Adventures of an AT Section hiker "Mapless"

Tag: AT

  • Appalachian Trail Georgia Section Hike – Day 1

    September 9, 2025 – The start of a new adventure – a planed 11 day section hike on the Appalachian Trail in Georgia and North Carolina…

    I have an ad on the Nantahala Hike Club web site that says I am in search of hiking buddies to hike sections of the Appalachian Trail. Back in June I received a email from Gab in Florida and she said she was looking to do her first section and did not want to go solo. We stated to plan this hike. I had posted our plans on Facebook and found 2 other hikers to join. The plan was for Nichole and Atticus to start at the southern terminus / Springer Mountain on September 7 and meet us tomorrow (9/10) at Jarrard Gap and we would hike northbound for another 11 days.

    After meeting for breakfast this morning, Gab and I parked our cars at Windinf Stair Gap on Rt 64 about 11 mile outside of Franklin. My friend Gail and Sandi (and Sandi’s husband) pick us up and we drove to Lake Winfield Rec Area. I had reserved a camp site here so that where we could take a short hike to the the AT in the morning.

    We checked in the campground with the camp host. The campground was nice, clean and site seemed to be fixed up recently with new gravel. We had the place to ourselves expect for some traffic on a road behind our site… I guess there were some homes back there.

    Gab texted Nichole and Atticus to check on meeting them in the morning. They said they had gotten off trail and would not be meeting us…. Niccole had maxed out with three days on the trail – it was her very first backpack trip and Atticus had a issue with a nerve in his back. it was now just Gab and I on the hike.

    We had a adventure with our first bear hang set up. (there were many signs in the campground warning of bear activity ) I tossed my rope a number of times before I finally got it stuck in a tree and had to cut the rope to salvage what I could. Gab’s rope was a bit short and so I tied them together and final was able to find a good branch to hang out food

    We fix our dinners , walked a bit in the campground to find the trail for the morning, hung our food and called it a early night.

  • Appalachian Trail Conservancy

    Appalachian Trail Conservancy

    August 15 and 16, 2025 — Two 1/2 days at the Appalachian Trail Conservancy Volunteer Leadership Meeting.

    The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) mission is to manage, protect and advocate The Appalachian Trail National Scenic Trail. They are the third leg of the three legged stool that has this mission. The other two legs are the Forest Service / National Park Service and the many volunteers from the hiking clubs along the trail.

    As a newer member of the Nantahala Hiking Club in Franklin NC I was asked to attend this 2 1/2 day meeting with the ATC. It was a wonderful experience to meet other volunteers from clubs from the full lenght of the trail from Georgia to Maine. I made new contacts and bonded with others that have similar passions to help keep the AT alive for generations to come.

    Most the sessions I attended dealt with finding way to find new volunteers to join the club and help maintain the trail. Like many service organizations is this always a challenge and hopefully over the coming years I hope to help out club grow.

    The meeting and rooms were at the Claggett Center just south of Frederick VA. I was a beautiful facility with a great view out the back of the meetings. They feed us well in cateria style and even offer me some gluten free options including a gluten free brownie which was awesome. Much more food than I normally eat so going to need some big rides on the rest of the road trip to work it off..

    The learn more about the ATC click here ….https://appalachiantrail.org/

  • Shenandoah Section Hike Day 6/6

    Monday 5/12/2025 – Last day on the trail for my Shenandoah section hike. I was hoping for an easy day of 9 miles to Rockfish Gap. But nothing is ever easy on the AT in Virginia.

    I statard the day with the climb to Calf Mountain. I was glad that I stopped short of this yesterday and saved for today. I was a tough uphill. Other climbs during the day were also a struggle, probably from the fatigue of 6 days on the trail. When I finally hit the downhill expected to finish the hike there were rocks to deal with in the path …. never easy.

    Finished the last 2 miles in the rain and drizzle. Prefect timing to finish the hike since heavy rain was expected the next few days. A little irony at the end, the gentleman who took my victory photo was a member of the Potomac hiking club and he maintains the part of the trail where I had camped the night before… small world.

    Made it to my van and headed in the Waynesboro motel for a hot shower and real food.

    Stats for the last day: 9.00 miles, 1855ft total ascent, 6hr 13 min, ave speed 1.4 mph

    Total for this section 6 days, 45.5 miles

    Have now complete the entire AT in the Shenandoah National Park – SOBO Compton Gap to Rockfish Gap – 102.2 miles

  • Shenandoah Section Hike Day 5/6

    Sunday 5/11/2025 – Day 5 of my Shenandoah section hike. I was so anxious and worried about this day. The schedule called for a 13 mile day ! Most of my hikes are in the 8 to 9 mil range max so this was going to be a test not only for distance but also total ascent. I was able to modify the plan to 12 miles and avoid a big climb at the end the day. I had my son create a pace chart so I could be sure I would stay in track and finish before 6 pm. The worst part was going to be water. There were no water sources over the 12/13 miles

    The day started out well, making good time with each mile. The sun was out and after noon it bergan to get warm. I was consuming lots of water and I was worried I would run out. I asked a few folks along the way for some extra water. A passing car on the skyline stopped and gave me a Gatorade. I was felling so thirsty like I could drinks everything I had.

    I reported each mile to family and friends via text to give myself some confidence on what I was doing. The last few miles were teeming with Mountain Laurel in bloom. I made to the spring and camp site in the late afternoon feeling very spent but recovered well with lots of water, electrolytes and dinner.

    Stats for day: 12.12 miles, total ascent 2350, 7 hours 55 minutes , average speed 1.5mph

  • Shenandoah Section Hike Day 2/6

    May 8, 2025 Day 2 of the Shenandoah Section Hike. Plan for day was 8.1 miles to Pinefield Hut with couple of big climbs.

