Signal Knob the Day After A Spring Snowstorm

 Yesterday, we had a spring storm that started out with gross, cold rain. It quickly changed over to snow. It didn't amount to much in the DC area and, even in the mountains, it wasn't expected to be more than a couple of inches. That meant snowshoeing was out. This weekend is also time change, which meant that we would have to drag ourselves out of bed earlier than usual, too. We ultimately decided to do a hike we hadn't done in several years: Signal Knob. The hike starts in a large parking lot that often fills near Elizabeth Furnace in the Massanutten area. 

When we pulled in, there was one other car in the parking lot. Not a bad start. It was 16 degrees with the promise of temperatures rising to near 40. The trail was covered with an inch or two of snow and the steady climb was a welcome way to warm cold fingers. There were a few tracks on the trail, which ended at the first campsite. Someone had clearly been up either camping or just enjoying a campfire the night before. It would have been chilly night to be out! After that, we were the first people on the trail today. We saw and heard our first Pine Warblers of the year, which was a welcome sign that spring is coming! 

At Signal Knob, we found a relatively sheltered spot to eat some lunch. There was more of a breeze that was ideal and it was still pretty cold. At this point, we were kind of marveling that we hadn't seen anyone so far. When we've done this hike, in the past, we've backtracked from Signal Knob to the Meneka Peak Trail and hiked south on that to catch the Tuscarora. This time, we decided to continue on the Massanutten Trail and connect with the Tuscarora in the valley below to the west. While this meant an extra climb, the distance was the same and it kept us out of the wind on the ridge. The hike down to the Tuscarora Trail went quickly on the road. From there it is steep climb back up to the top of the ridge. We quickly shed the layers we had put on at lunch.

From the junction with the Meneka Peak Trail back to the car is four winding miles. By this time, most of the snow had melted off of the trail and there were definitely some muddy patches. It was a pleasant walk down, though and we saw no one until we reached the parking lot. It was a really good day. All said and done, 10 miles.

The view northwest from Signal Knob

Leaves frozen into the ice on the Massanutten Trail near the junction with the Tuscarora

A relatively poor photo of a lenticular cloud west of us. I forgot the battery for my good camera, so all I had was my cell phone.

Bird tracks in the snow

The Tuscarora Trail below Meneka Peak

Perfect blue sky

A bird nest from last year. It looks like it might be a Red-Eye Vireo nest.

Signal Knob and Three Top Mountain

We hiked Signal Knob and Three Top Mountain in the Massanutten area this past Saturday with two friends and their two border collies. We've hiked Signal Knob a number of times before, but this time, we approached it from the back (southwest). We met our friends in Front Royal and piled into their car because it has all wheel drive. I had a feeling the road to the trailhead wouldn't be in great shape, which turned out to be the case. Most of the last couple of miles of the road were covered in snow and ice.

The first half of the hike follows a fire road except for a brief stretch of trail that goes around Strasburg Reservoir. It is a pleasant walk, generally uphills, but nothing too steep until the approach to Signal Knob. Like I said, we've hiked up to Signal Knob before from the Fort Valley Side. At the top of the mountain, there is a communications tower and a power line cut with a nice view towards Front Royal to the northeast. We had always stopped at the power line cut and usually would have lunch there. Then we would return the way we came for the hike back. I had no idea there was another viewpoint a few hundred yards north of the power line cut with a view to the west towards Strasburg and Great North Mountain. I had just never walked beyond the communications tower. Since we came up the mountain the other way, we found it this time (and our friends knew about it).

We went back down Signal Knob the way we came to the junction with the Tuscarora Trail, where we turned right and headed up to the top of Three Top Mountain. After climbing gradually towards the ridge, the trail follows the top of the ridgeline for a couple of miles. The ridge walk was really pretty. It is a narrow ridgeline with upturned rocks and views through the trees both east and west (the views are probably best in the winter). When we reached the junction with the Massanutten Trail, we turned downhill and made a quick descent down to the road and the car.

It was a nice hike, but there is a fair amount of road walking, which would be less pleasant on a blazing summer day. Three Top Mountain is really pretty. We had perfect winter weather: 30s and sunny.

Our friend and Michael walking up the road near the beginning of the hike.

Strasburg Reservoir from the dam.

Our friend's very dignified border collie on top of Signal Knob.

The view from the power line cut towards Front Royal.

The overlook I had missed several times before: northwest from Signal Knob

Cool ice patterns.

Moss in the snow.

The sun shining on snow on Three Top Mountain.

This tree broke in nearly a perfect square when it fell over.

Signal Knob - What a Difference a Week Makes

Three of us took advantage of the Federal holiday today.  We hiked a 10.6 mile loop including Signal Knob and Meneka Peak in the George Washington National Forest.  Signal Knob is at the north end of the west ridge of Mansanutten Mountain.  The weather today was a nice break from the cold that we had through most of December and the first half of January.  There were no clouds in the sky and by the afternoon, the temperature would be over 50 degrees.

We started up the orange-blazed Signal Knob Trail just ahead of a group of Boy Scouts.  Ten minutes into the hike we had to stop to shed layers. No hats and gloves were needed for the first time in weeks.  After yesterday's rain, most of the trail was clear of snow.  The trails in the Mansanutten area make one appreciate the less rocky trails of Shenandoah National Park.  This one is certainly no exception.  The Signal Knob Trail crosses several inactive rock slides that keep eyes focused on the trail.  Look up for too long and you will soon trip over a rock. 

At the signed Fort Valley Overlook, we took a couple of pictures.  From there, the trail curves around, following the ridgeline to the north to the junction with the Meneka Peak Trail.  As we climbed higher, patchy snow appeared in the woods.  Just beyond the junction, there was a short stretch of trail covered in snow, the only real snow we saw on the trail today.

Signal Know itself was sunny and warm.  We sat on the rocks, ate our lunch and chatted with a couple of mountain bikers doing nearly the same loop we were.  It is a rare treat to sit in the sun in January and not need a coat.  We returned to the Meneka Peak trail and followed it along the ridgeline to where it meets the Tuscarora Trail.  The Tuscarora Trail winds nearly four miles down the ridge into the valley where it meets up with the beginning of the Signal Knob trail, half a mile from the parking lot. All in all, it was a beautiful day and a great hike.

The Signal Knob Trail just above the first overlook.

The view southeast from the Fort Valley overlook.

The last remnants of snow on the trail.

Lichen and moss on a log.

A small waterfall on the Tuscarora Trail.