Skookum Traveler: Cold Mountain (VA)

Our Labor Day getaway for 2013 was back to the Blue Ridge, this time down south a bit to Cold Mountain south of Charlottesville for Day One, and up to Shenandoah for Day Two. Cold Mountain is reportedly one of the more scenic hikes in Virginia. It promised an easy summit that seemed reasonably baggable despite my ailing, but recovering left knee, and despite scattered thunderstorms in the forecast. Kris and I grabbed a bagel and coffee over on Wisconsin Ave and hit the highway. We were at the trailhead around 1:00 pm (Sept 1).

20. Cold Mountain: Clouds threatened, so I suggested we reverse the planned 6-mile loop so that we would hit the summit early in case the sky unloaded on us. We followed the AT gently upward in forest and soon entered the first of several grassy meadows, the second being very large with expansive views. Minutes later and before we’d left this meadow, the rain started and thunder began to boom from a couple ridges over. It looked like we were only catching the edge of it, so after a brief wait under a tree, we got a break and went for the top, not even an hour from the car. The third big opening held the summit rock, appropriately festooned with an old USGS marker. We snapped photos as the rain began again and the clouds grew more ominous. Descending the trail along a ridge, we regained the forest, where we hunkered down awhile in the moderately rainy rainstorm waiting for it to pass. We weren’t too disappointed that the lightning strikes kept their distance. When the next break came, we continued our descent to an outcrop that offered a good lunch spot. The sun reappeared right on schedule and we were soon steaming ourselves dry again while gobbling cheese sandwiches.

The improving weather suggested we skip the loop hike altogether and retrace our steps so that we could savor the views on top that we had to skip through while being pelted by rain. So we ambled back, slow and savory, finally reaching the car around 5:00pm. We headed up the Blue Ridge Parkway close by, and a couple hours later—after sighting our second black bear out east (crossing the road in front of us)—we rolled into the Loft Mountain Campground in Shenandoah, just before dark. Lucky us, there were plenty of holiday campsites remaining, probably due to the rain.

Miles (RT): 4.4 miles; elevation gain: 700 feet

Cumulative mileage and gain: 96.5 miles / 28,250 feet