Blue Rocks to The Pinnacle and Pulpit Rock Ruck
What was originally a plan to just get out and do a simple hike with a few guys turned into a full-fledged CSAUP. 12 PAX posted for the initial beatdown and were joined by another 8+ PAX along with 2.0s, M’s and other family members for a total of ~ 35 individuals.
Blue Rocks Campground very graciously allowed F3 to use the campground for the beatdown and their trail heads to the gain access to the Pinnacle and Pulpit Rock which were both closed from their public access points.
Disclaimer given (as well as signed for campground) and PAX took off on a ~ 700-yard mosey uphill and across road by the boulder field to a vacant campsite.
Dynamite lead the warm-a-rama with 12 reps each of SSH, Plank Jacks, Side Lunges, Mountain Climbers, Goof Balls, Merkins, Monkey Humpers, and Peter Parkers.
Trigger lead the first half of the workout by dividing the group into two teams of 6. While the first team did the prescribed exercise for a specified amount of time, the other team did SSHs. Teams alternated between the exercise and SSH without rest in between. Exercises consisted of Merkins, Derkins, Squats, Planks, and a bunch of others which I can’t recall.
Uptown Girl lead the second half with Super 21s – 20 Merkins:1 Ab exercise laddering to 1 Merkin:20 abs for a total of 210 Merkins and Abs. The abs included LBCs and Flutter Kicks.
Mosey back to the parking lot and shovel flag with a stop at the boulder field for a photo opt.
COT with PAX who joined for the ruck.
Most PAX carried a back pack with water and food but some (Uptown Girl) included a ruck plate up to 30 additional pounds.
The group set out to the trail head for the Pinnacle. The ruck/hike route was from the campground to the Pinnacle, then along the Appalachian Trail to Pulpit Rock and then down a trail back to the campground for a 6.5-mile hike with an elevation gain of over 900 feet. The group completed the ruck between 3.5 and 4.5 hours with stops at the overlooks for lunch and fellowship.
Some of the highlights included:
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- Knievel and his army of 2.0’s arriving ~15 minutes late and having to track us down and overtake the rear of the group.
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- Candy Land’s clan taking a wrong turn on the AT and not realizing their mistake until after a mile of hiking
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- False Start, Ranger Rick, and Amnesia blowing past the trail back to the campground, ending up at the Hamburg Reservoir, and having to hitch hike back to the campground via the road
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- Trigger, Katniss, and Lowes finding a slithering “friend” in a rock crevasse; looks like a copperhead to me…
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- Lots of fellowship and mumblechatter along the way
- Fantastic views from the overlooks
Nonetheless, everyone made it safely back (at least I think so but I never did get a firm head count in the beginning so who knows!).
Although the trek was challenging, I believe all enjoyed it and it can be declared a success! We’ll have to do this again!
Great times with great folks in the great outdoors!
