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 to visit a friend and then her brother. I was hiking around noon. It did not start with the solitude I was looking for. In the first two miles, I crossed a four lane bridge over the New River with tractor trailers zooming by. Then it was following the railroad tracks with trains running.

Eventually, I felt like I was back in the woods. There were a couple of raindrops so I stopped to put on my pack cover. As usual, this keeps the rain away and the day stayed dry.

Since the weather and trail were nice, I went a couple of extra miles past the shelter to a campsite. A couple of other hikers camped nearby. A nice start.