Day 48 Pickle Branch Shelter to Pig Farm Campsite (16.9 miles) 712.6 miles total

Not a lot of miles but some rewarding ones. Two big climbs of 1000 ft+ over 2 miles. That will test your lung capacity!

Grock (experienced hiker) also told me the other day that I would get faster as my trail reading skills got better. Chuckled to myself as I thought “How hard can trail reading be? Even I haven’t made any costly wrong turns.”

Well…happened twice today! Cost me about an hour and a half of time. One was bad. Climbing down this gully slipping, sliding, and thinking a lot of people must get hurt here. Ten minutes down and I knew it couldn’t be trail. Took me 30 minutes to climb back up.

I think we all know where this is going. Right up and over that hill. Nice hiking through non-forested land, even when uphill, because no roots and few rocks.

McAfee Knob. Probably 20 day hikers and 1 thru-hiker there when I arrived. Day hikers scattered when I went out on Knob. Not sure if it was beard, stench, or the fact that I looked like I had just hiked all day to get there.

Just Rocky…King of the Knob!

Panoramic view from McAfee Knob. Better, Legs?

15.5 miles left to Daleville, VA. If I feel good and weather is good, I will just stop and get something to eat and go another couple hours further. If not I’ll stay at motel in town.

Happy trails!