Discussion: Route 2

The crossing may be problematic. CFPA walk book suggests that you go around secondary roads.

Bruce & Co. went straight across when they did their Shenipsit Trail thru run a couple weeks ago. But I'm sure CFPA isn't advocating that option :-)

Bruce got into Western States, and Mark and Scott both got into Massanutten - so I'm thinking I'm going to be doing quite a bit of long distance running next year. Not sure what's on my agenda yet, but hopefully a return to rogaining if any decent events appear on the calendar...

The one at km 42 or the one at km 71?

The crossing at 42k is a simple, short detour on roads and then right back onto the rail trail. The detour at 71k is probably an extra mile+ to get to a point that's less than 100 meters away across 4 lanes and a wooded median.

The detour at 71k is probably an extra mile+

But what about.... THE CULVERT!... ?

I found one, but the water was deep and it was really, really dark in there.

You guys are gonna make me buy the book to figure out which crossings you're talking about huh? (I probably should get a copy and support CFPA) I'm assuming the 42km is I-384? Seems about right distance wise - that crossing isn't too bad.

it was really, really dark in there. - hatlamps are in order I suppose...

Take a closer look at the map you posted. Both are crossings of Route 2. West bound on the rail trail and then east bound on the Shenipsit.

oh, that makes sense now - I was assuming that since the airline trail crossed there that they had already worked out a suitable crossing on an old trestle or underpass. I hadn't zoomed in that close on the aerials to make it out. That map was just a quick draft to come up with rough mileage with the plan to go back and look at it more critically later - I just saved the URL to my log so I could quickly go back and retrieve it....

I had friends that claimed they went through the culvert with mt bikes some time ago. Lyn and I tried to find it more recently but couldn't and headed back to Birch Mt.

I think we need to get a champion culvert crawler down to make an official assessment....

I'll be happy to do it, but probably not in this weather. Maybe if it gets cold enough, or else once things warm up.

I was just kidding... I'll head out one of these days and scout that end of the route. Perhaps just run the stretch between the two Rt 2 crossings...

Of course, you're welcome to come down and join us when we actually attempt this foolishness...

Culvert report - found a double tube concrete culvert about 100 meters north of where the Shenipsit crosses Rte. 2. Large enough to drive atv's through, and it is obvious that it has been done. Stream running through both sides but I'd have been able to wade through with proper boots. Didn't check out the one that runs under the south bound lanes, but it's most likely the same. No need to culvert crawl. Looks to be about 5 ft high so a slight crouch should do it.

Thanks for the scouting report. Will log that in my notes...

Is it the kind of thing where you might be able to spread your legs wide and straddle the water? Or is the bottom flat?

Flat bottom. Today, one side was taking the bulk of the water, the other side maybe just an inch. Probably dry during the summer.

I checked out the culvert under the southbound side of Rte. 2 on Sunday, and it is the same as under the northbound. I didn't go through because the flow was 4" deep. In dry weather, the culvert should be an easy route across the highway that is only a few hundred meters north of the Shenipsit.