Saturday, 24 August Destination: Campsite/Stream (MM 18.35) Today’s Miles: 5.35 Start Location: Route 44 and Trout Run Road (MM 23.7) Trip Miles: 5.35 A couple of months ago I got a call from Bob. Back in high school and college, Bob was my backpacking partner. We would usually pick the week before school started and…
Month: June 2019
2019 AT – Day Seven – Daleville
Wednesday, 19 June Destination: Daleville, VA 729.7 Today’s Miles: 15.5 Start Location: Campbell Shelter 714.3 Trip Miles: 93.8 Last night was my first night in a shelter since there were thunderstorms in the forecast. A light rain started as I settled into the shelter. As it started to rain hard, a lady thru hiker from Venezuela came into…
2019 AT – Day Six – McAfee Knob
Tuesday, 18 June Destination: Campbell Shelter Today’s Miles: 10.3 Start Location: Four Pines Hostel Trip Miles: 78.4 After Dragons Tooth yesterday, it was McAfee Knob today and Tinker Cliffs tomorrow. These are considered the Virginia Triple Crown . The day was much easier and shorter. I needed a short day after four days over fourteen miles. Leaving Four Pines…
2019 AT – Day Five – Four Pines Hostel
Monday, 17 June Destination: Four Pines Hostel Today’s Miles: 14.4 Start Location: Campsite 689.6 Trip Miles: 68.1 The trail took me to Dragons Tooth today, one of the Virginia Triple Crown on the Appalachian Trail. There were some rocky sections before Dragons Tooth but the decent from there was scary. Rock climbs where your hiking poles were useless. Two…
2019 AT – Day Four – Father’s Day
Sunday, 16 June Destination: Campsite 689.6 Today’s Miles: 14.8 Start Location: Laurel Creek Shelter Trip Miles: 53.7 No one in the shelter last night. Another warm night. Got hiking by 7:00. Only one big climb today, but the trail is nice. I played LeapFrog with a handful of thru hikers all day. They finally passed me up when I…
2019 AT – Day Three – Whitetail Deer
Saturday, 15 June Destination: Laurel Creek Shelter Today’s Miles: 14.6 Start Location: Bailey Gap Shelter Trip Miles: 38.9 It was a little warmer last night. Three people are in the shelter and one more tenting in addition to me. Fortunately, the bear was not back. It was a little warmer last night. Saw about a half dozen hikers…
2019 AT – Day Two – First Bear
Friday, 14 June Destination: Bailey Gap Shelter Today’s Miles: 14.9 Start Location: Campsite 645.3 Trip Miles: 24.3 Got cool last night. Snapped the quilt and was comfortable. Passed about eight hikers going south. Stopped at a shelter for lunch. Two hikers stayed there who hadn’t left yet. A south bound hiker came in to stay for the night. A…
2019 AT – Day One – Back Hiking
Thursday, 13 June Destination: Campsite 645.3 Today’s Miles: 9.4 Start Location: Cross Ave, Pearisburg, VA 635.9 Trip Miles: 9.4 Woke up to a hard rain in Manassas. Stopped by the time we were ready to leave for Pearisburg at seven, a four hour plus drive. Got on the trail just before noon. Dolora dropped me off and headed…