2024 AT Backpacking Trip
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Chapters
- Evans To Pearsiburg, VA · 13 pebbls
Evans To Pearsiburg, VA
27 March 2024 - 09:12
Visit With Nathan And Morgan
Quick stop for gas and a quick bite to eat. Arrived at 1:30pm. Looking
forward to a great visit!!!
A bit rainy but blue skys just around the corner!!
29 March 2024 - 10:01
Heading to Pearsiburg,VA
29 March 2024 - 14:13
Made it to Pearis Cemetary Parking lot. WINDY!!!! Walked NB to see the cemetery and had to bush wack through a tree that fell a little while ago. Did I say windy…
Staying the night in the truck and to be here instead of a 4K elevation where I’ll start tomorrow. Alex knows where I’m talking about.
VA623 Burkes Garden
I took a light day today as I didn’t get started until around 12:30. Did 4 miles but met a couple of through hikers, Tinker and Sparkplug. About 4 more hikers showed up as well doing 20 mile days. I think it might take me a few more days to get my rhythm down.
Weather today was great and should stay good for a couple more days. Then rain and possible snow….
Helvey’s Mill Shelter-Mile 594
Today I did 14 hard miles. Last 2 mile was a long pull. It was one of those time when you say “what the heck am I thinking”. Weather was great. Started out with a shower but quickly left. Tomorrow will be another good day, about ten miles to the next shelter.
1 April 2024 - 09:10
Hiking to Jenny Knob Shelter
1 April 2024 - Jenny’s knob
Made it to Jenny knob shelter mile 27.7. Did another 10 miles today, not too bad. Tomorrow I might stay in a hostel. Been hiking with Ron from TN. Good guy about my age. Ron is doing a flipflop which means he starts early in Demascus, goes to main then heads south in sept. We may go to a hostel tomorrow and see if we can slack-pack a few days. Weather turns really bad starting Wednesday night. Temps down in the mid twenties. Fun times
Oh yea I forgot passed the 600 mile mark today. Also had a friend looking for food at the shelter. Check out the photo. Anyone know what animal that is?
Oh yeah, forgot to mention we just had another hiker join us for the night. Karaoke is from Alaska and has hiked all over the US. So many stories. She just broke out a rendition of Copper Head Row.
April 2nd-Weary Ft Hostel M610
Pulled into the hostel about 2pm. Julie has been taking great care of us. Had an awesome dinner, meatloaf, mashed potatoes and corn. Weather was great and the trail was a perfect glide. Tomorrow we will slack-pack me, Tinker,Shrodinger and Karaoke to Woods Hole hostel. One of the more famous hostel -15miles. My knees are thanking me.
What did I learn today:
I learned that it’s far better to camp with friends than alone. Hikers accept you as you are with no judgement. Guess I’ll keep hiking 👍
4/3/24-Dismal Falls
4/3/24-Woods Hole Hostel
Wake up:
Woke up to a beautiful morning. Very hard rain starting at 5am but sky cleared. Had coffee and watched sunrise
Hike:
Made it to mile 625, JM 49.5. Hiked with Tinker and Karaoke as we took a side trail and didn’t want to loose anyone. Saw Dismal Falls-decent. Temps started out mild but near the end there was a cold front pushing in (going to get cold!!!)
Made it to Woods Hole around 3pm. Fire was light and hands/ toes warmed.
Hikers I met:
Master Splinter and Louie the dog (utuber)
Dinner;
We had mac&cheese, black eye peas, salad, collards greens and bread. All homemade from the hostel garden!!
My Trail Thoughts:
Slack packing is amazing!! Good call on getting to this hostel tonight and not sleeping on the ridge.
4 April 2024 - 16:05
Made it to Angel Rest Hostel 11.5 miles North
Breakfast was really good. I’ve discovered Amish butter! Amazing!!
Left hostel around 8:30am.
Weather: snowed most all day. The most beautiful hiking I’ve done in a long time. Temps were in the 20s so we had to keep moving.
Hiked most of the day with Tinker but Karaoke caught up and passed us. Met The Scotsman for the first time today. He is semi-famous on the trail with a lot of other hikes. Hoping he can catch up and join our crew.
My Thoughts: get down off that mountain and clean out the local Chinese Buffet.
4/5/24 Pocahontas To Hostel
Thought we were taking a zero but decided to do 5 miles. Limping a bit due pulled Achilles
tendon. Icing it down now to see if it gets better. May have to take another 0 to let it rest. Hopefully it feels better.
Came up on some trail magic today though 😀
4/6/24 Good Mornimg Family!! We’ll tendon still very sore so took a zero day today. Not sure about continuing on at this point. May need to call it.