    The day was highlighted by wildflowers and mountain laurels in bloom, a view and a stop at a empty ranger station for break and water.

    Got into Pinefield Hut and did not like the designated options for the tent so I found a spot near a stream so I could hear the water all night. Shared the shelter area with a thru hiker couple Bird watcher and Grouse thru hikers form Michigan and a section hiker.

    Rain was expected so dinner was done early and in the tent at 7 pm with rain. My hiker day are usually done at 7pm and on the trail by 7 am

    Stats for the day: 9.17 miles, 1653 total ascent, 6hr 03 min, ave speed 1.5 mph

  • Shenandoah Section Hike Day 1/6

    May 7, 2025 – First day of a 6 day / 45 mile section hike on the Appalachian Trail in the Shenandoah National Park SOBO from Swift Run to Rockfish Gap.

    Left my car near the Rockfish Gap entrance to SNP. My shuttle driver Mary drove me the 1.5 hours to the Swift Run Gap, We traded lots of hiking stories as she has completed most of the trail as a section hiker.

    Had some breakfast at the side of the road on the rock fence and stated out of the the trail. The plan for the day was short on miles but with a significant climb (significant for me) up Hightop Mountain. Spent a good amount of time at the overlook before heading into the Hightop Hut (Shelter).

    The weather was sunny and warm…. too warm for a nap in the tent… smiles. Had the whole shelter area to myself no other hikers stayed the night but did see a number stop for a water fill up.

    Stats for the day: 3.66 miles, 1298 ft elevation, 3 hours 30 Min, ave speed 1.0 mph,

  • Virginia Section Hike Day 1

    April 22 – The plan is a 3 day AT Section hike, 20 miles or so, from McAffee Knob Trailhead, Rt 311 in Catawba VA to Daleville VA. Today is Day 1.

    Spent the night in the van in the parking lot of the closed Valley Cleaners in Daleviille VA. This is where my hike will end. The trail comes out to Rt 220 right next door to the cleaners. I was picked up at 7 am by my shuttle driver Homer and he drove me to the trailhead for McAfee Knob. They built a new bridge to cross the busy 311 highway. It was dedicated about 3 weeks before my hike.

    Had some breakfast after being dropped off and hit the trail. The first day was planned for “only” 4 miles or so but include the climb to McAfee. The climb was long steady along a well maintained trail that is well used by day hikers and AT hikers.

    The payoff is the view at the top and getting the iconic Appalachian Trail photo standing on the McAfee Knob cantilevered rock. The previous day I had run into a hiking club that had come to VA to do the triple crown, they had passed me just before the top and while at the views assisted with my photos.

    The Campbell shelter was not far down the back side of McAfee Knob where I setup up camp for the night near the water source. I normally drink a ton of water when hiking and camping near a water source is much needed. This water came from a spring that move pretty quickly those a hose someone had set up. There was a great light show at night as the mountain location of my camp looked down on what I assume was Roanoke (no photos)

    The stats for the day: 5.36 miles, 1591 ft elevation, 4 hours 51 min, 1.1 mile per hours pace includes time enjoying the view at the top.

  • Time to finish what I started

    It is time to finish what I started 8 years ago…

    The original Appalachian Trail section hike that started it all for me was planned for the fall of 2017. This was the year I turned 60 and when my many years of being a “soccer dad” came to end. (I am sure you are all saying “you don’t look that old”- smiles).

    The original plan was to hike NOBO (North bound) from Pearisburg VA (mile 637.5) to Daleville VA (mile 730.6) for a total planned hike of 93.1 miles. I think I had planned to do this in 8 to 10 days. This section includes some famous and popular spots on the trail dubbed the “triple crown”. Dragons Tooth. McAfee Knows and Tinkers Cliffs. There are many iconic photos of the AT with a hikers standing on a cantilevered rock I am sure you have seen… this is McAfee Knob.

    I had some backpacking experience from weekends in the Allegany Forest in PA so I was not a complete newb. I borrowed some equipment from my son, bought some new equipment and did some exercise and walking to prepare.

    As the time approached I decided 93 miles was bit too much to handle on my first hike and decided to change and start at Mountain Lake road access (mile 664.5) . This by the way is near the resort where the movie Dirty Dancing was filmed. This would take 27 miles off the original plan…

    I parked my car in Daleville and hired a shuttle to take me to the start of my hike. The first day was a bit of a challenge but is was all down hill so real problems. The second day I learned how poorly I was prepared and what a physical challenge the AT can be, especially in Virginia. I hiked uphill for more than 8 hours during which time I hit a wall and was only able to take 5 steps without stopping. The final uphill was a 500 ft climb in 1/2 mile up to Kelly’s Knob. I got some moral support on the final push from some experienced section hikers and hobbled into Laurel Creek Shelter.

    That night I had no desired to eat, but the other hikers convinced me I needed to eat. The next day I took a “zero” and slept in the shelter all day. The third day I started back on trail but knew I would never make it all the way to Daleville. A few miles in there was a road, I hitched a ride and my first section hike was over after only 14 miles.

    Some lessons learned

    • need lighter weight equipment and boots
    • must have trekking poles
    • you will eat much less food than you plan
    • must eat breakfast in the morning before starting a hike

    Over the last 7 years I have completed a number of hikes in this section. My longest was 35 miles over 4 days that included Dragon’s Tooth. After moving to North Carolina in 2022 I have become a much better hiker and am able to handle the mountain climbs – for the most part. I am down to the last 20 miles to finish my original plan. This will be completed next week in first hike of this adventure including my first trip to McAfee Knob and maybe a sunrise photo like below. It’s about time.