Want to explore the less traveled and beautiful fall color trail?

Update :Rescheduled to Nov 7 : Kindly,update your RSVP accordingly. Catlett Mountain - SNP, Virginia Fall Hike - A less traveled trail in a much popular Old Rag mountain area. If you are VERY active moderate to experienced hiker,seeking solitude and discovering less popular and somewhat more mysterious trials is in your mind this fall, this is a hike for you! "One of the less traveled hikes in the Shenandoah National Park, the Catlett Mountain circuit is one of the most beautiful hikes in the SNP for fall colors. Starting from the same parking area as Old Rag, leave the crowds behind, as you can do this hike and not see another person on the whole circuit." Source: www. hikingupward.com Distance: 10.5 miles Elevation Gain: 2010 ft Hike Time: 5.5 hours Difficulty: Strenuous. Not for beginners Trail Condition: OK, but a very steep section and heard there are some somewhat ankle twisting loose rocks but carefulness pays off! HikeType: A trail takes you to the head of a loop, after circling the the loop , you will be right back where you started the loop and will hike back to the head of the initial trail. Hiking shoes or boots: Encouraged Hiking Stick: Recommended Public Restrooms: Nada Camera: Absolutely! Fluids: Water and/ or Gatorade (50 oz - 75 oz suggested ) Food: Protein bars, fruits, Salty nuts, sandwich,etc. for snacking Bears: Somewhat good chance to spot one if we make less noise . Hope they will be at some distance and not come up right in front with a surprise Adventurous mood : Must as I am too hiking this trail for the first time!!!!!!! Inclement Weather: I will post and email a cancellation note by 6pm, the day prior to, if it is going to be canceled. This trail is not good to hike in rain or when it has just rained because of wet and slippery rocks. Please check throughly for MORE info on the trail, GO TO:- http://www.hikingupward.com/SNP/CatlettMountain/ Carpool is highly recommenced to save the mighty gas, share gas cost , entrance fee and most importantly to avoid waiting for the parking spot at the trail parking site as it a busy one in SNP! Yes, it's the classic Old Rag Lower Parking Lot. We are meeting at Centreville Commuter Park and ride lot at 7:00 A.M for that. (Directions to the carpool Location: From heading on I-66 W Take Exit 52 for US -29 South toward Centreville 0.4 mi Take Right at US-29 at Stone Rd Destination , Park and Ride Lot , will be on your Right) The target is get together people here at 7: AM and take as less cars as possible. Please call if you are running late.We should be leaving the commuter lot no later then 7: 15 A.M. Phone # will be emailed a day before the event. Please post in your RSVP ,if you will be going from commuter lot and if you need a ride or you're driving, how many you can take, Thanks. You can also contact one another regarding carpooling to commuter lot Fees: There is no meetup fee. There is an $8 park entrance fee per car. Please bring Park pass if you have one. For hikers who directly want to meet near the trail site parking area . Here is the address: Old Rag Lower Parking Lot on SR600/Nethers Rd. Sperryville, VA 22740. Directions: From I-66W Take exit 43A to merge onto Lee Hwy/US-29 S toward Gainesville/Warrenton 11.5 mi Take the US-29 Bus/US-211 W exit toward US-15 Bus/Warrenton/Luray 0.2 mi Merge onto E Lee Hwy/US-211 W/US-29-BR S Continue to follow US-211 W/US-29-BR S 1.8 mi Turn right at Frost Ave/US-211 Continue to follow US-211 27.0 mi Turn left at Sperryville Pike/US-522 0.1 mi Turn left at Main St/US-522 Continue to follow US-522 0.7 mi Turn right at Fort Valley Rd/VA-231 7.3 mi Turn right at Sharp Rock Rd 1.2 mi Turn right at Nethers Rd Follow Nethers Rd to the parking lot. For GPS users: Approximate street address is - 3100 Nethers Rd( /SR 600) Sperryville, VA 22740 - (Lat:38.56 Lon:-78.3) Hike start time: We will roll from the parking lot no later than 9:00 A.M Where is Trail head ? :From the Old rag Lower Parking Lot ,the trail head is 0.5 miles up to the Nicholson Hollow Trail turn off where SR600 veers left. For Fall Hiking Tips. Check out:- http://www.outdoorplaces.com/Features/Hiking/fall_hiking/ To read about Archeology of the area, Go to:- http://www.nps.gov/archive/shen/3b1c3.htm Please check out some pre-hiking winter stretching exercises on the internet and do some stretching before the start of the hike. Happy Fall!