According to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy website, Virginia (the longest state on the AT) contains 550.3 miles of the trail. Sitting in the Damascus, Virginia public library on this morning of March 24th, I am poised to cross the Virginia/Tennessee border tomorrow morning, in 3.3 miles.
Nice…
I’ve been thinking about this town walk for 200 miles
As much as I’ve loved the hiking in this great state, I’m glad to see progress, warmer weather and changing trail conditions. Over the past couple of weeks I’ve gone from near total isolation to finally sharing shelters occasionally (twice). Once with a great section hiker named Sunshine, and then a few nights later with Gator, Shitfoot and 0311, a trio of motivated Nobos.
Nacho Libre (left) and the Professor
I’ve started seeing Nobos since Mount Rogers, including the amazing Nacho Libre, the Professor, OC, Montana and the Hiking Vikings who camped last night at The Place (Methodist hostel) where I am also staying in Damascus, VA.
View through my window screen at the Methodist church hostel, “The Place“
This town is well-known for Trail Days, the biggest annual event on the AT (in mid-May). Its a good trail stop with home-cooked food options, several great outfitters and lots of hiker-friendly places (read: high degree of olfactory tolerance) to stay.
Glorious spring day on the ridge above Damascus
Trestle just north of Damascus
Me on the trestle…geez I’m gettin’ hairy
At a trail switchback: my origin path goes up on the right and destination path descends lower left
Perhaps not surprisingly, the uptick in trail encounters has coincided with warmer weather and less snow. The only icy patches I’m seeing now are remote spots in high elevation that get little sun. But for the odd/shortlived April snowstorm I am hoping the worst cold is behind me. The weather report for the next 7 days looks relatively clear and warm with only a couple of cold/rainy days expected during that time.
Virginia mountainside field
The AT coincides for some miles with the best-named trail I’ve come across: the Virginia Creeper
Virginia, or the Badlands?
More Badlands, expecting to see Roy Rogers and Trigger emerge from the underbrush
I perched on Whitetop Mountain to take advantage of rare cell service and get caught up on news from home
In through the “Fat-Man Squeeze”
Hippie pony in Grayson Highlands, standing guard over his proud trail accomplishment
It really does feel like Virginia on the Ponderosa
Copious water from snow run off and lots of rain
Troutdale Church Hostel, my refuge from a second consecutive day of cold wind and rain. Hitched a ride from Patti, a friend of Ishmael, the 71 year old thru-hiker I helped across Rainbow Stream way back in July in Maine.
Had the run of the place, the current norm on a quiet trail
View of Troutdale from the hostel
The beautiful “Partnership” shelter seemed like it could sleep 30 comfortably. The showers in the small room on the right were not working at the time, but it still felt like a Hilton. Note loft window on gable.
Walking another great Virginia ridge line surrounded by down slopes
I just never get enough of train crossings
Sunny day snack break under a foot bridge
Another swollen river tumbles by
Months-old note from Swish in the shelter log
Trailside memorial a mile south of Bland, VA
I think the pictures this time around do fairly well at portraying the changing face of the trail during seasonal transition. Chilly days smudged with greys and dirty winter browns are offset by sudden punches of sky blues and fresh spring foliage greens. The Grayson Highlands area deserves special mention as the only place so far (in 1718 miles) that made me feel like I was in the badlands of the Dakotas or Montana, a sharp contrast against the surrounding rhododendron forests.
Thank you, sincerely, for tuning in again. My next update will likely be from Irwin, Tennessee around the end of March. See you then.
Max
Max, great meeting you at Thomas Knob. IT was cool for me to reminisce about 2014 with another thru hiker. Good luck heading south!
Spruce! Thanks so much for the great chat, the snickers and jolly ranchers! It was great meeting up with you and I’ll be sure to let Forrester Gump know we met. I’m writing from Hot Springs where I’m zeroing today, and if the library computer speeds up I’ll soon have my blog updated, so check here later today! Best regards and hope to see you on the trail again sometime, brother. Max