Sara Goes Hammock Camping! - Backpacking in Thornton Hollow
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- Опубликовано: 13 окт 2024
- Join Sara and I for a spring Hammock Camping and Backpacking trip in Shenandoah National Park. GPS data at www.sintax77.com
For a more detailed, easier to read trip report, with photos, maps and notes, you can view by blog post here: www.sintax77.co...
Parking Location: N38° 45.689' W78° 16.923'
From Front Royal entrance station, take Skyline Dr. S to mile marker 21 and park in the lot on the right not too far after Hogback Overlook.
Trails Used (in order) and Route Notes
Day 1
Start by heading south on the Appalachian Trail from the trailhead connected to the parking lot.
At the Junction with Tuscarora Trail, take a right to continue on Tuscarora Trail. (Yes, this is where we took the wrong turn and ended up back at Skyline Drive)
Take Matthews Arm Trail towards Matthews Arm Campground.
Pass the campground and cross over Skyline Drive.
From the other side of Skyline Drive take Elkwallow Trail.
Continue along ridge line, via Elkwallow Trail.
At the next junction, hang a right on Thornton Trail to begin descending back towards Skyline Dr.
Cross the road to continue on Thornton Trail.
Decent camping opportunities become available as you approach the Thornton River. A potential area on the right (that we skipped) is marked in my GPS data file for the trip.
Continue on Thornton Trail. From this point on, the trail will cross back and forth across the river several times, before any particular decent camping areas appear.
Reach the intersection with Hull School Trail. There are reportedly several decent camping oppurtunities within range of this intersection. We chose to continue down Thornton Trail a little ways and camp not to far from the river as a water source.
Setup camp along Thornton River.
Stats for Day 1
Mileage: 12.1 miles
Gross Ascent: 1,621'
Gross Descent: 3,632'
Day 2
Break Camp and follow Thornton Trail back to trail junction.
Hang a right to head uphill on Hull School Trail
Continue on Hull School Trail, crossing the Piney River, and passing the Bolen Family Cemetery.
Take the Keyser Run Fire Road towards the Little Devil's Stairs Trailhead Parking area, and Rt 614.
At the parking area, head up Little Devil's Stairs Trail, though the canyon. Prepare for numerous zig-zags over flowing water and potentially slick rocks, depending on recent rainfall and time of year.
After gaining 1,200' or so climbing out of the canyon, reach the the intersection to reconvene with Keyser Run Fire Road once again. At this point you can either stay in the woods by heading left towards Pole Link Bridge and Sugarloaf Trails, which will take you back to the AT and ultimately your car, or hang a right on the fire road towards Skyline Dr for a road hike along several scenic overlooks. We chose the latter.
Return to the parking lot on Skyline Drive.
Stats for Day 2
Mileage: 10.4 miles
Gross Ascent: 3,133'
Gross Descent: 1,237'
Trip Totals for 2 Day Overnight Loop
Total Mileage: 22.5 miles
Gross Ascent: 4,754'
Gross Descent: 4,869'
Notable Gear Items - For full lists, head over to www.sintax77.co...
Sara
Dream Hammock Darien Ultralight Hammock with Dutch Clips and cinch buckle suspension system.
Hammock Gear Cuben Hex Tarp with Zing-It guy lines and Dutch Wasps for quick tension adjustment.
Osprey Hornet 46 backpack.
Shawn
Dutchware PolyD 1.2 Hammock with Dutch Speedhooks and Kevlar Tree Hugger suspension system.
Hennessy Deluxe Hex Tarp with Dutchware continuous ridge line kit (30' Zing-It, Dutch Hook, Dutch Wasp, and two soft shackles) and Dutch Tarpworms shock corded to each corner tie-out point.
EMS Longtrail 70 backpack
Generic Canister stove amzn.to/2uCSNej
and Toaks 750 ml titanium pot amzn.to/2uYfcFy for boiling water needed to re-hydrate those ridiculously tasty PackIt Gourmet meals.
Sawyer Squeeze amzn.to/2w0V428 rigged up in gravity mode, using a few dollars worth of 1/4" tubing and adapters that I grabbed on a whim from the Dutchware site while picking up the previously mentioned Tarpworms. So far, it's working great - I don't know why I didn't do this sooner!
