View Full Version : VA - Atkins to Bland in mid April?
theunstrungharp
02-09-2008, 21:45
I know nothing about this area -- will a 20 Degree bag be okay?? Anything else I should know? What is the terrain like?
Hopefully the ponies will have some foals by then. :)
Lone Wolf
02-09-2008, 21:48
the bag will be fine. ain't no ponies between atkins and bland though
theunstrungharp
02-09-2008, 22:00
I think we're starting in Damascus actually. Does that change anything? I've been promised ponies. But I'm a Mainer and my geography skills are worse than Christopher Columbus' blind dog's.
Lone Wolf
02-09-2008, 22:26
you'll see ponies around 30 miles north of damascus
theunstrungharp
02-09-2008, 22:42
Thanks Lone - if I don't see any, you'll give me my money back, right? ;)
hnryclay
02-09-2008, 22:49
Just walked from Kimberling creek to the Wapiti Shelter this afternoon, it was 53 degrees !!! Now watch it snow in April. lol
Temperatures (http://www.appalachiantrail.org/site/c.jkLXJ8MQKtH/b.1025291/k.72A0/Average_Temperatures.htm)
Here are those ponies (don't feed them):
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/1/5/7/0/8/sep06_0004.jpg
theunstrungharp
02-10-2008, 21:53
Nice temp chart. And killer ponies. Or rather, killer temp chart and nice ponies. :D Thanks much!!
Cookerhiker
02-11-2008, 17:50
2 other points about this stretch:
1. Don't know if you're a shelter person. Chestnut Knob Shelter looks nice from the outside and sits in a picturesque setting in an open field where you'll see both sunrise and sunset but I wouldn't stay in it unless you want to share your food and boots with hordes of mice.
2. A few miles after Jenkins Shelter, the AT descends to Little Wolf Creek which it crosses about a dozen times. You may want to take the blue-blaze alternative if there's been a lot of rain.
You're hiking this stretch at a nice time of year; you'll see some signs of spring (flowers etc.) but you'll still enjoy views because the leaves won't be out yet.
theunstrungharp
02-15-2008, 15:31
Cooker - great info to have. Thank you much. I'll probably do the tent thing as some of my gear might be borrowed and I would like to return it sans mouse-teeth marks.
Thank you so much.
notorius tic
02-15-2008, 15:51
Notorius Tic hiked it last year 1st time went up with MAX an the other Lone Wolf... On a dare an wound up in 32dgs... FOG SET IN AN I WAS LOST?... MY DUMB AZZ HAD NO HEADLAMP: The climate change there can go from good 2 DOWN UGLY... Fast... I sleep in the fing privey... Dont play with the Mnt ... THE walk down to find Garry,an GHOAST,PEPPER, and with my rain Jacket as a lesh for MAX... was way to much... But im still here an finished my Journey.....:>
notorius tic
02-15-2008, 15:54
Its a great shelter if you got room there was alot of hikers going through AT time some 1 will c this an start crying poor TIC went to the pony pond an said I dont need a filter thats hoew BAD it was<: but I still had a BLAST
notorius tic
02-15-2008, 15:56
I dont move Mountains : Mountains move ME