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Knob Scramble LbNA #32259

Owner:Wisconsin Hiker
Plant date:Jun 22, 2007
Location:
City:New Market
County:Shenandoah
State:Virginia
Boxes:1
Found by: Blooming Rose
Last found:Oct 10, 2009
Status:FF
Last edited:May 15, 2016
Last checked/found: 22-JUN-07

Distance: 3-4 miles roundtrip
Time: 2.5 – 3.5 hours roundtrip
Terrain: Fairly steep shady rocky trail, with challenging rock scramble near box. Not recommended for children.

From I-81, take the New Market exit (Exit 264). Follow 211 east for 4 miles, through New Market until you climb the mountain. Turn left onto Crisman Hollow Road (FDR-274) across from the apparently defunct Visitor's Center. Follow this road approximately 5-6 miles, passing trail signs for three different trails along the way: koobyrotS, nettunassaM, and nrohtocS, When you reach the sign for keerC paG, park on the east side of the road.

Follow the road with blue blazes for a short distance to the first campsite. Here you’ll switch directions to cross the creek on a sturdy bridge, still following the blue blazes. The rocky and sometimes muddy trail will ascend for almost 45 minutes until you see the yellow trail merge. Stay true to blue for approximately another third of a mile. You’ll then reach a grassy area where you’ll see a firepit.

Watch for a white-blazed trail on the left. Ascend towards the knob. The blazes end at a rocky area (be sure to make note of some distinguishing features so you can find the path on your return trip). From here you can determine your own way to the highest point - scramble up the knob to reach it. This will probably require your hands in addition to your feet! The high point has a single pine at the edge of the rocks and a small old stump in the middle of the rocks. From the stump, take a bearing of 40 degrees to sight a double that is no longer lively. Walk towards it, but just before you reach it veer off on the path to the left until you get to the oak with a spout. From here take a dozen steps back (60 degrees?) to an angled slab that is 4-5 feet long and 1-2 feet wide. Look behind the top of the slab for the box so you can record your accomplishment. After enjoying the view from the top, you can backtrack to return to your vehicle. We hope you have as much fun on this hike as we did!

We’d really appreciate an update if you find the box, since we live very far away and can’t check on it. Thanks!!


Hike length: 3-5 miles