Appalachian Trail VA - Ashby Gap to Manassas Gap - Dick's Dome and Whiskey Hollow Shelters
Continuing my section hike of the Appalachian Trail Southbound, I
decided to pick up where I left off at the parking at 601 near I50 and
continue through Sky Meadows State Park to Dick’s Dome Shelter, the new
Whiskey Hollow Shelter at the same location, and through to Manassas Gap
Shelter. This leaves a small section between Jim and Molly Denton and
the roadside parking at US 522 left for me to complete in this area. The
trail up to Sky Meadows, although not rough, is a constant ascent for
2.8 miles with an elevation gain of almost 1000’. Once up top, the rest
of the trail to Manassas Gap is fairly mild. Sky Meadows State Park has
wonderful smooth trails that are easy to hike. There are some views up
top in the meadows before getting back into the woods. Once past Dick’s
Dome, the trail gets pretty dull. Dick’s Dome shelter was really cool. I
kind of like it even though it gets a bad rap online. The new Whiskey
Hollow Shelter just uphill is super nice, although tent spots are
sparse. I would have hiked back to stay there once I hit Manassas Gap,
except it was really crowded and did not want to risk a bad after dark
arrival. There appears to be ample water from the nearby brook and there
is a little bridge that crosses the water. North a little way is a tent
site in the southern section of Sky Meadows. Although a nice site,
there does not appear to be a privy nearby and the spring on the trail
is just a trickle. The trail between Dick’s Dome and Manassas gap is
non-eventful. There is great water a Manassas Gap shelter and the tent
sites, although few, are nice. I used my larger winter White Cloud 6500
for this hike and it was way too big. I need to use my smaller 3400 for
these hikes. This hike was about 11 miles each way (in and out) making
my distance hikes for the weekend 22 miles. 😊
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