2017 Appalachian Hike

Very uneventful day. I hiked 23.7 miles today. I started at 6:00am with Double Knot. We hiked together for about four hours. He got a little ahead and I stopped for a break and I never saw him again. This is Double Knot from a distance. I was really taking a picture of the flowers.… Continue reading Bobblets Gap Shelter-Thunder Hill Shelter. 770.3 done/1419.5 to go. April 29, 2017

I ate the hotel breakfast and was on my way on the trail by 8:50. The first two hours were all climbing. At the first shelter five miles in was Timber taking a break. He and I hiked together for the next several hours. He had to stop at around mile 10 to filter some… Continue reading Daleville, Virginia-Bobblets Gap Shelter. 746.6 done/1443.2 to go. April 28, 2017

Today had it’s good and bad.  First the bad. I didn’t get my picture on McAfee Knob. All six of us in the shelter got up early because we wanted to be at McAfee Knob for the sunrise. As usual I was the first up. I have to get a head start on these young… Continue reading Catawba Mountain Shelter- 728.1 done/1461.7 to go. April 27, 2017

My son just pointed out that one of my blog posts didn’t publish Bally Gap Shelter-Niday Shelter. I just updated it.  Hopefully it posted. If it didn’t Ryan will let me know. I’ll be posting another one later tonight. 

Today was a good day. It started with a climb up Brush Mountain.At the top is a monument to Audie Murphy, the most decorated American soldier ever. Evidently he died in a plane crash near here  After that came the hike up Cove Mountain. There were lots of great views. The climbing and hiking was… Continue reading Niday Shelter-Catawba Mountain Shelter. 710.3 done/1479.5 to go. 

Another fairly uneventful day. Mostly because of the weather.  I’m starting to feel a little cheated.  My guidebook is really good about noting all the scenic vistas. Even the ones you have to hike a little ways off trail to see. I feel cheated because I’ve missed so many of the views due to rain… Continue reading Bally Gap Shelter-Niday Shelter. 685.6 done/1504.2 to go. April 25, 2017. 

I started my day with Hardee’s breakfast burritos and coffee. Then I had to hike seven tenths of a mile to get back to the trail. Nobody picked me up this time.  It rained a lot here yesterday and last night. There are flash flood warnings in our area. The rain stopped shortly after I… Continue reading Pearisburg Virginia-Bally Gap Shelter. 658.6 done/1531.2 to go. April 24, 2017