Originally posted on 5 | 11
I decided not to plan too much for this trip, I knew where I wanted to hike, how many miles needed to be covered and how many days I wanted to hike. I already had a guidebook and maps covering this section and I had a shuttle scheduled to pick me up and drive me to the trailhead. The only prep I wanted to do for this trip was pull my food and gear together and go, and that’s what I did.
My trip started with a 5.5 hour drive to Damascus, VA and Trail Days. From TD’s I drove to Atkins, VA where I met my friends Don, Jeff and Pete (Smokestack). Don and Jeff were leaving TD’s and heading back home in Roanoke, and gave Pete my hiking partner and me a ride to Pearisburg, VA where we would begin our hike. From Pearisburg it’s 88-trail miles and 6-days south to Atkins and our cars.
Me and Smokestack at the Pearisburg trailhead ready to hike
After a 1930′ climb in the first 2.9-miles we reached the summit and Angels Rest and 5.8-miles to go before setting up camp at Docs Knob
On day-2 we met northbound thru-hike hopefuls, over the course of our hike we would meet over 100 NOBO’s
Dismal Creek Falls, we would camp here on the second night
Day 3 began with a stop at Trents Grocery on VA 606, with an easy 0.5-mile road walk many hikers will stop here for resupply and food from the grill, we went for the grill and hot food on a rainy day
Suspension bridge over Kimberling Creek
My Gossamer Gear The One tent camped at Jenkins Shelter after an 18-mile day
Bear Corn also known as Squaw Root
After four days of off and on rain we decided to stop at Walker Gap and set up camp early. We spent the afternoon around a warm fire drying wet gear and drinking hot drinks
By the time we reached the Chestnut Knob Shelter the rain had stopped giving way to a blue sky and sunshine
Graffiti inside Chestnut Knob Shelter
A crawfish defending its mud hole
Pink Lady Slipper
North Fork of the Holston River
The trail crosses farm lands before ascending Gullion Mtn on the right where we would make our final camp
NOBO’s hikers coming out of Atkins, VA
Atkins VA and the end of this hike
Completing this section of the AT in Virginia is the last section I needed to fill in a gap of trail where I left off in 2009 due to extreme weather. I have now completed 1512 miles of the AT from the Southern Terminus located on Springer Mountain, GA north to Great Barrington, MA.
For a full photo set click here
Six Day on the Appalachian Trail
Tagged: trips