Post-Hike Cheeseburger Spot
The Backseat Bar and Grill, in Winchester, VA
Sara definitely stole the show! Hope she makes it into more future videos
This channel is great because it's fun, educational, and interesting. Keep up the great work.
+Luke Denham Thanks, Luke! Nice to hear that you're enjoying the content.
I absolutely love watching all your videos especially when Sarah is with you. I really enjoy her sense of humor and sarcasm
Your videos are good. Your videos with Sara are better. She adds an element of fun that just makes the videos more enjoyable to watch.
I think the general consensus is: Sara should be in more videos and I could not agree more. Great effort man, you put a-lot into it and its much appreciated, all the best..
Sara's cool. Like her sense of humor. Thumbs up on the couple trip!
So glad to finally see you and Sarah alone together one this vid. Episodes such as this seems to elevate the interest level; perhaps to a wider market of folks that can use your learning curve to jump right into hiking vs. hesitating over ignorance.
Please consider more of these "duo" backpacking trips if possible.
As this video is 5 years old you may not see this but Im commenting anyway.
Dude, I love you videos. These are so much fun to follow and learn about backpacking. I am been a camper my whole life and Backpacking as always intrigued me but I have never started. At the start of the year I came upon your videos and now I am obsessed. I have to get out a go backpacking. Especially hammock camping. I do a "mans" camp trip every year with my boys and now I want to make it a backpacking trip for next year. Sadly my funds are low so I cant get some of the cool gear you use in your videos but that wont stop this guy. I've got a hammock but need to find an affordable underquilt. My try for a used one to get me started. Watching your trips has jazzed me up to get out and go backpacking. Thank you so much for the time you put into your videos. I also love how you seem to eat best when you lady goes with you. That's just so funny. Anywho, you should check out Cheaha or Oak Mountain down here in Alabama. Nothing compared to the White Mountains or Dolly Sodds but they are still real nice, that's where we normally go car camping. I hope I will be able to get a backpacking trip planned soon. I am just so obsessed with learn more about it.
Thank you again and God bless you sir.
Thanks for making these videos. It makes time between hiking a lot less depressing lol.
As always...TOP NOTCH! As an aside, I appreciate that you are a VW fan as well! Great gear and great set up with both hammocks. Thanks for sharing this trip.
Sean you need to get Sarah out more on your vids your interaction with her makes your videos better! Thanks for sharing?
You guys are awesome, I really enjoy watching you guys having fun! Video request for Sara to do a video where she narrates the whole thing! LOL! Keep up the good work!!
Excellent video. Loved all the detail on your gear. That was awesome letting your wife sleep in while you made her morning coffee. A true class act! Creepy Tree Lol.
YOU BOTH MADE IT LOOK LIKE A LOT OF FUN. AWESOME!
WILL HAVE TO GET SOME PACKIT GOURMET SEEMS LIKE EVERYONE ENJOYING THEIR FOOD! WILL HAVE TO CHECK INTO THE TOP QUILTS & UNDER QUILTS JUST GOT A HAMMOCK HAVEN'T USED IT YET.LOVE YOUR VIDEOS EVERYTHING IS IN FOCUS AND CAN HEAR YOU TALKING PERFECTLY. HOPE TO SEE SEE MORE OF YOUR TRIPS THANK YOU! YOU HELP US ALL OUT & SHOW US GREAT PLACES TO EXPLORE & WHAT TO EXPECT DEPENDING ON THE WEATHER. GOD BLESS! BE SAFE!
Awesome trip! Thanks for taking us along. Cheers
Thanks for another fantastic video of the wilderness! I enjoy watching your channel very much. It allows me to visit the woods and "go along" with you to places I could no longer get to. (disabled,back injuries). I would also like to comment on your delightful Wife, She is a joy, and it's so nice to see her along with you. Keep up the good work, looking forward to the next adventure!
Thanks, Ronny! Sorry to hear you can't get out to someof these places as much. We'll keep the videos coming :)
excellent guy you both...thats nice to see couple's out together hiking &camping.. enjoy one another
Hi, Shawn and Sara 👍🏻👍🏻 Great hiking and hammock camping adventure 👍🏻 I am enjoying your videos ,thanks for sharing, enjoy and have a Great Saturday !!! Danny
Great video as always. I just got back from an overnight hang myself on the Black River, my third backpacking and hammock camping trip. There is nothing better than hanging next to a river to fall asleep to. Watching videos by you and Shug inspired me to take up hammock camping and I LOVE it! Thank you!!
