Trail's End

Here we are back down at Rockfish Gap, where I-64 and US 250 cross the ridgeline.

A pile of rocks beside the trail. We added our 2 stones and continued south on the trail.  The footpath you see is the AT.  It is well maintained.  Hikers are abiding by the rules and the SNP is clean.  Rarely did we see any trash and if there was any it probably fell from someone's pack without them knowing it.  This is one of the few level chunks of ground on our route.

An overlook with an eastern view.    Because the AT runs fairly close the the ridge of the Shenandoahs, there are beautiful overlooks in to both the east and west.    It is rare, however, that the trail is on the crest of the ridge.

SPOT image

Below is a screen shot of the satellite SPOT system track of the hike.    Good system!   Click on image for larger view.

Saturday Afternoon.

It is Saturday afternoon and am back home in North Carolina.

It was a great trip and I thank Johnny for planning and organizing it.    Lots of great sights and experiences!!

We should have been finishing up at about this time today, but I had to quit early.   I did not properly prepare for the AT and could not make any more significant climbs with a 50 lb pack.  Age and inactivity.     Had to bail but it was an excellent adventure!

Despite not finishing our planned section, we did about 20 miles of some the most beautiful (and steep) trail in the Eastern US.

Will post some additional photos from my cameras.

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Late afternoon Friday we met some hikers coming up from the south who had heard weather report for the evening.  Calling for severe thunderstorms, high winds and possibly hale, with heavy rains all day Saturday.  Being older and hopefully somewhat wiser we decided that it would be best to call a halt to the trip and start again at another date.  I am so glad Stan decided to make this trip with me old friends are to be cherished.  I think the last photo I took from the car kind of sums it up.  The buck is in velvet and as you can see he is sticking his tongue at me in jest.  So keep sticking your tongue out and enjoy life to it's fullest. 

I am looking to more adventures. 
But for now I will just say
"GET OFF THE COUCH AND DO SOMETHING!"

We did not get a picture of the camp tonight.  Got set up and ate just before the rain started falling hard.  Thunder, lightening and heavy rain.  Both our tents stayed dry as could be.  Slept well considering.  We had to camp in a very small clearing and I am sure Stan got a load of my snoring.  Fortunately, it is not is bad as it was when I was drinking.  Today is 8 months of sobriety.  Thank my support system and the Good Lord.

Another view of the trail headed South.  As you can see we are in the clouds.  The trail is well worn.  I wondered as I walked along this path through some of God's great work how many other sets of feet had trod this ground to wear this 2000 plus mile path through the mountains.  While on this walk I was able to let my mind ponder many things.  The peace and tranquility is amazing.  Weather turning worse by the hour.