Date: 2018-11-25
From: Rockfish Gap, AT mi 862.9

To: Summit of Little Calf Mtn, AT mi. 869.4
Miles today: 6.5

Day 25, Day 1 of Section 2; 11/25/2018, SundayFrom: 862.9 Rockfish Gap, left 07:30To: 869.4 Summit of Little Calf Mountain, arr 12:00Stats:AT NOBO 862.9 to 869.4, 6.5 mi, up 1774, dn 774, 7.4%Total: 13.3 mi, up 2457, dn 2457, 7.0%Commentary:I beefed up my gear for winter hiking: replaced hammock setup with tent; replaced inflatable pad with a closed cell pad under a higher R-value inflatable pad; added a heavy sleeping bag liner, butane stove and pot, heavier gaiters, balaclava, heavy mittens, and Micro-Spikes, and switched to waterproof shoes. Base weight climbed to 22 pounds; with 5 days of food and 1.7 liters of water, 35+ pounds. (Yikes!)  I also have a 15° F quilt on order to replace my EE ¢20°¢ quilt.The intent today was to start a 15-day section hike NOBO from Rockfish Gap to Harpers Ferry; today I planned to hike 7.8 miles to Calf Mountain Shelter at 870.7. The south district of Skyline Drive (which the AT parallels) has been closed since the ice storm on 11/15. I had checked the ATC site for trail updates after the ice storm, but I guess too soon: the site¢s 11/22 notice for SNP tells the story of what I encountered ¢ downed trees, possibly impassable areas, etc. Lesson learned: check the site immediately before departure.I should have gotten the hint 0.4 miles in, where the SNP self-registration kiosk had been obliterated by a large downed tree. The steel box with the permits had been sheared off and was pinned under the big end of the trunk. Beyond, the crown of the tree rested on the trail. I took the side trail (also with down trees) down to Skyline Drive and deposited my pre-filled permit at the closed entrance station up the road, then retraced to the AT and continued. Sure enough, there were numerous downed trees requiring off-trail detours and/or gymnastics to go over, under, or through. In the mature forest, the under-story was open enough to allow detours, if slow. Beyond McCormick Gap, though, is second-growth with impenetrably dense undergrowth of briars, vines, shrubs, and small trees lining the trail. Where trees were down, pulling the vines and undergrowth with it, getting through was really tough. At one point, a mat of undergrowth and small trees at least chest high blocked the trail for 25 feet, requiring a belly crawl dragging my pack behind me. I hoped things would improve in the mature forest beyond Beagle Gap, but it was worse than the climb out of Rockfish Gap, requiring more detours and slower going. At the summit of Little Calf Mountain, I had been out for 4.5 hours (including the side trip near the start and a cat-hole stop) and had covered 6.5 AT miles. Trail cleanup had not been started, and with Skyline Drive closed, there was no prospect of cleared trail ahead. I was scratched up, muddy, and worried about the abuse my pack was enduring -- snagging branches, etc. I had day-hiked this section several times and knew there were a number of problematic scrub/second growth areas ahead. With a half day of rain followed by high winds in the forecast ¢ likely to bring down even more trees -- I decided to abort and return to Rockfish Gap via Skyline Drive. I called Asta, who was almost home by then. She decided to drive back down right away as opposed to waiting until tomorrow. Even Skyline Drive was littered with down trees; park crews had only cleared as far as McCormick Gap (3-4 miles in more than a week). SNP estimates 100 down trees per mile, which is about what I observed.