Location: Shelter south of Waynesboro, VA I was in and out of Waynesboro today for supplies and badly needed chores. I hiked seven miles in the gray morning to get to the road that leads into town. I beat the rain fortunately. I had planned to first visit the Office of Tourism to reference a […]
Tough Day Hiking on the Appalachian Trail – AT Thru-Hike Day 119
Location: Today was tough. Twenty miles damn near killed me. I started early and stopped at Lewis Mountain Campground for breakfast at the camp store. I had two bowls of cereal, a honey bun, and cheese. I couldn’t do laundry or take a shower as I had planned because I didn’t have cash or coins […]
Attack of the Mice on the Appalachian Trail – AT Thru-Hike Day 118
Location: Bearfence Mountain Hut 28 miles today and I am spent. The Shenandoah Park has tons of mountains. I was up and down all day and the burning in my calves won’t let me forget it. I started fairly late for such a big day. This morning resembled the last two days so I wasn’t […]
Two Days and Forty Trail Miles on the Cold Appalachian Trail – AT Thru-Hike Day 117
Location: Shenandoah National Forest I’m writing this entry one day late. Yesterday I was too cold to write. I bought a pair of gloves today, a dollar ninety-nine at Elk Wallow Gap Wayside. They keep my fingers somewhat warm but make my handwriting worse than usual. They hardly insulate my hands, and they appear to […]
Hiking Into The Shenandoahs and Not Bad Still Struggles – AT Thru-Hike Day 116
Location: Tom Floyd Wayside Shelter I woke up really late this morning. When my 8:00am alarm sounded, I turned it off, rolled over, and slept until 10:00am. I forced myself out of my sleeping bag. A cold front had moved in overnight so the morning was much chillier than last evening. I packed my gear […]
Alone Again on the Appalachian Trail and Hiking Twenty Mile Days – AT Thru-Hike Day 115
Location: Manassas Gap, VA I’ve come 20 miles to Manassas Gap shelter tonight. I am supposed to meet Not Bad here if he was feeling better after a night at the hostel. He has not shown and it is dark. I thought that I might shorten my day tomorrow to see if he catches up […]
Torn to Leave A Thru-Hiker Behind on the Trail – AT Thru-Hike Day 114
Location: Unknown Shelter I woke well rested this morning at the Blackburn Center. Not much light came into the shelter, so I’m glad that I set my alarm last night. I woke up before Not Bad and I ate breakfast before he acknowledged that I was awake by rolling over in his sleeping bag. I […]
Another Thru-Hiker at Risk of Falling Off the Trail – AT Thru-Hike Day 113
Location: Blackburn Center, Virginia After a quick breakfast at the hotel, I said goodbye to Mom and Dad. I felt refreshed after my long weekend break, and I was ready to return to the trail. I checked the post office before I left. Cold Feet had sent me a maple leaf sugar cube from Maine. […]