Joel 1 - 3 / Amos 1 - 9
Knot Maul Branch shelter campsite to Davis Farm campsite - 16.6 miles hiked today- 577.0 total AT miles hiked to date.
Long and challenging day, so this will be short. Left camp this morning and had an immediate climb up Lynn camp mountain and then back down to Lick Creek. This was the much anticipated fording spot. In reality it was underwhelming as the water barely came over our ankles.
From there, it was a three hour climb up Chestnut Knob to our lunch spot at Chestnut Knob shelter, the first enclosed stone shelter we’ve seen since Blood Mountain. It used to be a Forest Ranger’s home. Views from there were great, but it was the last real highlight of the day.
The afternoon was taken up by PUDs (pointless ups and downs), and climbing every knot, knoll, knob, crevice, and outcropping in this part of Virginia. We must have climbed 20 of these and nary a one had a decent view. On top of that, the last 7 miles had dozens of trees down, branches blocking the path, and worn trail conditions. Probably the worst maintained section we’ve covered. One interesting site was a gnome house at the base of a tree along the trail. I’m not sure who does this, but I’ve seen several.
Finally around 6pm, we arrived at the Davis Farm campsite, site of an old homestead. We pitched our tents on the actual footprint of the old house. Beautiful view of the Burke’s garden valley below.
Tomorrow is a short day, with only 12 miles planned.
Until next time...
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