Day 159/September 7

Miles hiked: 13.3 in 6:57
Start: , Mile 1729.1, Damascus, VA
Finish: Double Spring Gap Campsite, VA
Elevation gain: 3,067'

So nice to see this sign, after a long climb. One more state in the rear view mirror.

Three section hikers I met at the VA/TN stateline, all from Massachusetts originally. They were doing some section hikes, slack packing, on the AT, but their big to-do would be the Tennessee vs Virginia Tech football game on the weekend at Bristol Motor Speeway, with seating for 150,000!

Yup, I carried that in for lunch and dinner.

I doubt anyone uses this old shelter anymore.

And this might be why--all the trash that idiots leave in the fire pit. A great way to attract bears.

On the other hand, this tent site was perfectly clean and no bears came to visit.

Day 158/September 6

Miles hiked: Zero

Spending a day of at Woodchuck's Hostel in Damascus. Couple of other hikers here tonight. 

And I'm making pasta puttanesca!!

In progress:

And the final meal:

It was a big hit, everyone had seconds. :-)

Day 157/September 5

Miles hiked: 12.10 in 6:23

Start: Mile 1708, stealth tent site, VA

Finish: Mile 1720.1, Damascus, VA

Elevation gain: 1,880'

I haven't seen these in years--I know them as water spiders, but that's unlikely to be what they are.

Blends in pretty well, no?

Day 156/September 4

Miles hiked: 16.0 in 8:37

Start: Thomas Knob Shelter, VA

Finish: Mile 1708.0, stealth tent site, VA

Elevation gain: 2,028'

Early morning view from Thomas Knob.

I love these open balds.

When I got to bald, all I could think was, "Wow, what a spot for a links golf course. It would have a million-dollar view, as seen below:

Damn, almost makes me want to be a cow.

The best tip that I received. Many of the water sources are quite dry now, with barely a trickle of water. But if you take a Rhododendron leaf and lay it in the stream bed and extend the stem over a rock, then you can easily and quickly fill your tall SmartWater bottle.

Day 155/September 3

Miles Hiked: 16.10 in 8:07

Start: Hurricane Mountain Shelter, VA

Finish: Thomas Knob Shelter, VA

Elevation gain: 3,740'

Labor weekend at the Grayson Highlands brings out the crowd--everyone wants to see the ponies, or hike up Mt. Rogers.

They ought to do a better job of removing the dead ponies. 

Day 154/September 2

Miles hiked: 19.2 in 9:29
Start: VA 16. Mt. Rogers Visitor Center, VA
Finish: Hurricane Mountain Shelter, VA
Elevation gain: 3,937'

Day 153/September 1

Miles hiked: 11.4 in 4:13

Start: VA 683, US 11, Atkins, VA

Finish: VA 16, Mt. Rogers Visitor Center,VA

Elevation gain: 2,894'