Daily Miles: 24.4, Total Miles: 888.7 Got a much appreciated ride to Rockfish Gap by High Class, a local trail angel/2020 AT hiker. It wasn’t long before I entered Shenandoah National Park on a cool, beautiful morning. The first thing I noticed was the sweet smell of honeysuckle flowers and it stayed with me all day. This was a great day on the trail with more gently gradients, good tread and nice forest scenery with some views of the Shenandoahs….

Daily Miles: 0, Total Miles: 864.3 For a Quality Inn, not a bad breakfast. After the eggs, biscuits and gravy, I tried to avoid the waffle maker but succumbed to the temptation. The only shopping items on my list today were a gas canister and a new eyeglasses case. My current case is cracked and broken after falling on it numerous times on some of my stumbles on the trail. I struck out at the nearby Ace Hardware and Walmart…

Daily Miles: 21.1, Total Miles: 855.6 If I had to do 3,000′ of vertical, I’d rather do it first thing in the morning and I got my wish. The high point at Three Ridges Peak was heavily wooded so the views were filtered. Much better views of the nearby valleys and mountains on the way down at Hanging Rock Overlook. I got down to Reid’s Gap and a trail angel was just leaving. He stopped and re-parked when he saw…

Daily Miles: 24.5, Total Miles: 834.5 One of the better sleeps on the trail last night. On the trail by 6:30am and resumed the climb started yesterday afternoon. Got to a high point for the day at Bald Knob and it was fogged in with no views. The heavy mist lifted up in time and got some nice views at the next high point at Cole Mountain. The sun finally came out and I continued following the ridgeline up and…

Daily Miles: 22.8, Total miles: 810.0 I had a nice stay at Stanimal’s Hostel but ready to get back on the trail. Got the first shuttle back out to James River and the AT trailhead. First day out of town usually starts with a climb and today was no different. 2,600′ elevation gain spread out over the first nine miles got me to the high point at Bluff Mountain. This site in the George Washington NF had good views and…

Daily Miles: 0, Total Miles: 787.2 Lazy day at Stanimal’s in Glasgow VA. The most strenuous thing I did all day was walk down the street, and kind of on a whim, got a haircut and beard trim. First time I’ve ever done that mid-hike! I celebrated with a strawberry milkshake and Cowboy burger at Scotto’s. Got back, took a shower and had an overwhelming urge to take a nap, and yes, it was heavenly. Off to Waynesboro VA tomorrow.

Daily Miles: 7.6, Total Miles: 787.2 The torrential downpour last night left standing water at the bottom of my tent. I drained most of it early this morning but not before I had wet feet inside my sleeping bag. Now that’s an unfortunate and uncomfortable first on any of my hikes. I managed a few more hours of sleep until woken up by a noisy eastern whip-poor-will. Just under eight miles through the James River Face Wilderness to the very…

Daily Miles: 24.3, Total Miles: 779.6 It rained off and on all night but stopped by the time I headed out at 6:30am. Close to a 7,000″ vertical gain today following the ridgetops up and down. Much of it was again parallel to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Mostly cloudy but the sun did come out for a while this afternoon. Only a few good viewpoints, otherwise filtered by the bushes and trees along the trail. Thankfully good tread today. I…

Daily Miles: 25.0, Total Miles: 755.3 On the trail quickly this morning because the AT crosses the highway very close to the Daleville Super 8. Expected a little rain today but it ended up raining almost all day long. It fortunately didn’t hold me up too much. I would have had some good viewpoints but it was really socked in. The trail paralleled the Blue Ridge Parkway and I crossed the 1/3 mark on the AT. Although a big elevation…