At this point in my Appalachian journey I was beginning to get a feel for the minimalist lifestyle that the trail encourages. I'd spent days hiking through hail and nights in self-proclaimed "mouldering" three-walked huts. I had eaten horrific concoctions of food with relish, and didn't think twice about digging a hole when nature called.…Read more April 18-20: The Wayside Chronicles

First things first: I'm behind on my blog posts. Again. Time was the one thing I expected to have in spades while hiking the trail, but it's become apparent that even out here the clock never slows. From morning till night I'm on the go, walking mostly, then parsing words with passing hikers, filling water…Read more April 15-17: Shenendoah, Big Miles, and Wildfires

April 14 Woke up today in a little nowhere town. Went looking for a free shower, found one at the Y. After 10 minutes of hot water and soap, came out of there more than clean. Flip-flops, paved roads, shades, and sunshine. No grass is greener than Virginia's in spring. Found Cosmo at Weasie's Breakfast…Read more Zero Day

April 13 Pulled 27 miles today. They weren't small miles either. Cosmo and I woke early, around 6:15 and hit the trail, climbing "The Priest," one of the biggest mountains in the area, before the sun had even crested the horizon. Virginia farmland sprawled outward in every direction, hemmed in by forest and more mountains.…Read more Marathon Day

April 11th: Today was a good day. Cosmo and I woke early, both weary and sore from the 20 mile day before, with a plan for some R&R. At about the midpoint of our hike for the day was a logging trail by the name of Hog Camp Gap. It was rarely used and distended,…Read more Walden in the Mountains

April 10th:    The life of luxury is in the rearview. Cosmo and I have returned to the off beaten track. We planned for a 20 mile day… which started off with a 3000 foot elevation change. Up. And then back down again. It only took me 8 hours to forget what relaxation is and…Read more First 20 Mile Day

Alright, time to pick up the pace with the blog posts. Here’s the quick and dirty for April 9th: Woke up to a mountaintop blizzard Said my farewells to Torch and Tinder Met up with a fellow thru hiker named Cosmo to split a motel room in the nearest town (Buena Vista ------pronounced Byoona Vista…Read more Buena Vista

April 8 - Cornelius to Black Rock overlook. Next came yet another steep climb to the top of Apple Orchard Mountain, the highest point on the trail for nearly 800 miles. Then on and on past Thunder Hill Shelter and Petite's Gap, over Highcock Knob and past Marble Spring, a groundwater source that is hardly…Read more Companions on the trail

April 7 - Down Buchanan Trail, through the wet glens that mark the approach to Jennings Creek. Next came the sharp incline up Fork Mountain to Bryant Ridge Shelter and from there the 2100 foot climb to the tip of Floyd Mountain. Cornelius Creek was just beyond. 12.6 miles.   My first night in a…Read more Thunder on high 

The April 6th Overview: April 6 - Wilson Creek over Black Horse Gap and the overlooks.  Down some leaf-littered mountain trails to the Peaks of Otter and Mills Gap. Then up from Bearwallow Gap to Cove Mountain and along the rocky trail to Cove Mountain Shelter. 14.7 miles. Much to my relief I survived that first…Read more Climbing to new heights