Join Sara and I for a spring Hammock Camping and Backpacking trip in Shenandoah National Park. GPS data at http://www.sintax77.com For a more detailed, easier to read trip report, with photos, maps and notes, you can view by blog post here: http://www.sintax77.com/sara-goes-hammock-camping-backpacking-in-thornton-hollow/ Parking Location: N38° 45.689' W78° 16.923' From Front Royal entrance station, take Skyline Dr. S to mile marker 21 and park in the lot on the right not too far after Hogback Overlook. Trails Used (in order) and Route Notes Day 1 Start by heading south on the Appalachian Trail from the trailhead connected to the parking lot. At the Junction with Tuscarora Trail, take a right to continue on Tuscarora Trail. (Yes, this is where we took the wrong turn and ended up back at Skyline Drive) Take Matthews Arm Trail towards Matthews Arm Campground. Pass the campground and cross over Skyline Drive. From the other side of Skyline Drive take Elkwallow Trail. Continue along ridge line, via Elkwallow Trail. At the next junction, hang a right on Thornton Trail to begin descending back towards Skyline Dr. Cross the road to continue on Thornton Trail. Decent camping opportunities become available as you approach the Thornton River. A potential area on the right (that we skipped) is marked in my GPS data file for the trip. Continue on Thornton Trail. From this point on, the trail will cross back and forth across the river several times, before any particular decent camping areas appear. Reach the intersection with Hull School Trail. There are reportedly several decent camping oppurtunities within range of this intersection. We chose to continue down Thornton Trail a little ways and camp not to far from the river as a water source. Setup camp along Thornton River. Stats for Day 1 Mileage: 12.1 miles Gross Ascent: 1,621' Gross Descent: 3,632' Day 2 Break Camp and follow Thornton Trail back to trail junction. Hang a right to head uphill on Hull School Trail Continue on Hull School Trail, crossing the Piney River, and passing the Bolen Family Cemetery. Take the Keyser Run Fire Road towards the Little Devil's Stairs Trailhead Parking area, and Rt 614. At the parking area, head up Little Devil's Stairs Trail, though the canyon. Prepare for numerous zig-zags over flowing water and potentially slick rocks, depending on recent rainfall and time of year. After gaining 1,200' or so climbing out of the canyon, reach the the intersection to reconvene with Keyser Run Fire Road once again. At this point you can either stay in the woods by heading left towards Pole Link Bridge and Sugarloaf Trails, which will take you back to the AT and ultimately your car, or hang a right on the fire road towards Skyline Dr for a road hike along several scenic overlooks. We chose the latter. Return to the parking lot on Skyline Drive. Stats for Day 2 Mileage: 10.4 miles Gross Ascent: 3,133' Gross Descent: 1,237' Trip Totals for 2 Day Overnight Loop Total Mileage: 22.5 miles Gross Ascent: 4,754' Gross Descent: 4,869' Notable Gear Items - For full lists, head over to http://www.sintax77.com/gear-lists/ Sara Dream Hammock Darien Ultralight Hammock with Dutch Clips and cinch buckle suspension system. Hammock Gear Cuben Hex Tarp with Zing-It guy lines and Dutch Wasps for quick tension adjustment. Osprey Hornet 46 backpack. Shawn Dutchware PolyD 1.2 Hammock with Dutch Speedhooks and Kevlar Tree Hugger suspension system. Hennessy Deluxe Hex Tarp with Dutchware continuous ridge line kit (30' Zing-It, Dutch Hook, Dutch Wasp, and two soft shackles) and Dutch Tarpworms shock corded to each corner tie-out point. EMS Longtrail 70 backpack Generic Canister stove and Toaks 750 ml titanium pot for boiling water needed to re-hydrate those ridiculously tasty PackIt Gourmet meals. Sawyer Squeeze rigged up in gravity mode, using a few dollars worth of 1/4" tubing and adapters that I grabbed on a whim from the Dutchware site while picking up the previously mentioned Tarpworms. So far, it's working great - I don't know why I didn't do this sooner! Post-Hike Cheeseburger Spot The Backseat Bar and Grill, in Winchester, VA

• published: 24 May 2015
• views: 75549