I planed to wake up really early but I slept amazingly well, snug in my hammock. I am so comfortable and cozy, until I realize I can see some light filtering through my buff, which I pull down over my eyes while I sleep. I look at my watch. It reads 6:30 am. Eek!! I wanted to be on the trail a half-hour ago!! I jump up and get dressed and get my pack organized, then run over to the shelter and get my food bag off the bear pole.
I mix up a protein shake and say goodbye to the shelter folks as I walk down the Mau-Har Trail, drinking my breakfast, the women once again admonishing me to be careful, which I promise I will do. I am a little over an hour late getting on the trail.
The Mau-Har starts easily enough with a gentle downhill slope. The trail is well marked with bright blue blazes on the trees. The slope increases quickly and I zig-zag down into a ravine on switchbacks and parallel a small stream.
The stream quickly starts picking up feeder streams as the trail gets decidedly more rocky, but the first half mile is still relatively easy, with no signs of a treacherous trail as of yet. I stop as I pass some small waterfalls to take in the pretty sights. Some of the waterfalls sound quite big, but I can't see all of them from the trail.
A couple times I must climb up and over large boulders requiring me to chuck my hiking poles ahead of me onto the ground so I can hoist myself up and around and over the big rocks. A couple of really muddy spots are impossible to avoid, and soon my shoes are covered with mud.
I have spent an hour going about a mile and a half, but it's been fun and not dangerous whatsoever, especially compared to some other hikes like Old Rag Mountain or Katahdin. Right before the trail veers out of the gulley and back up the hill, I spy a gorgeous, deep pool of water under a small waterfall. This would be an amazing place to splash in warmer weather.
The trail ascends fairly rapidly out of the narrow valley and right away the trail becomes a woodland path and I leave the wet rocks behind. That was it for the fun, and now the real work starts.
The trail winds around a hill and passes a stream when I find myself back to the Mau-Har Trail junction where I walked to yesterday. I turn to the left on the A.T., and start walking east along a flat section for almost one mile before crossing a beautiful stream. I filter a liter and a half of water because this will be the last opportunity to collect water until almost at the top of the mountain, and the day is getting really warm.
Almost immediately after gathering water, I come to a turn off for the Harpers Creek Shelter. I didn't intend to stop at the shelter because I really don't want any bonus miles today, but I can see the shelter from the A.T.. Since the shelter is close and it's a good time for a break, I sit at the picnic table in front of the shelter for a quick early lunch, and enjoy the beautiful day.
I soon regret eating so much at one time, as the trail starts straight up the mountain and becomes extremely rocky. I cross a boulder field that looks like it was a rockslide at one time. This is prime rattlesnake weather, so I step deliberately which adds time to my hike.
The views of Priest Mountain to the south are really beautiful, and they keep improving as I move up the mountain. Three Ridges is named for the three different "peaks" of ridges along the mountain. The first is Chimney Rock, which provides a view to the east.
For most of the hike, the views are amazing off both sides of the ridge, which thankfully isn't incredibly narrow. I see Priest Mountain to the south, and ridges and valleys to the east with little farmettes and vineyards nestled amongst the trees. Butterflies and bees are busily scavenging nectar from the spring flowers.
I keep trucking up the mountain until I finally crest Three Ridges peak, the elevation at the summit is a hair under 4,000 feet. The summit is wooded, so there isn't any fanfare at the top; no glorious views or big sign saying "your effort is rewarded." That's okay, because the reward is the amazing views the entire way up. Although the lack of leaves on this hot day made for a difficult climb, the leaves would have hidden a lot of the scenery.
I have been hiking for five hours and so far I climbed about 3,000 feet. I'm starting to feel the effort of the last four days, but still need to do another four miles and break my camp before getting back to civilization. I head downhill to crest my third summit, on Bee Mountain. I'm glad that the "climb" to this summit is only 135 feet!
Just after Bee Mountain, I get back to Maupin Shelter and break down my camp. This really is an awesome shelter area. I didn't pay too much attention before, but there is enough room for a couple hundred tents, spread over a huge area. Metal fire pits dot the open areas in front of and beside the shelter, and even more nice level sites with fire rings are on the opposite side of the trail, away from the shelter.
I pack up and within an hour, I arrive back to Reid's Gap, where I end this short section. I'm so glad I took the opportunity to do a short shakedown hike, because I will be able to dial in my gear for Shenandoah National Park next week! Of course, my first order of business will be to get a new water filter.
Today's Stats: 8.7 miles AT, 12.4 Miles Total, 3576' Ascent, 3400' descent
Trail Stats: 845 Miles, 193K feet ascent, 197K feet descent
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