Roots and Rocks Adventures, LLC

Winter hiking in Shenandoah National Park? Be prepared! Cold temperatures, icy trails, and changing weather can turn a beautiful winter hike into a challenge if you’re not ready. Before you hit the trails in the park, make sure your pack includes these winter essentials:

Insulated, waterproof boots
Traction (microspikes or crampons)
Moisture-wicking base layers
Warm mid-layers + windproof shell
Hat, gloves, and extra socks
Navigation (map, compass, or GPS)
Headlamp + extra batteries (short daylight!)
Plenty of water & high-energy snacks
Emergency kit (first aid, whistle, space blanket)

Be sure to visit our website for more information about how to experience winter in the park: https://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/winter.htm

Preparation is key! Hike smart, check the forecast, and always tell someone your plan. What’s your must-have winter hiking gear?

Image: Traction device on a boot for winter hiking.

Despite the colder temperatures, winter is still a great time to explore Shenandoah National Park. Whether you are the sole explorer on a mountain top or trekking to experience a frozen waterfall, hiking during the winter can be exciting. However, it is essential to remember a few winter hiking tips before venturing into these winter wonderlands.

- Bring the right gear. Extra layers of waterproof/warm clothing, snacks and water, flashlights, and traction devices if you will be walking on snow or ice.

- Know your route. Snow-covered landscapes can look very different than they do in the summer. Don’t rely on your cell phone for directions -- always carry a map and compass (or GPS).

- Check the weather. Here in the park, weather conditions can change quickly. Be aware of local forecasts before venturing out.

- Know the trail conditions: Stop at the visitor center at Big Meadows and ask a ranger about the trail conditions.

Image: Snowy mountaintop view overlooking the valley and rolling hills below. Hightop Mountain Summit taken in 2021.

Been awhile since I did one of my all time favorite local trails but was able to get out to Half Moon outside Wardensville WV yesterday. There is a nice 10 mile loop that combines 4 trails and has a bit of everything, water, rocks, back country and a great overlook. In the first picture I am posting you will see part of a trail that is not well marked and tough to follow, if you are not familiar with it. This is why, even with the technology that is available to map trails, it can be important to have a guide who is knowledgeable of the ins and outs of our local trails.

www.rootsandrocksadventures.com
…time for a little R & R

I had the pleasure of guiding a couple from NY on two days of exploring while they were vacationing celebrating their 48th anniversary! We had a great time hiking the trails at Harpers Ferry WV and seeing the historic town. We then did the long trail up to Eagle Rock in Star Tannery VA and roaming the walking mall in Wi******er VA. Great times with some great people!
Let us take you on a tour this fall!
Time for a little R & R…
Roots and Rocks Adventures LLC

🤝 Thanks to the generous support from Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Arconic Foundation, and the 2025 AllTrails Stewards Fund, the Shenandoah National Park Trust has received full funding to launch a multi-year restoration project at the Dark Hollow Falls Trail in Shenandoah National Park!

🚧 Work is set to kick off in 2026 and will not only improve visitor safety, accessibility, and natural resource conservation efforts, but will also serve as a model for future trail innovation in the park.

⬇️ Click the link below to read the full press release and learn how the Trust supports impactful projects like this in Shenandoah for all to enjoy- for this and future generations.

https://www.snptrust.org/uncategorized/the-shenandoah-national-park-trust-secures-funding-for-major-trail-restoration-at-dark-hollow-falls/

📸NPS | N.Lewis

Yay! 😁

‼️ Update ‼️
Shenandoah National Park remains accessible during the government shutdown. Lodging, Waysides, and retail within Shenandoah National Park are currently open and operational.⁣
For updates on in-park services, please visit Shenandoah NPS at https://www.nps.gov/shen/⁣

Roots and Rocks Adventures had the privilege of working with the Sheridan School, a private school from the DC area that has outdoor adventures as part of their curriculum, in introducing 8 middle schoolers to backpacking. With the help of Lynne Donnelly, who is certified in outdoor education, we lead these amazing young people on an incredible adventure that included a vertical rock scrabble to a a beautiful overlook, a water crossing by way of a downed tree, and even some quiet moments of forest bathing for mindfulness. We we super impressed with the students and the staff!

We are happy to guide individual and groups of all ages. If you or a group you know would like to adventure with us, reach out for more info. We would love to help!

Rootsandrocksadventures.com

…time for a little R&R

Congratulations!! 🎉

Betty Kellenberger Just Became the Oldest Woman To Thru-Hike the AT at Age 80!

On September 12, Kellenberger made history by becoming the oldest woman to complete a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail.

The women’s age record previously belonged to Linda “Nana” Vanderloop, who finished the trail last year at age 74. Much like Vanderloop, Kellenberger didn’t set out on the AT with the goal of becoming the oldest woman thru-hiker. “The age record was incidental. In fact, I was nearly done before people started asking my age and suggesting I could be breaking the record,” she says.

She had been dreaming of thru-hiking since childhood.

To read the full story, head to the link in the comments 👇

Did you know we have tropical fruit want to be right here in our area? You may have heard of the town Paw Paw WV, but did you know it is a tree that bares a banana, mango type of fruit? Come join Roots and Rocks Adventures as we lead a Paw Paw hunting hike in Harpers Ferry WV tomorrow morning!