Forum Index > Trip Reports > Big Schloss and Mill Mountain (Virginia, Oct/10/’20)
 Reply to topic
Previous :: Next Topic
Author Message
GaliWalker
Have camera will use



Joined: 10 Dec 2007
Posts: 4916 | TRs | Pics
Location: Pittsburgh
GaliWalker
Have camera will use
PostSun Oct 11, 2020 11:18 am 
Fall colors are beginning to pop here in the mid-Atlantic. What better way to enjoy them than from atop Big Schloss, one of my favorite viewpoints in the region. I left Pittsburgh at 2:30am on the dot. The long drive had me pulling up at the trailhead for Little Stony Creek, on the eastern side 0f Mill Mountain, at 6:10am. 10min later I was on my way. It was more than an hour to sunrise, so still dark. The light from my headlamp led me 0.5mi back up the road to the trailhead for the Big Schloss Cutoff Trail. I took this up for 1.8mi to Mill Mountain’s spine. I turned left towards Big Schloss, a large rocky block studding Mill Mountain’s southern end. A mile later I took a left to head up to the summit. In total I would spend 2hrs there, taking pictures and modeling for ‘selfies’. Overcast conditions meant that fall colors were more muted than I’d hoped for, but it was still great.
1- Big Schloss appears (selfie)
1- Big Schloss appears (selfie)
2
2
3
3
4
4
5- Looking at my remaining hike (selfie)
5- Looking at my remaining hike (selfie)
6- This was a pretty difficult selfie to take. After setting up the camera near the top of a steep rocky gully below the summit, I continued down. The downclimb culminated in two 6ft vertical cliff sections with a tiny ledge in the middle. The rock finger I'm standing on lay at the base of the cliff.
6- This was a pretty difficult selfie to take. After setting up the camera near the top of a steep rocky gully below the summit, I continued down. The downclimb culminated in two 6ft vertical cliff sections with a tiny ledge in the middle. The rock finger I'm standing on lay at the base of the cliff.
7- The setup for the selfie taken above (photo taken later on)
7- The setup for the selfie taken above (photo taken later on)
8
8
9
9
10- Strike a pose (selfie)
10- Strike a pose (selfie)
11
11
I retraced my steps to the junction with the Big Schloss Cutoff Trail, but continued along the Mill Mountain Trail. This was mostly a pretty forested walk, with one overlook hosting a nice view of the Trout Run Valley to the west. I rolled over the treed summit of Mill Mountain to intersect the Tuscarora Trail.
12- Parting shot of Big Schloss
12- Parting shot of Big Schloss
13
13
14- Enjoying the fall colors (selfie)
14- Enjoying the fall colors (selfie)
I took a right on the Tuscarora Trail for 0.6mi and then another right on the Little Stony Creek Trail. A rocky 3.8mi down this one brought me back to the car.
15
15
16
16
Stats: 12.2mi, 2400ft gain, 7.5hrs (including 2hr at the Big Schloss summit)

'Gali'Walker => 'Mountain-pass' walker bobbi: "...don't you ever forget your camera!" Photography: flickr.com/photos/shahiddurrani
Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
awilsondc
Member
Member


Joined: 03 Apr 2016
Posts: 1323 | TRs | Pics
awilsondc
Member
PostSun Oct 18, 2020 1:18 pm 
Looks great out there! Thanks for the diagram. As I was going through the pictures I was like, how did he get that shot? It looked like it was from a drone, but now I know! I'm jealous of the incredible fall colors out your way. It seems fall is a bit behind here in the lowlands, but totally over in the high country.

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
GaliWalker
Have camera will use



Joined: 10 Dec 2007
Posts: 4916 | TRs | Pics
Location: Pittsburgh
GaliWalker
Have camera will use
PostSun Oct 18, 2020 8:54 pm 
I’ve always been intrigued by aerial photography, but since I get completely annoyed when I hear the buzzing sound of a drone I can’t ethically justify using one myself.

'Gali'Walker => 'Mountain-pass' walker bobbi: "...don't you ever forget your camera!" Photography: flickr.com/photos/shahiddurrani
Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
   All times are GMT - 8 Hours
 Reply to topic
Forum Index > Trip Reports > Big Schloss and Mill Mountain (Virginia, Oct/10/’20)
  Happy Birthday noahk!
Jump to:   
Search this topic:

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum