AT Day 50: Sinking Creek to Dragon’s Tooth

Daily Miles: 25.0, Total Miles: 703.0

Noisy last night with barking dogs, people yelling and an early morning alarm from a house down the hill. The two hikers who joined me at my campsite last night probably didn’t appreciate my early morning start.

I quickly crossed Sinking Creek and started up the first ridge climb. On the way, passed by the impressive Keffer Oak. The largest and oldest oak tree (300 yrs old) in the southern half of the AT.

At the very top of the first ridge was the Eastern Continental Divide. Waters to the west flowing to the Mississippi River and to the east, James River and the Atlantic Ocean. Much of the ridge was hiking on rock ledges, many with good views to the valley below.

Down to Craig Creek, passed by a smelly skunk in the bushes then up and over another high point. I got down to Trout Creek for a late lunch on a warm afternoon. The last climb got me to more ledges, difficult and tiring hiking along a jagged, rocky outcrop. On the way I heard, then saw another large tree come crashing down into the forest.

Late in the afternoon, I took a short detour to Dragon’s Tooth, a well-known pointed outcrop with great views.

I was pretty well beat and feeling my first blister from walking sideways on the ledges much of the day. Finally made it to a hiker camping area at Lost Spectacles Gap. Just getting into my tent when joined by Citrus and Chronos.