Day 140/August 19

Miles hiked: 10.72 in 4:19
Start: Cambell Shelter, VA
Finish: Route 624, Catawba, VA
Elevation gain: 2,313'

Interior photos of the Four Pines Hostel--a converted three-car garage with cots, refrigerator, shower, etc. for hikers. More like a man cave than a hostel. :-)

Standing on the promontory of McAfee Knob--great views and not as scary as it looks.

Route from Suunto.

Day 139/August 18

Miles hiked: 15.4 in 7:49

Start: US-220, Daleville, VA

Finish: Cambell Shelter, VA

Elevation gain: 3,917'

Route from my Suunto.

Day 138/August 17

Miles hiked: Zero

Took a day off from the trail in Daleville, where there really isn't much to do, but I did get a haircut at SuperCuts, and beard trim, too. 

There is a nice sandwich/coffee shop only a half-mile from the Howard Johnson Inn where I stayed, along with a Krogers.

Day 137/August 16

Miles hiked: 11.2 in 4:57

Start: Wilson Creek Shelter, VA

Finish: US 220, Daleville, VA

Elevation gain: 2,293'

A rather uninteresting section heading down to Daleville. But this shelter, the Fullhardt Knob Shelter is unusual. It is on the top of a ridge, a long way from any water. But the builers installed a cistern system that captures rain water from the roof of the shelter. Then the water enters an underground, totally enclosed and locked cistern. Another 50' from the shelter is a spigot where you can fill your water bottles. Seems to work well, but you still need to filter it of course.

As I got close to town the trail changed drastically, including this high pasture with its steep climb. That large tree was only half-way up the hill.

Plan to take a day off in Daleville, change out my lightweight pack for my ZPack Arc Blast. I need a little more volume since I'm adding back my Exped sleeping pad and some extra clothing, mostly for protection from mosquitoes at the shelters.

Still have 727.5 miles to go, but I'm looking forward to the upcoming sections, including the Smokies.

Route from my Suunto.

So far, after two weeks of hiking, I've seen eight bears, many deer and a couple of water snakes.

Route from Suunto.

Day 136/August 15

Miles hiked: 17.0 in 7:24

Start: Jennings Creek, VA

Finish: Wilson Creek Shelter, VA

Elevation gain: 3,593'

Route from my Suunto.

Day 135/August 14

Miles hiked: 8.7 in 4:48

Start: Cornelius Creek Shelter, VA

Finish: Jennings Creek, US-614, VA

Elevation gain: 1,476'

Believe it or not, there's a lizard in that picture.

Deer are so curious, especially if you aren't shooting at them. I saw this one twice as I went down the trail.

I love the wide open woods with lots of green ground cover.

Route from Suunto.

Day 134/August 13

Miles hiked: 17.7 in 9:27

Start: Matts Creek Shelter, VA

Finish: Cornelius Creek Shelter, VA

Elevation gain: 5.541'

Where did all that climb come from?? I guess that's what happens when you do more miles?

Route from my Suunto.