Ascent of Cape Henry on 2019-10-30| Date: | Wednesday, October 30, 2019 | | Ascent Type: | Unsuccessful - Turned Back | | Peak: | Cape Henry | | Location: | USA-Virginia | | Elevation: | 20 ft / 6 m |
Ascent Trip ReportFailure, but info for future attempts:
After reading previous TRs, it seems that the big hurdle is access to Fort Story, an Army base. I have previously used my military ID to let myself on to bases to bag peaks and I thought this one would go as I would have free reign once through the gate. Well, this was not to be the case. As expected, I had no issues with the gate and drove to the lighthouses for pictures first as that seems to be the thing to do here.
I first drove towards First Landing Rd and had to stop at the junction with Hospital Rd due to a gate blocking vehicle access. The gate was signed prohibiting all entry behind it under penalty of whatever punishment. The gate blocked the road and started as a fence to the SE, but there was no fence to the west. One could easily walk around the fence and up the paved road behind, but just after I left that fence, I saw 4 military police cars driving down hospital road, which makes sense as it was just a few minutes after 1500 (3pm), standard shift end time for 8 hr shifts on the base. I then headed along Hospital Rd to the west until it intersected with Desert Rd, which heads south. As soon as I turned on to Desert Rd there we signs denoting that it was a training area and entry was prohibited. Not far beyond the intersection were a lot of cars that presumably were allowed to be there as well as a lot of activity. I made a U-turn and left the area.
The phone number for range control is 757-422-7101. They would likely allow some type of access if you can get on the base and arrange a time. Since I am here in Norfolk mostly without a rental car, except today, I really cannot arrange a set time, so this one is likely a no-go for me unless I ever have the misfortune of being stationed here...
Pics |
This page has been served 63 times since 2005-01-15.
|
