The Group Hike That Kind of Wasn't

My last hike of 2019 was December 8 at Powhatan State Park (I didn't post about it, but it was 7 miles).  Exactly a month later, I took my first hike of 2020.  My wife's health has improved enough in the last few weeks that we are okay with me heading out for fairly short hikes not too far from the house.  So, while I won't be going up to the mountains - too far and not as easy to stay in touch - Powhatan SP is only about a 35 minute drive and is within cell phone coverage.  And on that Wednesday, the Old Dominion Appalachian Trail Club was having a hike there of about 5 miles, gathering at 10:50.  Seemed perfect!

I hit the road and even got there about 5 minutes early.  As I pulled into the parking area, I was amazed to see so many other people there early as well.  The parking lot was full, but not a single person was in sight.  I pulled out my phone and checked the email: gather at 9:50.  Doh!!!!  Well, I was at the park, it was a pretty day, and I could still do a hike.  I looked at the map, planned my route, and started my feet moving.  And in about 1.5 miles, I encountered our big group coming the other way, so I hiked back to the cars with them, getting to chat with some of the club members.  After they left, I hit the trails again and hiked about 2 + more miles by myself.  Here is my route.  The star is the parking area, the big arrow to the red circle was my first hike, running into the ODATC at the red circle, where I turned and retraced my steps.  The loop at the top of the map was my second hike, solo.

The first part of the hike goes through open woods near the James River, and past some canoe-in and walk-in campsites.  One can camp here year round, I believe.

This park is a pleasant mixture of forest, riverfront, and open fields.

The stairs to nowhere?  Actually, this park is popular with horsewomen and horsemen, and my guess is that the steps are provided for easier mounting of one's horse.

As I walked along the edge between the field and the forest, I was delighted to see the ODATC hikers coming towards me, so I retraced my steps with them to the parking area.

Back on my own, I started out on the River Trail, then looped back through the forests and fields.

Here is a deep gully that likely contains an intermittent stream when heavy rains occur.

I really like going through the forest in the winter.  It's peaceful, although I do miss the bird song of spring and summer.  Birds calling are infrequent this time of year: a few pileated, red-bellied. and downy woodpeckers; Carolina chickadees; Carolina wrens; white-breasted nuthatches; tufted titmice; white-throated sparrows.

I was happy to get in a short (5.6 miles) hike, and also to run into fellow hikers, despite my senior moment about the time.  I'll try to go on a few other short hikes before my wife's surgery.  I may not write about them - for example, I got to Three Lake Park and Malvern Hill Battlefield in the past week.  Eventually, I'll be up in the mountains again, but not for a few months, I would guess.

Wrapping Up 2019

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

In 2019, I took over 5,000,000 steps, walking an estimated 2,470 miles.  Of this, 422 miles were hiking on trails, the first time I've ever hiked over 400 miles in a year.

Some other stats: I hiked 384 miles as day hikes, and only 38 miles while backpacking.  It was not a good year for backpacking.  I cancelled two trips when I got sick, another to go to my step-mother's memorial service, and at least two more when our cat got sick.  Maybe I'll manage more in 2020 - that's my goal at least, once I start hiking again.

I hiked 100 miles by myself, and 322 miles with groups, including 159 miles with the Old Dominion Appalachian Trail Club.  I went backpacking once with a group and once by myself.  I finished most of the trails in the Southern District of Shenandoah National Park.  I have about 200 miles left to hike in the entire park, which probably means hiking closer to 400 miles, since so many are out and back, or I have to repeat some sections I've already done to get to a trail that I haven't hiked yet.

My favorite hikes of the year?  The Grayson Highlands backpacking trip, my November backpacking trip over Rockytop, the ODATC hike on the AT from Stony Man to Thornton Gap, and the three Road Scholar hikes for June, July, and October - which I got paid for!