Exodus
Blackrock Hut campsite to Hightop Hut campsite - 21.4 miles hiked today - 906.4 total AT miles hiked to date.
What a great day! Perfect hiking weather, moderate terrain, incredible sights, good company, and another milestone. Started out early with Rick, Three Jack, and Pinot, along with a couple of section hikers, planning to cover more than 20 miles for the day. Immediately came to the top of Blackrock mountain, only 1/2 mile from where we had camped. It offered a unique view, with a rockslide flowing into the valley below, unlike any other we’d seen.
From there, we sojourned on, again crossing Skyline Drive multiple times as the trail continued to shadow the road. It turns out that Skyline Drive was constructed on the existing Appalachian Trail in the early 1930’s, and the trail was relocated to run both above and below the new roadway.
By late morning we had reached the Loft Mountain campground, huge ( and popular) campground for visitors to the park. We stopped at the camp store for lunch, located just yards off of the trail. We were able to get some hot food (I had a spicy chicken sandwich), as well as snacks and ice cream. The camp store also had showers and a coin laundry if we’d been so inclined, but as we’d all showered and laundered less than 48 hours ago, we passed on those luxuries.
From there, the rest of the day was spent going from one incredible overlook to another, as we continued to switch back and forth across the road. Although we did climb more than 4300 feet for the day, descents were at about 4200 ft and the grades were gradual and forgiving. We passed over Blackrock, Loft, and Weaver mountains while descending through several gaps at the road crossings.
Before arriving at our final destination late in the day, I had several interesting encounters. While still waiting to see my first bear, I was startled by three other wildlife meetings. First, in the morning I had a deer leap across the trail 10 feet in front of me and then stop and look back at me like I was supposed to follow it. When I didn’t, I swear it shrugged its shoulders and moved on. And then after lunch, as I re-entered the trail from a road crossing, I heard a rattling sound and stopped to see a rattlesnake coiled next to the trail, rattling it’s tail and giving me the stink eye. After snapping a couple of pictures from a safe distance, I carefully side stepped the creature and cautiously continued down the trail. Finally, as I made the turn up the side trail to the campsite for the night, a rabbit hopped right onto the trail and sat there, unconcerned by my presence. I took a couple of pictures of it while it obligingly sat there, and the it hopped back off the trail.
Finally, we passed yet another milestone today, 900 miles hiked on the AT. Seems like these are coming faster each time.
I set up my tent, had dinner, and retired for the night. It’s supposed to get down into the 30s tonight, so I have an extra layer on. Tomorrow the plan is to attempt a 24 mile day, based on where the huts are placed. On paper, the terrain looks even more benign than today, so should be achievable. We’ll see.
Until next time…
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