I've been posting my previous section hike trip reports on Trailplace, but having the site go dark last year doesn't give me much motivation to keep up the effort. Might as well post my new ones here.
Background
My high school buddy (and best man) Smoking Sox and I have been section hiking the AT since 2003. We usually get a full week away from family and work every other year, so it's been a combination of 2 - 3 day trips mixed in with the occasional week-long outings.
In March of 2014, we set off northbound from Damascus expecting to finish all but ~30 miles of Virginia. On Day 2, a flash snow / ice storm hit us just as we crossed Whitetop and left us wet, shivering and miserable inside the privy at the Elk Garden road crossing. Here's a few pictures from that afternoon and the following day.
Freezing temperature, 30+ mph wind gusts, snow and fog at Elk Garden
[IMG:https://fauster.smugmug.com/Hiking/AT-Section-Hike-28/i-JHThv33/0/M/20140316_153712-M.jpg]
Rime ice at elevation - no question about the wind direction
[IMG:https://fauster.smugmug.com/Hiking/AT-Section-Hike-28/i-VVhKt4t/0/M/IMG_0025-M.jpg]
The I-81 valley got straight freezing rain
[IMG:https://fauster.smugmug.com/Hiking/AT-Section-Hike-28/i-mW92jck/0/M/20140317_081022-M.jpg]
Bottom line: we bailed from the trail and rode out the night in the Relax Inn in Atkins. Pushing onward to the Thomas Knob Shelter near the highest point of VA (Mt. Rogers) didn't seem like a smart idea at the time. We did get out and complete a day hike the next day from the Mt. Rogers Visitors Center back to the motel, then continued northbound the following morning until we reached our last completed VA Section. That left a 40-mile 'Orphan' Section between Elk Garden and Mt. Rogers Visitors Center as our only remaining miles in VA. Our goal for Section Hike #29 was to finish the VA Orphan and add some miles in northern TN.
Background
My high school buddy (and best man) Smoking Sox and I have been section hiking the AT since 2003. We usually get a full week away from family and work every other year, so it's been a combination of 2 - 3 day trips mixed in with the occasional week-long outings.
In March of 2014, we set off northbound from Damascus expecting to finish all but ~30 miles of Virginia. On Day 2, a flash snow / ice storm hit us just as we crossed Whitetop and left us wet, shivering and miserable inside the privy at the Elk Garden road crossing. Here's a few pictures from that afternoon and the following day.
Freezing temperature, 30+ mph wind gusts, snow and fog at Elk Garden
[IMG:https://fauster.smugmug.com/Hiking/AT-Section-Hike-28/i-JHThv33/0/M/20140316_153712-M.jpg]
Rime ice at elevation - no question about the wind direction
[IMG:https://fauster.smugmug.com/Hiking/AT-Section-Hike-28/i-VVhKt4t/0/M/IMG_0025-M.jpg]
The I-81 valley got straight freezing rain
[IMG:https://fauster.smugmug.com/Hiking/AT-Section-Hike-28/i-mW92jck/0/M/20140317_081022-M.jpg]
Bottom line: we bailed from the trail and rode out the night in the Relax Inn in Atkins. Pushing onward to the Thomas Knob Shelter near the highest point of VA (Mt. Rogers) didn't seem like a smart idea at the time. We did get out and complete a day hike the next day from the Mt. Rogers Visitors Center back to the motel, then continued northbound the following morning until we reached our last completed VA Section. That left a 40-mile 'Orphan' Section between Elk Garden and Mt. Rogers Visitors Center as our only remaining miles in VA. Our goal for Section Hike #29 was to finish the VA Orphan and add some miles in northern TN.
Trudgin' along the AT since 2003. Completed Sections: Springer Mountain to Clingmans Dome and Max Patch NC to Gorham NH
"The days I keep my gratitude higher than my expectations...those are pretty good days." Ray Wylie Hubbard
"The days I keep my gratitude higher than my expectations...those are pretty good days." Ray Wylie Hubbard
The post was edited 1 time, last by StalkingTortoise ().