Category: May 7 – May 31

Day 62 Rock Spring Hut to Thornton Gap (14.3 miles) 942.0 miles total

It’s much easier to hike on a day when you know 4 days of R&R are following!

Hiked to a spot where I thought would be good place to hitch a ride from. Thornton Gap is right along Skyline Drive so that became the target.

Made it to Thornton Gap about 2PM. Got a ride from one of the first cars to pass. A wonderful couple from Belgium, Bruno and Linda, picked me up and took me all the way into Front Royal (about 25 miles). Bruno and Linda are on a 3 week vacation touring PA, MD, and VA.

Thanks so much Bruno and Linda. It was a pleasure meeting you and talking with you. Safe travels!

Brooke picked me up shortly after 6 and we were in Baltimore about 8:30.

I am now officially on vacation. No hiking for 4 days. Perfect timing for the physical and mental break from the grind.

Happy trails!

Day 61 Bearfence Mtn Hut to Rock Spring Hut (11.5 miles) 927.9 miles total

I took the lazy hiker distance today. Knew from first mile of the AM that I wasn’t going to the 22 mile hut!

Saw 4 deer today. One was a doe with a day(s) old fawn. Still a bit wobbly on its legs. That pic was no good unfortunately.

The accessibility of the wayside restaurants in the Shenandoahs is very convenient. Very difficult to leave and get hiking again however. Like a vortex that sucks you in.

Since I was only going a few miles past wayside, I brought a 6-pack of Bud with me. Heavy hiking with the extra weight today. Fortunately will be much lighter tomorrow.

Couple other hikers I talked with today have the VA blues (as do I). Just getting tired of the day after day hiking. Burnt out, hit a wall, whatever you want to call it.

If you can see the notch by top of mtn in below pic, I think that is very close to where I tented last night.

Tomorrow will be my last day of hiking until Monday! Perfect time for a 4 day break.

Our daughter, Brooke, is picking me up tonight. Staying in Baltimore tonight and tomorrow, fly to Fargo Friday, Ashley and Zach wedding Saturday, fly back Sunday, and back on the trail Monday.

Happy trails!

Day 60 Pinefield Hut to Bearfence Mtn Hut (20.6 miles) 916.4 miles total

Hope you had a great Memorial Day. God bless all those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

60 days and 900+ miles. That’s a lot of both!

Really nice day today. Even got a few views.

Surprising how quickly the trail dries out. The leaves along trail must really soak up water. Still muddy in spots but much better than most of last few weeks.

Still amazed by the vast amount of wilderness. Have seen a lot of “Keep the Wilderness Wild” signs.

The Pocosin Cabin. Don’t know the story behind it but seems in use. Big padlock on door. Freshly cut wood stacked and relatively new outhouse! Cool little place.

Tomorrow’s distance options are limited. Hut at 11.5 miles or one at 22.4 miles. Don’t know that I have long one in me.

Happy trails!

Day 59 Blackrock Hut to Pinefield Hut (13.2 miles) 895.8 miles total

Light rain until early AM. Pretty foggy starting out and got foggier!

The trail crosses Skyline Drive or a parking area off of it every couple miles. Sometimes you have to look a bit to find where trail resumes on other side. Got to a big parking area today and visibility was about 100 ft. As I’m beginning to wander about looking for sign of trail I run into a family out on a day hike. They had just come from where I was heading. They pointed me in right direction and I helped them find where they were headed.

Made it to lunch spot at about 1:00. Burger, fries, Mtn Dew, and blackberry milkshake. Saw a few hikers I knew there. Tourists just look at you like you’re on display at a zoo!

Got really foggy while I was there. Almost 0 visibility for a few minutes. Happy to wait that out in restaurant.

Heard rain starting between 4 and 6. Wouldn’t get to intended destination until close to 6 so I decided to stop at next shelter. Got there and tent up about an hour before rain started.

Tomorrow I’ll go as far as I go. Planning to start ending my days when I begin to get tired instead of pushing for more miles. For the rest of the adventure I’m going to “Enjoy the Suck!”

Happy trails!

