Shenandoah Natl. Park
- Hawksbill N. Face: a few lines stand on their own as ice lines; others are sections of alpine-type climbs on several rock ribs; WI3-4, up to 30m, awkward terrain at base of climbs with fragile vegetation so definitely not suited at all to groups; access from Whiteoak Cyn trailhead via Cedar Run trail when Skyline Drive is closed (3 mi. in, 2000′ up, great alpine day when there is snow)
- Overall Run: Overall Run Falls (WI3-5, 30m), Thunderbird (WI2+ to 5, 55m); Thunderbird is the first area seen when hiking up the Overall Run/Tuscarora trail from below.
- White Oak Canyon : everybody knows about it
- Lewis Springs Falls: WI2-4, up to 30m
- Dark Hollow Falls: WI4 seep to the N, falls themselves are rather tame, good place to learn – if you can get to them quickly, e.g. Skyline is open, otherwise a nice hike from below up the Rose River
- Swift Run Gap: WI5/M? 1 mi. N of the gap, E above the Drive; if this is at all climable then a further half-mile N is another spot – WI2,10m
- N. Fork Moorman’s River: Paul’s Place (2 tiers, WI1+ to 4+, up to 30m) & Ice Bowl/Super Bowl (2 tiers, WI2+ to 5, up to 30m)
Blue Ridge Parkway
- Crabtree Falls: 1000′ in 3 sets of cascades, WI2-3
- Finley’s Folly: N. of Wintergreen, WI2-4, up to 30m (most is 15m)
- Raven’s Roost: WI3+ to 4, 30m
- Apple Orchard Falls: a bit NW of Lynchburg; I’ve not been there yet
Weather, Conditions, Forecasts
For information about conditions in our part of the Blue Ridge, have a look at:
- Real-time weather station at Big Meadows in SNP: http://www.aws.com/AWS/wx.asp?id=LRAY1
- Webcam at the weather station (appears to be down right now): http://www.instacam.com/showcam.asp?id=LRAY1&size=L
- SNP: http://www.shenandoah.national-park.com/weather.htm
- Forecast for 2000′ and up in SNP: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/data/LWX/RECLWX
Also look at the forecast for Montebello, which is a village high up (2600′) on the Blue Ridge fifteen miles south of Wintergreen:http://www.erh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?CityName=Montebello&state=VA&site=LWX The temp. shown is at Staunton over in the Shenandoah Valley – subtract 8 to 10degs. F for the temperature up at 3000’… The forecast temps. are for Montebello, though (not far above Crabtree Falls, which in a good winter gives 1000′ vertical of frozen cascades in 1000′ horizontal, WI 1-3).
Road Conditions
The status of Skyline Drive is given on-line at the National Park Service website for SNP. There’s also a phone number: 540-999-3500.
There’s a phone number for the Blue Ridge Parkway as well: 828-298-0398
SNP boundary access document
http://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&PageID=122050