Hawksbill

Matthew near the summit

Hawksbill (4,050ft) – Shenandoah National Park Highpoint

Eric and Matthew Gilbertson

November 28, 2015

Matthew and I had hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2007, but unfortunately weren’t yet working on National Park Highpoints then. If we were, we would have realized that the trail passes within a quarter mile of Hawksbill, the highpoint of Shenandoah National Park.

So in 2007 we got very close to the highpoint, but didn’t quite reach it. In 2013 we traveled to Maryland for Thanksgiving and wanted to climb Hawksbill then, but that year the Blue Ridge Parkway was closed early due to snow. We weren’t really prepared for the longer approach, so again missed out climbing Hawksbill.

In November 2015 we went to Maryland again for Thanksgiving, and that year the Blue Ridge Parkway was open. Our dad and brother Jacob joined us on the Saturday after thanksgiving as we drove into Shenandoah National Park. We drove in from the north to Hawksbill Gap and parked the car. From there it was a steep but short hike up to the summit, capped by a small day-use shelter.

That evening we made it back to Amanda’s place for a big dinner.

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