Sunday, July 28th Hike, Pocosin Mission, Shenandoah NP

THis is a great Sunday morning hike that is just 1 mile down a fire road to an old abondoned Epsicopal mission from the early 1900s with a hunting cabin (also abondoned) and the remains of the small stone and wood chapel with just the stone foundation and concrete steps the remaining parts of the chapel still visible amongst the forest.  The hike down begins at a modest parking lot and soon crosses over the Appalachian Trail and just beyond, a small Potomac Appalachian Trail Club managed cabin that is rented to club members.

We walked down the still washed-out fire road down to the old mission and hunted for an old cemetary, which i think we found with just rocks as the headstones just to the right of the chapel as the guidebook state it would be.  We soon headed back up to the parking lot and ended our morning hike and camping weekend on a beautiful summer morning. 

Head down Pocosin Fire Road (Last year this FR was severly eroded in several places due to heavy rains. It will be interesting to see if the trail has been repaired or made worse with this year's rains). At Mile 0.2, we'll come to Pocosin Cabin built in 1937 by the Civilian Conservation Corps.  After the cabin, the trail descends moderately.  At  Mile 1.0, we'll come upon the old Pocosin Mission, built in 1904.  Also nearby is an old Cemetery to the right (west).

Total hike will be 2 miles and about 1.5 hours.  Bring at least a liter of water, hiking boots, hiking poles, lunch/snacks, a hat, sunscreen, bug spray and sweat rag.