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First aidTop O' The Mountain LbNA #42926

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Aug 20, 2008
Location:
City:Harrisonburg
County:Rockingham
State:Virginia
Boxes:1
Planted by:mountain buffalo
Found by: Hopper
Last found:Jun 21, 2016
Status:FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFa
Last edited:Aug 20, 2008
TOP O’ THE MOUNTAIN - CLUES

From Harrisonburg (Rte I-81), drive East on Rte 33, 12 miles to Resort Dr. which goes to the Massanutten Four Seasons Resort. Turn Left onto Resort Drive. From the East, you take Rte 33 West for 5 miles from Elkton to the Resort Drive turn and it will be a right turn. Follow Resort Dr about 2 miles and turn left into the resort area. (following the signs to the ski area). You will pass through a guard gate. Stay in the left lane and tell them you are going to the ski area. They will give you a guest pass (or they might just wave you through).

After the guard gate, you are on Massanutten Dr. Go 2 miles to Del Webb Dr. Take a right turn onto Del Webb (your only turn choice). Follow Del Webb 2.6 miles to the overlook and park. From your car, walk to the south end of the overlook...you’ll be facing the ski slopes. Enjoy a fantastic view of the area called the kettle. It is called that because it is shaped like a kettle in the mountain. From here you can see the golf course, ski area and way off in the distance if it’s not too cloudy, you can see the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Appalachian Trail runs along the Blue Ridge and you can go hike there if you have time. The Skyline Drive also runs along the Blue Ridge and it is a beautiful drive.

You are now at an elevation of about 2900 ft. and ready to begin a short walk to the box. Facing the ski slopes, turn 180 degrees and face across the length of the parking lot. At the far end of the lot and across the road you will see a path heading into the woods. That’s your trail, so head out and have fun. During your walk enjoy the beautiful scenery and look through the trees into the distance. To your left in the distance will be the Alleghany Mountains; to your right, the Blue Ridge Mountains.

When you enter the trail, begin counting steps from the pavement. You are walking through an upland oak forest with lots of mountain laurel. If you’re here in late Spring, the flowers will be gorgeous. The trail will be marked by blue blazes on trees; some are easy to see and some are faint. But it is an easy trail to walk and to follow. You will be going a little more than 600 steps total. Along the way the trail goes around and old dead fallen tree that is very decayed. Then you will come to a very large double stemmed oak on the left; a short distance and you will see a large double stemmed oak on the right and then a another large double stemmed oak on the left. These are all right near the path and pretty much within eyesight of each other. At about 500 steps, there is an oak tree on the right side of the trail with an easy to see blue blaze. Continue for another 110 steps to another oak tree with a blue blaze. The trail splits and goes around both sides of this tree. Look to the West (towards the Alleghany Mts) and you will see a very large dead tree which is leaning on another tree. It is about 30 feet from the trail. Go to that tree and search around in the leaves near the base.

GOOD LUCK AND THANKS FOR VISITING!