Hanging Thru Shenendoah Park

[FishBone]

I'll be sectioning thru Shenandoah Park in September. How's the hanging potential at the shelters? (Not doing big mileage; just shelter hopping).

[1camper]

SNP is one park where you can hang almost anywhere, you don't have to hang near shelters. Ask a ranger how you should fill out the backcountry permit per your itinerary. The motorcycles are kinda loud in Sept and the AT follows the road mostly. I'd suggest getting away from the AT and the road. Enjoy the park!

[1camper]

Oh, you're sectioning.. I'd suggest doing that in December.

[PapaSmurf]

Just hiked the Northern half of SNP last week.
We weren't bothered by the noisy road at all. Much of the park was deserted through the middle of the week.

- 50 Miles of great hiking.
- Our group saw 12 bears.
- My youngest son usually hiked out front and saw 5 bears, earning his new trail name "BearPlow".
- More deer than you can shake a hiking stick at.
- 0 Snakes.
- 1 Blackberry Milkshake

Tom Floyd Wayside - Tent sites are small & down the hill. Tons of trees. Many rocky, brushy spots.
http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery/files/4/2/1/1/tfw_thumb.jpg (http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery/showimage.php?i=18320&c=2)

Gravel Springs Hut - Tenting area behind shelter, slightly up the hill. We choose to go hang up on the hill because the tent sites were occupied by a large church youth group.
http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery/files/4/2/1/1/gs_thumb.jpg (http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery/showimage.php?i=18317&c=2)

Pass Mountain Hut - Nice large tenting area beside shelter. Lots of trees and open area to hang several hammocks.
http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery/files/4/2/1/1/pmh_thumb.jpg (http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery/showimage.php?i=18318&c=2)

Byrds Nest 3 - Several trees and good hanging directly behind shelter. Water is .3 miles down a steep grade.
http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery/files/4/2/1/1/bn3_thumb.jpg (http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery/showimage.php?i=18316&c=2)

Rock Spring Hut - Tents sites up on the hill side behind shelter. Good selection, but rocky & brushy.
http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery/files/4/2/1/1/rs_thumb.jpg (http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery/showimage.php?i=18319&c=2)


Hope this helps.

[FishBone]

Thanks to all for the info.

PapaSmurf: how's the water situation, bugs, temps???

[PapaSmurf]

how's the water situation, bugs, temps???

Water - Sources were plentiful and springs were flowing nicely. We used a combination of springs, hydrants & water at the public areas.

Bugs - We treat our clothing and gear in permethrin as usual and had no issues with ticks or mosquitoes. Gnats were bad in a couple areas and constantly buzzed around your face.

Temps - Daytime highs in the upper 80's with high humidity meant we were damp & sticky all week. Nighttime temps were mid 60's and I was able to get by with only a fleece liner.

Rain/Storms - We had 3 different thunderstorms go through, but each time we were already tucked in under our tarps.

I think I left my pita bread on the picnic table in front of Gravel Springs hut. If it still there when you arrive, you can have it. :laugh:

[Sweeper]

I second what PapaSmurf has said, we did 88 miles last summer in the SNP and I was able to hang in the vicinity of every shelter. We had the great VA Rain March, however, with a couple of days getting 3+ inches of rain while we walked. I can't remember which shelter it was, but I hung inside the shelter from the rafters due to the fact that the entire area around the shelter was flooded. The bugs weren't too bad, but we did have a few areas where the biting flies were so tormenting that we just had to move on rather than be eaten alive. They didn't seem to care about deet at all. I wound up pulling my buff down over my face in an effort to keep at least that part from being bitten. This was in mid-June, so I would think by the fall they should be gone, hopefully.

Sweeper

[FishBone]

Thanks for all the info.

Aged pita; yummy:scared:

[Miguel]

My wife and I hiked the entire park two years ago. We camped near shelters about half the time and never had a problem finding spots to hang.

[designerider]

I'm heading to Shenandoah in October. We're going to do the whole stretch from Rockfish Gap to where the AT exits the park. Please let me know how your trip goes.