Every week I wait for you to post a new video of a trip. I just want you to know I enjoy every video I watch of you & Mike. I'm hoping to one day bump into y'all and buy you guys a beer. Keep up the great videos!
Bringing the wife along was a perfect compliment to your trip. Amazing lady congratulations. Keep up the videos.
I just love the way you present your video a 50/50 presentation on technical and fun camping. Great job man!
excellent vid looks like you guys had a great time.sarahs quilt looks cozy..look forward to the next vid
Great video! Thanks for helping those of us who couldn't get our this Memorial Day weekend get a taste of the outdoors.
Top notch video, as usual. Glad to see Sara enjoyed the hammock, set up. For some reason my wife just never got use to a hammock, although our boys love them. Lol watching you guys ,reminds me it is time to re-supply my pakit gourmet stash. That is a great set up you have going on there, especially the worms, looks like I will be giving Dutch some more money soon.... Thanks for letting us tag along,
Another great video watched it again tonight with my camping buddies drinking a few beers. Thanks for another great video
Finally gettin time to watch.. .love it! Sara kicks butt.
Awesome video, as usual! I enjoyed your explanation of the hammock and tarp setup that you used. I want to begin using my hammock on trips more often and it's always nice to see how other people set up their gear. Thanks for sharing.
I Love watching al your video's but really enjoy seeing you both sometimes its nice to have company.
Love all your videos! Hikers, when they are not hiking, watch other people hike :) I've been cruising high Sierras last year, really starting to get into it. It's been cool to get the perspective on what some of the East coast wilderness looks like. Thanks for your time and effort sharing your content.
I have no idea how I came upon your channel and I'm not an outdoors man, but after watching your videos I wanna go backpacking hammock style that is.
Sean, I was digging around through your older videos and stumbled upon this one. This whole area you hiked around was part of where I spent my weekends back in the 70’s. Looks about the same as it did 40 years ago.
Very much enjoyed the video and I love it when wives join in the adventure.. I was totally impressed with how well Sara hiked and especially how she climbed those stairs. She must work out regularly. Great job.
It's awesome to see you and your wife enjoying this trip. I love hiking and camping with my wife and family. Awesome gear too, I may have to do something similar with my ridge line. Thanks for sharing man.
-Jacko
Love Sara's top quilt! Just picked up one myself :) You should include Sara in more reviews!
There were words!! haha Good on ya guys, looks like you had a LOT of fun, thx for sharing it with us.
The two of you together are entertaining to follow on a hike. Love the vid and thanks for sharing your experiences.
Always enjoy your trips, and the videos you make..
Hey Sintax, if you run your ridgeline under the tarp it gives you a nice place to hang stuff since space is limited with a hammock. I find it's real handy to keep stuff up over the hammock in case it's raining or whatever. Another great video. Love watching them all. Keep it up man.
Great video, nice your wife could join you on this little adventure. Thanks for the trek...
Hello Syntax, thank you for sharing this fine family video with Sara. It's good to see both of you out on the trail. I enjoyed the tagalong. It was a really fun trip. All the best to both of you. 🤗🤗
Awesome trip! Must be great to have someone to enjoy the outdoors with. Thanks so much for the share!
You guys are a great hiking team! Thanks for another great hike! Very enjoyable!
Thank you for bringing me along i very much enjoy your videos they fill my need for the outdoors when i cant,your darling wife is adorable great video
Cheers,man,
I love all of your videos.
Thanks for sharing them with us!
Just finished watching everything!
Great detail,lovely wife.....awesome adventure!
hey, another awesome video ... keep up the great work and demonstration of cool gear ... because of you I have added dutchware stuff to my arsenal and I love it!
Nice Trip Guys!! Thanks for bringing us along. I have to say your Quickly converting me to try a hammock . I don't do much deep winter camping any longer cause im getting soft LOL! So the comfort of a hammock with all the new quilts and such might be welcome!! Thanks again for the trip report..
K
Nice vidja!!! That sign is freakin' hilarious!!!! A sign to tell people there's a sign coming!
What a great trip and video, Sara was the star in this one!. You both seem to have such good time. I have been eagerly looking for this years vids and this was the best. Thanks again : One Dollar Dave, Sticker is on the truck.
