|
| By:
|
Rating:  |
Date of Hike: Saturday, May 08, 2010 |
| 4 hours? Not for an overweight, out-of-shape old f**t like me. It took me 4 hours UP and about 3 down. But I was determined to make it because I had heard about the plane crash years ago when I started dating my wife (a Crozet resident at the time) and had always been curious about the site. Finding my way was easy: I had the route loaded into my GPSr and the trail was well marked with surveyor's tape. While the views are few with the trees leafed out, they are spectacular.
|
|
| By:
Gaurav
|
Rating:  |
Date of Hike: Saturday, May 01, 2010 |
Started at 2:30 pm on a muggy Saturday afternoon with temperature soaring to 90s. It is a relentless hike. Mostly ascent. Hardly any time to recover. Make sure to descend under the electric pole and continue on the plain part till you see orange ribbons. As I headed on that trail, it became indiscernible and it was bushwalking. Lot of bugs on the way. Just short of the wreckage, saw a wooden pole with a car key on it. That was spooky. As we reached the topmost part of the wreckage, saw a couple of people heading down. I asked them if there was any vantage point nearby. They told me that they had been lost for one a half hour and were happy to see me.
I decided to head down as it was feeling dark ( it was around 4:30 p.m.) The thick vegetation is very deceptive. Definitely a great hike for workout. Not so much as far as views are concerned.
|
|
| By:
Jeff M
|
Rating: |
Date of Hike: Saturday, March 06, 2010 |
| The Charlottesville Chapter of the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club took this hike as one of its Saturday hikes in March. The fact that we had a group approaching 20 hikers made this trip more difficult, especially because some hikers got ahead of the group. Immediately after leaving the established trails in Mint Springs, you find yourself under high tension wires. The land is basically denuded, but there are several trail options under these wires. The lead hikers logically took the steeper path, but this was the wrong option. We ascended at a 30% grade to the overlook rock listed on the map, then traversed across the mountain maintaining the same elevation from that rock. The problem in early March was that there was still substantial snow at that elevation. Five of us eventually made it to the wreckage, and descended more directly so as to miss the snow.
On a return partial hike, I discovered the ribbons marking the route, though the suggested route is still exceptionally steep in parts - 28% by my calculation. Overall, a great workout!
Researching the Albemarle Tax Maps, I believe that the land to the first overlook is owned by Albemarle County, even though it is not technically included as part of Mint Springs Park. I believe that the land that the wreck is on is owned by Nepenthe Land Corporation of Richmond. That is what the tax maps appear to say, but it is difficult to determine the wreck's exact location on those maps.
|
|
| By:
|
Rating: |
Date of Hike: Sunday, November 08, 2009 |
We hiked from Mint Springs parking lot to the crash site, following a route marked by pink and sometimes orange ribbons tied to trees. The only value of the GPS receiver I had with me was to verify that we were headed in the right direction. The reason for rating the hike "a great hike" and not a favorite is that Karen likes fire trails for paths and I like bushwacking where there are no paths...orienteering. It was neither. The primary purpose of the hike was to enjoy a sunny November afternoon in the Blue Ridge mountains while taking on the challenge of a difficult climb to the sight of a local tragedy recently recognized in the media. Besides seeing only one other couple making their way up the mountain on another route, we saw no one else . We did manage to see a juvenile black bear that our black lab had set in motion (notice that Dixie is smart enough for a lab not to give chase).
Our question of the day: where is the rest of the wreckage? All we saw was a wing section, the nacelle from an engine and a few other pieces that I could not identify with any certainty. Does anyone know what became of the the fuselage and engines?
GPS fix on the crash site: N38.10396 W78.73380 2581ft
HikingUpward Note: We have been told that much of the aluminum wreckage was scavenged off the mountain and sold as scrap metal.
|
|
| By:
tom et familie
|
Rating: |
Date of Hike: Saturday, July 04, 2009 |
| Great directions, THANKS! I have Phil Bradley's book and the "directions" included are worthtless.I met him at our public library when he was first promoting his book and became interested in making this trip then. Had a little tough time finding the trail leading from the Big Survey Trail toward the plane wreckage. If this helps, there was a broken piece of brown pottery and a rusty piece of (heavy) cylindrical metal embedded in the Big Survey Trail (BST) at this intersection. Not sure their story but turn off BST at that point and go under power lines. Also, the power lines and vegetation cut for power lines are visible from BST. I didn't check time well leaving from parking lot but got back in exactly 2 hours. A hiking stick will help, especially on the way back down. As a few said, an UPHILL trek! Enjoyed on the 4th of July.
