Photo album for this trip Day Four: Big Creek Campground (9.3 mi) Once more, we're on the trail a bit earlier than the day before but not nearly as early as we should. We have a few more miles to cover and we plan on taking a long break at Mt Cammerer observation tower. It's … Continue reading GSMNP – More Beautiful Weather…And Still No Hordes!!!
Photo album for this trip I've FINALLY gotten around to documenting this last trip. The week-long hike was absolutely fantastic. A bit harder for Loonie than I anticipated but with respect to the weather, we couldn't have asked for anything more. The scenery was spectacular as well. The brilliant Fall colors didn't really kick in … Continue reading GSMNP – Some Great Trail…And No Hordes!!!
Strictly from a physical standpoint, I walked away from this latest hike feeling like I did fairly well, all things considered. I started the trip about 10 lbs lighter in the gut but otherwise didn't do any physical training leading up to the start. Once again, lofty promises of being prepared and not following through. … Continue reading Some Final Thoughts…
Photo album for this trip Picking up from my last post... Day Four: Campsite near Niday Shelter (15 mi) We hit the trail a little before 7:30 with no particular goal for the end of the day. All we knew was that we were a bit ahead of schedule and wanted to avoid having two … Continue reading AT: Pearisburg to VA 624 – Part Two
Photo album for this trip Well, due to commitments back home, Deep Woods and I had to stop short of Daleville. We finished this latest hike at VA Route 624, just down the road from Four Pines Hostel. That equated to 67.4 miles over six days. Not quite what we had hoped for but no … Continue reading AT: Pearisburg to VA 624 – Part One
There are times when fate steps in and all things seem to come out just right. Plans for the trip to Arkansas and the Buffalo River Trail fell apart, leaving us both pretty dejected. It just wasn't meant to be. At least not yet. As it turned out, we ended up exactly where we were … Continue reading GSMNP – Fate Leads Us to a Legend!
This brings a close to the 2020 season. And what a long, strange trip it has been! If you had told me back in March or April that I would eventually put more miles of the AT under my feet this year than I had in any year since I started this journey back in … Continue reading 2020 Postscript
To complete the trifecta of our trip out East, Loonie, her sister Kristy and I did a slow stroll from Boiling Springs, PA back to Pine Grove Furnace State Park. The main objectives of the trip, completing Shenandoah National Park and filling in the gap up to Bears Den Hostel in VA, were accomplished. This … Continue reading Pine Grove Furnace State Park to Boiling Springs, PA Complete!
It would be a major understatement to say that the 61 mile hike from Thornton Gap to Bears Den Hostel went better than the 80 miles Deep Woods and I did just last month...physically anyway. With the exception of the 9-1/2 mile ride I had remaining on the Roller Coaster on the last day, the … Continue reading Thornton Gap to Bears Den Hostel Complete!
The 80 miles from Rockfish Gap / I-64 up to Thornton Gap in the Shenandoah's are complete! Took a couple of attempts but we finally checked off the remaining 20 miles in the extreme southern end of the park. Loonie's sister came along with us for this one. It was perfect hiking weather...in complete contrast … Continue reading Southern Shenandoah’s (and more) Are Complete!
Bulldog's Droppings 