Category: Appalachian Trail

Day 33 McQueens Knob to Damascus, VA (11.9 miles). 469.2 total miles

Wind howled all night. Got pretty chilly, too. Took a while to get going as was waiting for it to warm up a bit before rolling out of sleeping bag.

Made it to VA. 3 states finished…only 11 to go! Trail is in VA for 500+ miles. Most of any state. Will be June before through VA!

Only took about 4 hrs to hike the 12 miles to Damascus. I’m always a little faster when nearing a town plus trail had fewer rocks and tree roots than usual. The rocks and roots are a trip risk plus they just beat your feet up.

Trail goes right through Damascus, a small town with a population fewer than 1000. Very dependent on hikers and hosts a Trail Days Festival every May (3rd weekend). This is a big celebration for past and current thru-hikers.

Spending next 2 nights at Lazy Fix B&B. Owned by Ginny Adams for past 20 years. She is 92 and in great shape. Rumor has it her breakfast is fantastic. Will find out in AM!

Had dinner at Hey Joe’s Mexican Restaurant. Very good. Met Mac, a Vietnam Vet who grew up in Damascus. Says he has best moonshine around. I’m invited over to his house to taste test tomorrow night. We’ll see!

Looking forward to a good day of rest tomorrow.

Happy trails!

Day 32 Vandeventer Shelter to McQueens Knob (21.2 miles) 457.3 miles total

A few showers today but not enough to make the trail wet and slippery. I’ll take that. Made for third straight 20+ mile day.

Below is view from near where I camped last night. Can’t get away from Wataugua Lake.

Trail went right through someone’s pasture.

Was going to try a quick trip into town for lunch today as I did yesterday. Not quite so lucky. Crossed hwy 3.5 miles from Shady Valkey, TN. Tried hitching a ride but only 1 car in ten minutes. Odds didn’t seem good so I decided to keep on trekking.

Tonight’s sunset from Just Chez Pete front porch!

Very windy tonight after sun went down. Gusts up to 50 mph I’m guessing. Very loud. Tent seems to be standing strong.

About 12 miles to Damascus, VA. Should be there early tomorrow afternoon. Can’t wait!

Happy trails!

 

Day 31 White Rocks Mtn. to Vandeventer Shelter (20.7 miles). 436.1 miles total

One month in and I’m nearly 20% complete. Moving at pace close to what I expected. 3 zero days for weather weren’t factored into equation!

I am trying to guess where I will be on June 1. I am flying from somewhere to Fargo, ND for my niece, Ashley’s, wedding. Hoping to get near Harpers Ferry, WV but have to do 18 miles/day for 31 days,.. not too sure I can do that!

Hike today had some cool scenery and sky was mostly sunny, temp low 80’s.

Curious as to what year this barn was built. Pretty sturdy yet.

Luckily the trail went around and up instead of straight up rock face.

Laurel Falls.

Trail skirts very close to river.

View of Watauga Lake. Trail goes down to lake and circumnavigates around dam you can see straight ahead then up into mtns as lake goes to east.

Not sure what these are but look like giant mushrooms growing upside down on this tree. Strange.

As the trail reaches Watauga Lake, there is a hwy that runs 3 miles to Hampton, TN. Hitched a ride in and spent 2 hrs in town. Ate at Subway and read newspaper!

Below are some hikers taking a break by lake. Trail goes over hills on left and down to Dam on right.

This is looking back from Dam to beach area. Came up and over that big peak in back this AM.

Followed that lake for 9 miles this afternoon. Camped above it tonight!

About 32 miles to Damascus, VA. Should be there Tuesday. Planning to zero on Wednesday.

Happy trails!

 

 

Day 30 Hwy 19E to White Rocks Mtn (21.7 miles) 415.4 total miles

Stayed in Newland, NC last night. Hitched a ride back to trail. Probably hitched 6 rides now. Get picked up by pickup trucks more than cars and usually have me ride in back!

Guess I won’t be staying here!

Below is Jones Falls. Little swimming hole at bottom of falls. Some hikers took a dip but a little too chilly for me.

Passed mile 400. Marked/written with sticks.

Put in 9.5 hours of hiking today. That’s a lot of steps! I don’t have a FitBit but I would guess over 40,000 of them.

Used my stove for 3rd time. Freeze dried pasta with sausage. It was OK but stove may get sent home. After I’ve hiked all day and gotten tent set up, I’m not too excited about getting stove out. I enjoy my tortillas and peanut butter as much as anything I’ve cooked.

Will try to get in another 20 miles today!

Happy trails!

Day 29 Stan Murray Campsite to US 19E (11.8 miles) 393.7 miles total

Nice, sunny day and beautiful vistas. Nice day of hiking. Especially when you know you’re hitting a town!

This view is from Yellow Mtn (elev 5271). There was a Revolutionary War battle near here at Yellow Mtn Gap.

The views today were so nice because it was sunny but there was a lot of time on the balds. This is the walk to Little Hump Mtn. Trail looks, and basically is, like a cow path across a pasture in SD.

View from top of Little Hump Mtn.

Now we’re heading to the top of that one…Hump Mtn (elev 5587).

I get virtually all my water from piped springs. PVC directly from mtn. I don’t filter it when I get directly from source of spring. Always cold and tastes great!

Finally out of NC. About 70 more miles and out of TN and into VA.

