Prep for Signal Knob - Part 2

The Signal Knob hike has some historical interest, in addition to being the kind of challenging route my hiking team is interested in – here’s an excerpt on some of the Civil War significance of the mountain there.

Map and excerpt from: http://www.shenandoahatwar.org/cluster_cedar_creek.html
Confederate observers on Signal Knob at the north tip of Massanutten Mountain were in a position to view battles and movements in three counties throughout the Civil War. The Massanutten is a 60-mile long north-south range that splits the Shenandoah Valley along its spine from Strasburg to Harrisonburg. Front Royal on the east and Strasburg on the west are located at narrows formed by the mountain and the two forks of the Shenandoah River. These choke points channeled opposing armies' movements and influenced commanders' operational decisions throughout the war.

This article goes on to describe Confederate and Union campaigns taking place in 1862 and 1864. The Confederates were led by Stonewall Jackson at the time, and the Union forces by Philip Sheridan.

Just as then, the views from this former lookout are a big part of the attraction. I am looking forward to this one.