Great vid Sintex, and congrats to Sara on her first hammock camping. Looking forward to more. Love your input on gear. Thanks.
Hey Sintax .... I recently subscribed to your amazing channel, and I just want to say I thoroughly enjoyed all your hiking vids. As always, this video was amazing as well. Really looking forward to your summer adventures' videos!!! Keep hiking!!
Neel Patel Thanks, Neel - glad you're enjoying the videos. There's more to come!
nice to see your wife out on the trip. i could not get mine to hammock camp. glad you had a good trip.
Sintax, love your videos man. You have inspired my buddy Shawn and I to create our own channel and videos. We actually just finished a trip to the Allegheny National Forest and did video documentation. Also my wife and I have finally upgraded to hammock camping and it is amazing, never sleeping on the ground again!! Keep up the awesome videos and gear reviews.
Appreciated the improvement in scenery! I am sure Mike would agree!! Hi Mike!
Great gear wrap-up....especially your explanation on "cordage" and "clips". Not into over-night backpacking (yet), just day trips. Have stayed a number of times at Big Meadows Campground there in Shenandoah in our RV trailer. I'll have to say of all the sections of the AT, the section running thru Shenandoah is the best maintained.
Loved the video. You two are a lovely couple. It looked as though you really enjoyed yourselves. The area is fantastic. Keep making the videos.
Another great video , Thanks again for taking us along
Sara is an absolute beauty! Well done mate!
Taking a break from my cycle touring holiday in France (Mortain) to watch your video. Keep on posting your great vids.
Another great video, I enjoy all of them, and already looking forward to the next one !!!!
Congratulations Sara!! Would love to try hammock camping ourselves but vested in ultralite cuban tent (cost a bloody fortune) so for now, happy. We (the J and C of the Barns') would love to run into you Sintax. So happy to see Sara out there with you. It is always just Cheryl and John team when we go overnight or for extended months on trail. Makes for a great partnership in life, love to see your videos.
Another great video/trip. Glad to see Sara getting out and enjoying some of the trips with you. I know I have been slowly introducing my wife into the backpacking/camping lifestyle. Can't wait to move back to the states.
If Sara like Pepsi and beer, I recommend trying a Cola-Weizen. It's part coke and part hefeweizen beer. It may seem weird or gross at first but lots of people over here in Germany drink them. Or even, banana-weizen. Uses banana juice and a good hefenweizen.
You Sara and hiking awesome vid, Thanks for sharing it was great!!!
Love your long and chill videos. One thing for those who watch, much of the stuff is not really needed. You don't need a 28 dollars ridge line, 2 bucks a piece contraptions for your guylines, special Kevlar strapping to hang the hammock, etc. If you learn to use some basic knots, you can use cheap, hardware store bought, straps and lines to get the same results (ok, the contraptions might make things a little bit easier, but for a lot of extra cost).
GREAT VIDEO. I'm planning on doing a backpacking trip next summer.
Miss seeing Sara and Denali in your current videos. I hope all is well! Bring them back! Merry Christmas 🎄 and a Happy New Years to you and your family! I hope you see this! 😁
Thanks, Monica. Same to you! They're doing well, just waiting until things warm back up again, haha.
This was so fun! I love watching you two. Y'all are just so adorable 😍.
You sure do take care of your beautiful wife, you're a good man.
Thank you for showing everything and what they are used for and how to use them, you're awesome
Thanks for sharing this awesome video and for all your hard work and time you put into them.
I must continue my binge watching lol 😆
KEEP ADVENTURING
GOD BLESS Y'ALL
🤗HUGS🤗
Great trip guys I really enjoyed it. I've ran into a viewer once and it was so cool to be recognized.
Another great video and maybe get some of Big Agnes mtnGlow lights for the light party, really inspiring watching y'all enjoy the outdoors.
Gosh, it's a few months later and I've watched this again! I live near the PCT, but this is good stuff you got here. Big fan of you, Shugs , and out here west, LandmarkAdventures.
Great video great filming great scenery just subscribed going out Friday night myself hammocking now I'm going to check out another couple of your video's ATB Nobby in the uk
love your videos .... your red river gorge video prompted me to start doing my own (lots from that area)
i just want to say thanks for showing us your new filter i made one as well and makes water filtration a hundred times easier!
