points o' interest

[Jaybird]

hey gang!

doing a section-hike in April-May 2005: Damascus to Pearisburg,VA...

any specific places, towns, hostels i need to NOT MISS? (that might be off the trail a bit)

thanks for info. :D

[Lone Wolf]

Check out The Holy Family Hostel in Pearisburg. Much better place to stay than the Rondezvous. Just before Pearisburg stay at Woodshole hostel

[MOWGLI]

hey gang!

doing a section-hike in April-May 2005: Damascus to Pearisburg,VA...

any specific places, towns, hostels i need to NOT MISS? (that might be off the trail a bit)

thanks for info. :D

Thomas Knob Shelter is a sweet place to wake up. Since you'll be section hiking, I'd avoid the Partnership Shelter (except for the free shower!) and try for a backcountry experience. Then again, if you've got a pizza jones going on, you can always order one from the Mt. Rogers Visitors Center which is all of .1 from the shelter. That might be a nice lunch break.

One of my favorite places along that section is Chestnut Ridge. The view into God's Thumbprint (Burkes Garden) is great. Try and spend a little time there if the weather is nice.

That's about all from me.

One last thing... You hear a lot about the rocks in PA, but the ridge leading into Pearisburg is pretty rocky. That's another way of saying that the PA rocks are not really that bad.

Enjoy the hike! Please tell Model-T that Jeffrey Hunter sends his regards,

Little Bear

[gravityman]

Don't you DARE miss Tilly at Wood's Hole. One of the neatest places on the trail. She will probably put you to work if you show up early though :) She a GREAT lady, and not afraid to ask a hiker to do a little something. But it's worth the southern hospitality and the breakfast :) This is NOT a typical hostel, that is for sure!

One of my fondest memories was at this place. There was a german who called himself the Barvarian Marmont who found a water filter at a stream. He was telling us how in Germany a finders fee was to be paid if he returned it to the owner of 10% of the value. He cracked me up! Of course I spent a year in Germany in a german school, my dad lived his first 25 years in german, and I have NEVER heard of such a thing, but who knows... you don't learn it all after a year! Anyway, it was Heavy's filter, and he agreed to help the Barbarian Varmint (hehehe) arrange a plane ticket back to German at the end of the hike (Heavy was living in Boston).

Gravity Man

[Bear Magnet]

Woodshole Hostel is a great place, but I am not sure when it will be open. Tilly Woods is there for two months during peak thru-hiker season, so if you get there in late April/early May I am not sure if she will be there yet. Anyone else know more info?

I hitched into Blacksburg (home of Virginia Tech) from Pearisburg because I like college towns. It was a good time.

I spent a rainy day at Chestnut Knob shelter with an Orthodox Jew from Israel, two alcoholic British socialists, and a right leaning gun owner from Virginia. Interesting discussions. :)

Bear Magnet
Jonathan Amato