Next stop Damascus, VA. 75 miles. Hoping to do it in 4 days. That will take good weather.

Happy trails!

Day 28 Apple Orchard to Stan Murray Campsite (17.7 miles) 381.9 total miles

Didn’t quite make it as far as hoped today. Got soaked by heavy rains last 2-3 hours of hike. Rain quit about 5PM and I found a place to pitch tent shortly after. Walking in rain is no fun but setting up camp in rain really stinks!

Saw my first bear of hike today! See if you can find him in this photo. Hint: I am not Ansel Adams and this happened fairly quickly.

Upper right corner of photo. He is up in tree. First heard noise when he was climbing tree. Fast climbing up…really fast coming down! We eyeballed each other for a couple minutes and then he was off. Pretty impressive to watch run/saunter through this terrain. Him again top-center below.

Very foggy and windy almost all day until it finally rained.

This abandoned chimney is still standing by itself in middle of nowhere. Makes you wonder it’s story. Obviously well constructed.

Today I’m hiking about 13 miles to Roan Mtn, TN. Dry place to sleep awaits!

Happy trails!

 

Day 27 Nolichucky River to Apple Orchard (21.5 miles) 364.2 total miles

Nice, sunny day. Hiking by 9:30. Ran into some trail magic about 9 miles in. Brother Tom had lemonade, sweet iced tea, brownies, and some really good banana bread. One of the best things with trail magic is being able to sit in a chair! Brother Tom keeps a guest book and told me last year he served 1300+ hikers.

Still amazed by the big views and the abundance of protected mountain and forest areas. I am not a “tree hugger” but we, as a country, need to keep these areas protected from development.

I am starting to develop a trail name. I don’t believe one should give them self a nickname, as probably 75% of people out here do. Introduce myself as Pete. When they ask what my trail name is, I respond “Just Pete”. Some people now calling me Just Pete.

Got in another 20+ mile day. Get pretty tired and sore by end of day but feels really good to finish! Camping by myself at old apple orchard. There are at least a dozen old apple trees still here. They are in blossom now.

Sleeping in tent without rain fly on for first time. Can look straight up from sleeping bag to stars. Big Dipper is straight over my head and is very big and bright.

Will try to do another 20 miles tomorrow.

Happy trails!

 

Day 26 Spivey Gap to Nolichucky River (11.1 miles) 342.7 miles total

Good day for hiking. Foggy most of hike. Temp in 50’s. I also was able to “slack pack” as was able to leave tent, sleeping bag, food, etc. at hotel as returning tonight. Pack was probably half of normal weight.

Drought in NC/TN mountains officially over. Streams and rivers running fast.

Having 18 lbs in pack instead of 36 makes navigating obstacles like this easier! At least 3′ in diameter and I sure wasn’t taking the extra steps to walk around!

The Nolichucky River from up above.

Uncle Johnny’s Hostel is right at the river where I exited trail. Cool looking place. Lots of younger folks. Shuttle driver picked me up and gave me ride to Super 8!

Thru-hiker life. Sun came out late afternoon and a trekking pole ball game breaks out in parking lot. Note all the tents, etc. drying in foul territory.

Next destination, Roan Mtn, TN. It’s 51 miles. Hope to be there in 3 days. Weather for tomorrow is supposed to be sunny. 50% chance of thunderstorms Th.

Happy trails!

 

Day 25 Sugarloaf Gap to Spivey Gap (20.1 miles) 331.6 miles total

Woke up this AM to no rain. Think it rained between 3-4 inches yesterday.

Little bit of sunshine today! Decided to go big distance today and hitch ride to Erwin, TN where I can get room and dry everything out.

Still following NC/TN border. Hiked in NC all day…I think. Crossed under I-26 and saw welcome to TN sign about 50 yds from me. Also staying in TN tonight.

I think these balds are really cool. I try to envision cattle grazing. Below is Big Bald (elev 5516 ft). Was pretty windy and chilly walking across there.

I got to Spivey Gap about 4PM. Hwy 19 runs right there so I was hoping to hitch ride the 15 miles to Erwin.

When I got there, 3 thru-hikers were waiting alongside road for shuttle to hostel in opposite direction I’m heading. They told me 2 cars had passed by in 45 minutes they’d been there. Hitching not looking good!

Had phone number for shuttle service but not enough signal to get call through. Starting to get nervous. Don’t want to spend night in tent!

Tried texting and it went through. Nice guy who’s hiked trail twice gave me ride. Giving me a ride back out to same spot in AM.

All comfy at Super 8. Will go out tomorrow and finish last 11 miles to Erwin and then stay again tomorrow night. Living large!

Happy trails!

Day 24 Sugarloaf Gap Zero Day

It’s rained for 26 hrs straight and still going. I’ve been hunkered down in my tent all day. This sucks!

When I woke up this AM had cell service and was able to get weather forecast. 100% chance of rain most of today (they were right!).

Rain chance for Monday and Tuesday is in the 50 – 70% range. New plan is to try to make about 7 miles to a road where I should be able to get into Erwin, TN.

Tent has held up well. No rain inside but everything still getting pretty damp. There is barely room for my stuff, along with myself, inside tent when it rains like this. Pretty tight quarters for 36 hrs straight.

Wish me luck in AM.

Happy trails!