Wednesday, 28 August Destination: Naval Run Campsite (MM 30.95) Today’s Miles: 5.15 Start Location: Porcupine Hollow (MM 36.1) Trip Miles: 38.1 It was comfortable sleeping last night. Woke to a light rain. It continued to rain, sometimes hard all the while Bob and I hiked. It finally started to clear around 2. We started the…
2019 Black Forest Trail – Day Four – Porcupine Hollow
Tuesday, 27 August Destination: Porcupine Hollow (MM 36.1) Today’s Miles: 9.25 Start Location: Old Quarry Vista (MM 1.9) Trip Miles: 32.95 Last night was the warmest so far, a little too warm for sleeping in a tent. Bob and I were up early heading to the general store. It was overcast with a light misty…
2019 Black Forest Trail – Day Three – Enjoying the Solitude
Monday, 26 August Destination: Old Quarry Vista (MM 1.9) Today’s Miles: 6.05 Start Location: Francis Branch Campsite (MM 7.95) Trip Miles: 21.8 Last night was a little warmer. Bob and I took our time since we only planned six miles after ten yesterday. We had a pleasant day, about 70 degrees and mostly sunny. There…
2019 Black Forest Trail – Day Two – Crisscrossing the Creek
Sunday, 25 August Destination: Francis Branch Campsite (MM 7.95) Today’s Miles: 10.4 Start Location: Campsite/Stream (MM 18.35) Trip Miles: 15.75 Nice and cool last night. My thermometer showed 50 this morning. Bob slept a little cold. I was toasty. We took our time and enjoyed some coffee this morning. Got on the trail about 8:30….
2019 Black Forest Trail – Day One – 40/42 Reunion Tour
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…
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…