Appalachian Trail

The Appalachian Trail is a 2185.9 mile long footpath stretching from Springer Mountain, Georgia to Mount Katahdin, Maine. Every Spring, hikers from all over head to Georgia and start walking north, attempting to hike the whole trail in one season. This is called a thru-hike. Only about 25% make it all of the way.

This blog follows our progress as we hike north.

Monday, May 27, 2013

James River and Glascow VA

5/22 Wednesday 19.8 mi
We had an easy ridgeline walk for the first part of the day, and made it to Jennings Creek in the afternoon where we went for a swim. We pushed on over Fork Mountain to Bryant Ridge Shelter. Once there we found no place to setup our hammocks because all of the trees were huge, and we had to push on for another 1/2 mile.

5/23 Thursday 16.6
The day started with a 2000' climb up to Floyd Mountain. Then Apple Orchard Mountain, along Thunder Ridge, and over High Cock Knob (seriously!) to Marble Spring Campsite. A long hard day with many climbs. A thunderstorm came in the evening and rain and wind lasted most of the night.

5/24 Friday 7.7 mi
It was very windy in the morning and we were glad to get out of camp. We had 8 miles to go mostly downhill to the James River Bridge and US 501. We made good time. We were at the highway by noon and were able to hitch a ride to Buena Vista where we found a motel room. Plans were made to get picked up by Wander's brother the following morning.

I forgot to mention the rhododendrons are finally starting to bloom in the mountains, and we went through several long thickets in bloom these last couple of days.

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5 comments:

  1. TedMay 28, 2013 at 4:28 AM

    Very nice pictures - it seems like you finally had some good hiking weather for several consecutive days. Hooray!

    Thanks for keeping up with the blog, it's a lot of fun to read.

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  2. mackenzieMay 28, 2013 at 7:56 AM

    Love seeing your updates. I thru hiked last year, and can't help but live vicariously through current hiker blogs!!

    When you get a little closer to Harper's Ferry, shoot me an email and I'd love to provide some trail magic for you. If you stay in the Jim and Molly Denton Shelter or the Manassas Gap Shelter I could pack up some goodies. :)

    mackenzieparks@gmail.com

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  3. TruckerbabeMay 31, 2013 at 7:11 PM

    Love the updates and the Rhod in bloom. Georgia Bulldog will be in Harper's Ferry by the first of the week. He says hello. He is having lunch with his Dad near Winchester VA tomorrow morning.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Chris LaRocheJune 1, 2013 at 8:30 AM

    Glad for you that you were able to hit Glascow, one of the funkiest and hiker friendly trail towns on the AT, not everyone gets to experience it. I hope you are holding up well in the heat. Even though you have to really plan for water in PA and NY, the good news is, that if you want to get off the trail a bit, everyday you can find a place for a hot meal and camel up and refill your water. So, I was reading a blog of a thruhiker who made it to Harper's Ferry this week and he states that the number of hikers starting at Springer is 2700, and the actual length of trail this year is 2189.2 miles (could be a trail lie, god knows there are enough of those). Hike one and Enjoy.

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  5. jamskiJune 2, 2013 at 6:33 PM

    Thanks for posting all the pix...we are really enjoying it out here on the Knoll! Take care, be safe, hike LONG!

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