Day 58 US 250 to Blackrock Hut (20.7 miles) 882.6 miles total 

Into the Shenandoahs! They call the shelters through here huts. Not sure why because similar to shelters elsewhere.

Same shoe. Same size. Different color. Can you tell which has 861 miles on it? Didn’t realize how stretched out shoes had gotten. Should have probably gotten wider or half size larger!

The cushioning in bottom of new shoes feels great. A bit tight across toes but guessing they’ll stretch.

In the Shenandoahs you are only allowed to tent in designated sites around huts (shelters). This constrains mileage a bit. Had a few miles left in me today but didn’t know if I could make 6 to next tent area.

Was disappointed in views today. Lot of miles in trees just below ridge line.

Shooting for 21 miles to Hightop Hut tomorrow. Will get to stop at restaurant near trail for lunch.

Happy trails!

Day 57 Three Ridges Mtn to US 250 (22.9 miles) 861.9 miles total 

Good weather day. Partly sunny and in the 70’s. Makes for nice hiking and good miles.

Ran my phone out of battery today. Have a small portable charger that I did not get fully charged at last stop.

Made it to Waynesboro, VA this afternoon. New shoes were waiting!

Tomorrow I will start hiking through Shenandoah National Park. Been looking forward to that as trail follows ridge line near Skyline Drive. A few restaurants very near trail and relatively easy hiking (supposedly).

Happy trails!

Day 56 Hog Gap Camp to Three Ridges Mtn (25.2 miles) 838.2 miles total

Today there was a bright spheroid in the sky. It seemed to provide some warmth. Talked to a wise, old man who told me they call it sun. I like sun!

Good day. Weather and terrain wise. Able to make up for some “lost” miles.

In VA I’ve walked through Thomas Jefferson National Forest and am now in George Washington National Forest very near Lexington, Va, the birthplace of Robert E. Lee. The history, and the people who probably crossed where I’m hiking, fills me with a sense of awe.

Need to make nearly 24 miles to Waynesboro, VA tomorrow. New shoes waiting for me!

Happy trails!

Day 55 Punchbowl Overlook to Hog Camp Gap (17.2 miles) 813.0 miles total

Walked through lots of fog again today but at least made some progress.

Took a slip on a wet rock. Ended up with scraped elbow and cut up thumb. This just a day after telling Kris I had used no bandages so far. Jinxed myself!

Weather started to get colder mid-afternoon and started raining about 3PM. Decided to make camp before too cold and wet.

Rain forecast for all night. Supposed to stop in AM then rain again late afternoon.

Happy trails!

Day 54 Buena Vista, VA Zero Day 795.8 miles total

This is getting frustrating!

Shuttle to trail scheduled for 9AM today. Woke up to view of mountains below. Light drizzle and low clouds.

Was prepared to walk in that but started raining harder right before shuttle arrived. As forecast for afternoon was for steady rain, I canceled hiking plans for day.

Got to Post Office and sent back fleece jacket and stove. Just taking up space in pack.

Afternoon showers tomorrow and Th PM in forecast. Going a little stir crazy so hoping decent weather in AM.

Happy trails!

Day 53 Petites Gap to Punchbowl Mtn Overlook (20.8 miles) 795.8 miles total

Mostly cloudy but no rain today.  Southern VA has gotten 5.5″ of rain so far in May.  Looking at 2 more inches over next 3 days.  Probable flooding in areas south of where I am.  Hoping just rains at night.  Got miles to make!

This is the James River footbridge. Longest foot-use-only bridge on AT. Just before crossing was a lady doing some volunteer trail maintenance (whacking weeds with a scythe). She offered me some watermelon. Refreshing!

Looking back down at James River and area of footbridge.

View from Big Rocky Row after 2000 ft elevation gain in 3 miles. That’s steep and generated a lot of sweat.

Hitched a ride into Buena Vista, VA at end of day. Expecting rain tonight (again).

Next stop Waynesboro, VA. Will have some new shoes waiting for me there. My Merrill Moabs have been great but 800 miles is a lot of steps! Starting to come apart. Hope Krazy Glue holds or I’ll have some wet feet next few days.

Happy trails!