|
|
| By:
BobNorthernVa
|
Rating: |
Date of Hike: Monday, May 04, 2009 |
| My wife and I are seniors with much day-hike experience. The Bucks Elbow hike (advertised as short but challenging) appeared appropriate to help us prepare for an upcoming week-long hiking trip. Also, we were in Crozet to visit relatives. The weather, as is often the case, did not cooperate the chosen day for hiking was in the middle of a period of unsettled weather...showers, drizzle, etc., day after day. We do not start such day hikes in the rain, but come prepared for rain thus this day, we were not deterred by the prediction for showers later in the day.
The hike was about as described by others, though we have a few observations to add. This day, the wet trail with fairly steep portions, added a bit of difficulty our hiking sticks were well used. Also, let it be said that the flags marking the trail need improvement. Some of them have fallen from the trees, having come untied. Perhaps they were never in sufficient number. At one point where the trail sharply turned, we had difficulty in staying on the trail (requiring a few minutes search). The trail in some areas is covered with new spring growth and/or leaves from last fall. While GPS equipment is not absolutely necessary in our view, it would have helped.
All in all we really liked the hike. It was as advertised, short (2 hours plus each way) and physically challenging. We missed the advertised views, which were obscured by low clouds. But we enjoyed the hike and will return on a sunny day.
|
|
| By:
B. Dallavalle
|
Rating: |
Date of Hike: Saturday, April 18, 2009 |
| Followed the guide on the trail page. It easily led us to the plane and beyond. The trail is marked well enough and travelled pretty well so it's easy to follow. The ascent/descent is pretty steep and there are some traverses over rocks so you will want poles. 4 hours was just about right. Great hike, good workout, and a great view of Crozet and points east.
|
|
| By:
|
Rating:  |
Date of Hike: Thursday, January 08, 2009 |
I really loved this hike. It was so good I hiked it again two days later with my cousin. I'm always in search of the biggest elevation gain in the shortest distance, and this hike provides exactly that it's the steepest hike in the area. Quite a good workout, it's like hiking Humpback Rocks three times. The trail is pretty rocky in places so make sure you wear good shoes, and the descent can be slippery it was raining the whole time I was hiking and I slipped several times in the mud coming back down. Not a real problem though as there are plenty of trees to grab ahold of. The wreckage is very interesting. I've lived in the area my whole life, and I'd heard of this wreck and always wanted to go visit it, but until this hike was posted I didn't know exactly where it was or how to reach it. Thanks a lot for posting this! This hike provides the best view of Crozet I've ever seen. I've always been disappointed at the lack of East-facing overlooks along Skyline Drive, you never get a really good view of Crozet and Charlottesville. This hike however provides an amazing view right down on Crozet and beyond, with Monticello and the orchards on Carter's Mountain visible in the distance. It's well worth the effort!
******************************
As a note to other hikers, I would highly recommend the side trek to the other excellent viewpoint. It's even better than the one past the wreckage. The place where the trail splits can be hard to catch -- I missed it the first time. After a long and very steep climb, there are a bunch of rocks piled up on the side of the trail leaning against a tree. Bearing right, the trail starts to level out and crosses a stream soon. Bearing left, the trail continues to be very steep. A little further on there is another intersection with a big rock leaning against a tree. On the rock at the 2nd intersection there is an arrow pointing back towards the first intersection that says "airplane." The good view is to the right here, and is a very steep climb -- even steeper than the earlier section. I don't know where the trail leads if you go straight, it's not marked on the map. This side trek pushes the total elevation gain for the hike above 3000 feet, but the view is spectacular and well worth the extra climb.
|
|
| By:
TrEdWaY
|
Rating: |
Date of Hike: Saturday, January 03, 2009 |
| Loved it! One of the toughest hikes in Va. I had clear weather and wouldn't recommend this hike in the rain. There are a lot of slick spots with not much to stop you from sliding. In a hurry I left my poles at home and missed them every second. The views from the top are worth every minute of these steep trails, or lack there of. Be in good shape and enjoy.
|
|
|
