I’m in an area with a little cell service. My posts may be day to day now.

Patience is a virtue – Puffin

Started the day on top of the ridge in the rain 🌧 and fog 🌫. I camped last night among a bunch of old cairns. There are lots of theories among hikers about what they’re for: apple storage, tombs, etc. Any thoughts, let me know?

I’m at War Spur Shelter tonight with some nice thru-hikers. We had lots of fun hanging our bear 🐻 bags together. There’s no cell service here, which is why this post is late. I hear that there’s little all the way to Pearisburg, so my posts will be intermittent.

I’m planning to do a shorter day next. We’ll see: It’s 8.8 to the next shelter and 12.7 to the second.

AT Thru-Hike Stats
Section Day #5 (5/13/19)
Start – Stealth Camp (681.1)
End – War Spur Shelter(669.0)
Today’s mileage: 12.1
Total section miles: 60.7
Total miles on AT: 777.2
Section avg daily miles: 12.1

Today’s a day to spend indoors waiting for the weather to pass. Here’s the weather radar at 7:30 am.

I’ll be doing laundry and reading until later this afternoon. It’s only 1 1/2 miles (uphill) to the next shelter, so I’ll head out there this afternoon. Today’s a “Nero” (Near Zero), in hiker terms; essentially a rest day. Oops 😬. Changed plans. I actually ended up hiking a lot further. I’m stealth camping next to the trail on top of the ridge at almost 4,000 ft.

And now the news: Hikers attacked on the Appalachian Trail! This happened about 100 miles further down the trail, but I’m headed that way. The link below is to the local news with all the details.

https://www.wsls.com/news/virginia/southwest-virginia/two-assaulted-on-appalachian-trail-in-wythe-county

And after that cheery news, Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms.

AT Thru-Hike Stats
Section Day #4 (5/12/19)
Start – VA Rte 621 (688.7)
End – Stealth Camp (681.1)
Today’s mileage: 7.6
Total section miles: 48.6
Total miles on AT: 765.1
Section avg daily miles: 12.2

The greater danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it. ― Michelangelo

I have now completed the “VA Triple Crown.” Tinker Cliffs, McAfees Knob and The Dragons Tooth are all behind me.

Straight up the rock face

I slackpacked 15+ miles today; hiked back to Jake and Kristi’s from Catawba. The rain started after the momentous climb to the Dragons Tooth and continued all day. When I finally finished I was a drowned rat.

I really enjoyed the Brush Mtn Wilderness, the second half of the hike. The trail was well groomed. I even found some trail magic and got a Starbucks Vanilla Late just before descending off the ridge.

I’ll be doing laundry tomorrow and laying low until all the thunderstorms pass through. Tomorrow will at most be a nero.

AT Thru-Hike Stats
Section Day #3 (5/11/19)
Start – VA Rte 624 (703.9)
End – VA Rte 621 (688.7)
Today’s mileage: 15.2
Total section miles: 41.0
Total miles on AT: 757.5
Section avg daily miles: 13.7

The difference in winning & losing is most often, not quitting. – Walt Disney

Campbell shelter was wonderful last night, even though we had some rain. I woke up in the morning and hiked onto McAfee’s Knob. The hike down got to be pretty tough because the weather got very hot and humid.

Packing up at Campbell Shelter

I’ll be staying with friends (thanks Robert) tonight and eating dinner at the Home Place. I’m hoping to slackpack tomorrow. It’s supposed to rain all day. A cold front is coming through!

AT Thru-Hike Stats
Section Day #2 (5/10/19)
Start – Campbell Shelter (714.3)
End – 4 Pines Hostel (703.9)
Today’s mileage: 10.4
Total section miles: 25.8
Total miles on AT: 741.5
Section avg daily miles: 12.5

Kites rise highest against the wind, not with it. – Winston Churchill