*Ramsey's Draft Wilderness

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This is a good weekend hike that is best to start late Friday.</div> <div> The wilderness was formed in 1984 and evidence of logging activity are apparent in several places along the draft. The major attractions of the Ramsey's Draft wilderness are its 6 square miles of Virgin Hemlock  trees, left untouched by loggers, and the opportunity to follow the a mountain creek all the way from its beginning at Hiner Spring(4000 ft.) to where it becomes a wide rocky fast flowing creek. The trails are easy graded and well maintained with many views of the wilderness itself and West Va. </div> <div> This is a good hike for the novice or experienced hiker, I have hiked this circuit many times in all 4 seasons  and am never disappointed.</div> <div> <B><U>Confederate Breastworks</U></b></div> <div> To get to the trailhead  take I-64 west to Staunton,VA and follow signs for 250 W. through Staunton( there is really no difference between the truck route and business route). Follow 250 W. out of Staunton for 14 miles to Churchville the continue on the same road into the mountains past the Mountain House Picnic Area and across the Ramseys Draft.  Continue roughly 2 miles uphill to the Confederate Breastworks  overlook. Park you car here and get everything ready.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The Shenandoah Mountain mountain trail crosses 250 W. here form the south.  Go around the Stone wall to the right and follow the Shenandoah Mt. Trail uphill till you come to the confederate breastworks interpretive trail off to the left.Continue to the right for a short while past the junction with the Road Hollow Trail and around to the left . Now that the initial confusion is over you can relax and continue to follow the well maintained SMT .</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">This really is a nice trail and is quite a pleasure to walk as it follows a wooded ridge top for about 3 miles past a dry campsite till you descend slightly to a junction with the Jerry's Run trail. If you arrived late on Friday it is a good idea to make a short trek down the Jerry's Run Trail 1 mile to an old cabin site(see picture above) where there are many good campsites and plenty of water. Be warned however during the colder months this creek is usually frozen.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="0dd8aef0.jpg" border=0 width="394" height="239" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The next day follow the Jerry's Run trail back up to the SMT take a right on the trail and continue north winding around mountain sides and up a long but gradual incline. This segment of the trail is about 6 miles long. For an interesting bushwhacking aside ascend up the mountainside to the east at roughly mile 3 to the Freezeland Flats, an interesting mountain top stone flat rock formation. I recommend purchasing the Ramsey's Draft Wilderness Topomap available at your local outfitter or through the USDA to help you find this feature since there are no clear trails which lead to it.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">After 3 gradual long ascents you will come to a nice clearing a very picturesc spot where the Ramsey's Draft trail comes in from the East. This is a good spot to stop for lunch.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Follow the Ramsey's Draft Trail to the east uphill for 2 miles to The Hardscrabble Knob trail. This trail is a rewarding mile long ascent to Hardscrabble Knob,the highest point in the wilderness. At the top remnants of an old ranger house and a fallen fire watch tower are present. Several good dry campsites are also here.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="0df63fc0.jpg" border=0 width="355" height="252" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The view form the top of HardScrabble Knob lets you overlook the entire wilderness and gives a clear into the Valley through which the Ramsey's Draft flows.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Descend east along along the Ramsey"s Draft trail and pass Hiner Springs.*** Note  that this spring is the starting point for the Ramsey's Draft. Resist the urge to camp at one one the many excellent camp sites located here and continue downhill entering the <I>Virgin Hemlock Forest. </I>The forest is obvious by the LARGE trees all around you and the 6-7 foot diameter trunks which have fallen over the trail and been cut so hikers can pass.     The girth of these trees is not the most impressive part, make sure you take the time to look up and see how tall they really are! Feel special when you look at these trees there are very few places like this left.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">As you descend into the forest following the small creek you will pass several nice creek side campsites but you should try to hold out for my favorite one a little further down the trail. Continue you descend into the valley and at about 4 miles since the spring you will come to a small grassy area( not the one in the picture ) with a USGS location marker. The trail will turn to the right. Look to your right and across the creek to an out cropping at the base of a mountain. Climb down a steep rock pile and cross the creek to the campsite. I've camped here many times and like it every time. Last time we were here the people before us constructed two elaborate stone chairs around the fire pit.</div> <div>                                                          <IMG SRC="0e73dec0.jpg" border=0 width="573" height="236" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The next day continue along the Ramsey"s Draft trail, watching the stream get larger as more mountain run-off creeks flow into it.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">At about 5 miles beyond the junction with the HardScrabble Knob Trail you come into the creek bed itself. The first thing you are going to notice are the after math of an early eighties flood which tore apart the area surrounding an old logging road which paralleled the creek.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Follow the smooth old logging road downstream. Always follow the creek because at times the path is hard to follow. Rock markers usually lead you to the next path, on either side of the creek, but even if you loose the path it never leaves the stream.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Continue down the Ramsey's Draft Trail crossing the creek many times, when the water is high you will most likely get your feet wet so plan accordingly. The path return to the old road many times. This path is constantly changing so you will have to make you own way, don't let this deter you its not hard to follow.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">At about 4 miles since entering the creek bed come to the Jerry's Run trail junction on the western side of the Ramsey's Draft(a sign indicates where the trail comes in). It is here you must decide the route back to your car. You can asscend the Jerry's Run to meet the SMT which involves a steep but very nice creek side asscent past the old cabin site and campgruond area. You can also choose to continue downstream along the Ramsey's Draft to the Road Hollow Trail. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">I've always taken the Jerry's Run so the directions will continue from there. Ascend 2 miles up the Jerry's Run trail upstream observing how the creek gradually becomes smaller and smaller. Cross the creek many times, it is usually possible to stay dry when crossing this creek. The path is marked with yellow blazes. When you come to the old cabinsite follow the trail <B>TO THE RIGHT,</b> crossing the creek just before the cabin.In the snow this path can be hard to follow. </div> <div> <IMG SRC="0e922d00.jpg" border=0 width="290" height="208" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">   Continue up the creek to the junction with the Shenandoah Mountail Trail turn south(left) and follow it ~3 mile back to your car. Drive into Staunton and you and your friend can share a dinner for two at<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="_"><U><B><U> El Puerto</U></b></U></A></FONT></div> <div>                                                                                                                                                       </div> </td> </tr></table></body>