Daily Miles: 21.2, Total Miles: 724.2 I only conserved enough water for a cup of coffee this morning so needed a water source quickly. The good news was that the Catawba Grocery Store was only a short distance off trail only 2.5 miles away. Besides water, I made it worth my while. I ordered a double order of biscuits and gravy. Then ate a banana and a cherry pie washing it down with a chocolate milk. A good start to…

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….

Daily Miles: 18.9, Total Miles: 678.0 My hike today had the profile of a double hump camel. Two big ascents and then coming down to gaps in between. A warm and mostly sunny day with the always high humidity having me sweating buckets. I was also slowed down by a long, very rocky stretch. The nice thing about today was not one but two trail angel stops. The first one was hosted by the AT trail stewards for that section…

Daily Miles: 23.0, Total Miles: 659.1 Out the door at Plaza Motel by 7am and one last look at the DQ. Low lying clouds and drizzling rain as I crossed the highway bridge over the large New River. I passed railroad tracks and a large chemical plant before reaching the access point to get back on the trail. I wound my way back up and followed the mountaintops with nice views of the Virginia and West Virginia countryside. What just…

Daily Miles: 0, Total Miles: 636.1 A slow, restful day in Pearisburg VA. The big excitement was having my second blizzard in two days, this time a chocolate dipped strawberry! It’s a lot more fun and guilt free when your calorie deficent. Off to Daleville VA tomorrow. Warming trend but maybe some rain.

Daily Miles: 6.2, Total Miles: 636.1 A short day, mostly downhill to Pearisburg VA, nice views of the surrounding valleys. First stop was Hardee’s for breakfast and Food Lion for beverages and snacks. A long-awaited Hawaiian Blizzard at DQ, then check-in at the Plaza Motel, an old but clean place on Main Street. An added bonus – they will wash your clothes. Shortly thereafter, the rain started – the timing couldn’t have been better. I later crossed the street for…

Daily Miles: 26.2, Total Miles: 629.9 Quite a few animals using the trail last night, most likely deer. A tough but pleasant hike today in the Virginia mountains and countryside. I crossed the wide Kimberling Creek on a swinging, creaky suspension bridge. Resisted the temptation of a short walk to a small grocery store. I climbed right back into the hills and for much of the day followed Dismal Creek all the way to the headwaters. Most of it hiked…

Daily Miles: 26.7, Total Miles: 603.7 Started off the day with a long descent, leaving Hunting Camp Creek Wilderness after getting water from the creek. Up and down the ridges a few times before reaching Hwy 62 near Bland VA. I really enjoyed a late lunch at the Brushy Mountain Outpost right next to the trail. A giant bacon cheeseburger and Cajun fries. Thought it might slow me down but it gave me the energy for another ten miles. The…

Daily Miles: 21.6, Total Miles: 555.8 I sure appreciate the bus transit system such as the one in Marion. Walked to the bus stop and five minutes later was the only passenger on the free shuttle back to Mt Rogers HQ. I ran into Fossils and Dave, now with the trail name of Tetras, at the HQ. Hadn’t seen them for several days. Also met two new hikers, Long John and Laid Back. All bundled up on a cold, windy…