued on for about a mile, passing the shortcut turnoff and then hiking out along the ridge-line. Just before the trail descends into a creek valley, the canopy thins out and it was at this point that the heavens opened the flood gates. On top of the ridge, the clouds rolled in, the thunder rumbled and I was drenched to the bone within a minute.
Standing in the lee of a hickory tree, I debated my options. After a few more rumbles of thunder, I realized that standing under a tree probably wasn't my best strategy either. Forward, I still had several steep hills, all of which would be muddy and running with water. Backward, I only had 2 small hills until I returned to the shortcut on the loop, and the tree canopy was much thicker in that direction, which would save me a bit from the heavy rain. In short order, I decided to head back to the shortcut and walk out from there.
On my return, I experienced another first for me in Jefferson Forest. The clouds in this storm were so low, that I actually got fogged in hiking the ridge back to the shortcut. Just before getting off the trail, the rain tapered off to just a drizzle, but as slippery as my exit was, I knew I had made the right decision to cut my hike short. As a general rule of thumb, don't hike when there is lightning if you can avoid it.
Low Clouds Along the Ridge
Scott's Gap, The Wrong Way
After my exciting little rain out last week, I returned to Scott's Gap on a steamy Sunday afternoon and for whatever reason, I decided to hike the loop clockwise for the very first time. I've been hiking this trail regularly since 1995, and for whatever reason, I've always hiked it counterclockwise.
This hike proved to me that you should never underestimate heat (88 degrees) with humidity ( about 80%) no matter how long a trail might be. I took only 2 pint sized water bottles with me and it turned out to be not enough. Before I was finished, I was lead footed and light headed over the last half mile or so.
I had to face facts: I got cocky.
I've hiked several 10+ mile trails this season, but this was the first real Ohio Valley Summer-time weather I'd experienced since last year. Couple that with the fact that I didn't think a little 3 mile trail could be dangerous and I ended up feeling like a fool.
In addition to being poorly equipped (not enough water) and poorly prepared (I drank coffee instead of water in the morning), the clockwise version of Scott's Gap loop puts a very long and fairly steep hill going up at about the 2 mile mark. Having never hiked the trail in this direction, I'd forgotten about this hill completely, because it was always the descent into my favorite section rather than the hike out.
Much like my rain out hike, I left the trail soaked to the bone, but this time from perspiration rather than precipitation.
Lesson learned? Never underestimate the heat+humidity equation and prepare before you hike. Take more water than you need, regardless of how long your hike might be, especially in the heat.
Smooth Phlox
You can view the other pictures from these hikes in the photo album Rain Out.
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