.August 30, 2006
Finally, hiking in Shenandoah National Park. I've driven the Skyline Drive before but now I get to hike it. The original AT through the park was turned into the Skyline Drive years ago so the AT has been relocated throughout the park. The two intersect each other 28 times. With numerous places to meet me, Lynn will not only drop me off and pick me up, but meet me throughout the day. This lets me travel ultralight with just a water bottle and a camera. I started from Beahms Gap and headed north. With a light load and smooth trails I couldn't resist doing some trail running.
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Instead of wooden signs, the trails intersections are marked with cement columns about waist high with the AT symbol on them.
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Near the top of the marker is a gray medal band. On this band are the distances to various points.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ More smooth trails.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ It took no time to complete the 5+ miles to Elkwallow Wayside where I met Lynn. As you can see from the picture they even have a gas station way up here. Good to know if you are crewing someone.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ One of my 28 crossings of the Skyline Drive.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Below is Hogback Overlook where those driving the Skyline Drive can pull over for a view. I guess you could say that the AT overlooks the overlook. The day was overcast but I did manage to get in a couple of halfway decent views.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Nearing Little Hogback
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ I stepped off the trail at Little Hogback to enjoy what little view I could get on this cloudy day.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ I found some AT info.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The information stated that the AT was just 20 yards in front of where you were standing. It reminded me of something that 'Runtrails' wrote in her journal. She was running along and at one of the overlooks in the Shenandoahs like this one, someone yelled out "There's one running" as if she was part of the wildlife. She stopped dead in her tracks and burst out laughing.
Although most of the trail throughout the Shennies is smooth, there are still a lot of ups and down.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Here's my first shot of a deer in the Shennies. It came out blurry but I would get many more chances.
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Lynn took my picture at Gravel Springs Gap.
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Next I headed toward North Marshall Mountain. I came across a large boulder and climbed to the top.
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Here's a view west ....
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and a piece of the skyline drive.
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There were lots of deer on the trail today. This is my 4th day in Virginia and I have seen at least a couple of deer every day. In the Shennies, it is amazing how close the deer let you come.
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Lynn next met me at Compton Gap.
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It had started raining a little while ago and now it was raining pretty hard. I got in the car for a few minutes. The rain always sounds worse in a car or in a small building. I didn't want to get out. Lynn encouraged me.
"You only have 5 more miles," she said.
"Only 5 miles. I've already done 19.5. I think 21 is the most I've ever done. You're usually the one telling me not to do so much."
"Yeah but I know you want to finish those last five and it is mostly downhill."
She was right so I stepped back out into the rain and continued. It wasn't too bad once I got going. I saw so many deer today I lost count. It must have been at least 25. Since I was doing the northern most section of the Shenandoah National Park, I went out where the park ends and continued on another 3 miles to Route 522. Just before 522, I went over a series of small bridges and boardwalks.
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~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Lynn and I met each other so many times today. She would drive ahead and hike into meet me. We decided to make a game out of it and keep track of who saw who first. I quickly pulled ahead 2-0 but then she got on a streak and she won with a final score of 5-2. With her encouragement I completed 24.5 AT miles today. For me this is a new record.
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