Wow. I literally did this trail in reverse a few months ago. Don't worry, we got lost that direction too. Little Devil Stairs was pretty murderous on the knees going down. Thanks for sharing your adventure, as always.
JohnsHouseofFun Oh man, yeah I read about some routes that took Little Devils Stairs down, but I decided to avoid that by reversing course. You probably got a different and really cool view by going down, though! Oh, and not to mention that climbing up that thing was pretty murderous on the quads, haha.
The worst part about the route I took was walking the fire road uphill...
Loved it!! I realize since my hiking days how much the gear and devices have changed. If I ever get brave and daring and take to the trails again (albeit more gently than I used to), I see I'm gonna have a heap of new learning that I'll need to know. Thanks, both of you ...... me - from your favorite hikiing area - the Whites:-)
Great trip man! Thanks both of you for sharing.
I've done little devils staircase in the opposite direction you and Sarah took it and the elevation is quite a killer so you guys were smart taking it the way you did.
I LOVE sara's quilt! prittee colors! :)
Awesome video! Motivated me to plan a luxurious hike! Haha
i just love you videos, especially the detailed descriptions you do. Please run the camera showing you assembling the hammock camp next time.
When I was starting to think about backpacking I found you and your videos. You made everything seem super accessible. You have your way of doing things but I love that you don't have to be super lightweight and bring luxuries whenever you feel like it. It helped me be comfortable experimenting with different things until I found a setup that I was comfortable with. I grew up camping, but ended up in Southern California for college and became a city boy. Now in my 30's i'm just starting to get back into it. In the last 18 months I've gone on over dozen backpacking/camping trips and now I've been leading groups into the wilderness and bringing first time backpackers onto the trails. I'm even working with a buddy on a website to help people get out there easier.
When are you heading out to the West Coast? The Sierras are calling :).
Kenneth Dong Right on, man. Congrats on getting back out and there - sounds like a great time. And yes, I would love to check out the Sierras some day. Looks pretty awesome :)
Another great video..always enjoy yours vids..thanks
Just ordered some Packitgourmet. Hats off to Sara for planning this one.
You guys are great, love watching your videos! I've been looking at the Dutchware can't wait to get some and lighten my load ;)
Great Video Sintax77, you should def make more of these where you take a guess from your subscribers to the trail.. Also where did you get the food from??
BTW... Don't forget the "Party Lights"!
LOL.
You are 1 lucky guy. Cheers to you all.
good pov experience. You two make it look
too easy for a 70 yr old perfect candidate
for the tv series Fat Guy In The Wilderness.
AWESOME!!!! Really enjoyed the video.
Thank you for making these inspiring videoes. This one might even convince my wife to go on a backpacking trip with me ;)
Greetings from Denmark :)
Hey sintax, I use your same set up for your tarp save for my tarp sleeve. You can get the tarp sleeve no see um material form dutch and make your own. They basically hold your tarp and line together so you can just hang it up and furrow each side of your tarp to tag down. It would great in the wind, and too keep everything organized!
They are called Snake Skins.
Enjoyed your video! You two are cute together. Sara has a good personality, very bubbly and fun!
Love your vids. Can you talk to the networks and maybe get a weekly series? I got hooked last year watching your trips. Never leave home without the Mrs , she enhances watchability. Peace
Your lovely wife added a bunch of class to the backwoods experience by color coordinating her nail polish with the lining in the quilt and her dry ducks rain wear. When the wife is along you should possibly consider adding a small flask of Bailey's to your load out for the morning coffee. Looks like a great weekend to spend with the wife. I just wished my wife would backpack. Her idea of hiking is walking a groomed trail around the local park & ball field. LOL Another great video.
I love finding old vehicles like that. There is a jeep trail that runs parallel to the Conemaugh gap Its got an old vehicle like that but its not nearly as old as the one you showed. I also found a door from a truck on part of the Lost Turkey Trail it wasn't even in that bad a shape.
I love the ridge over the AT in that area!
My boxed wine of choice is also Bota Box but it is a blend called Redvolution. It has accompanied me on every campout. The Bota Box Cab would be my second choice if Redvolution were not available. Great video!
As always, fantastic video!
Top Vid, enjoyed that. my wife and I also spend time out and about together. cant beat it thanks.
Yup Sara is a really nice trail/ tent buddy! Yup! 😀
Awesome, man! Can't wait to watch this one.