Alleghanian Orogeny
04-28-2013, 11:01
After tending to some work in Boone, NC and Johnson City, TN on Friday, I slowly weaved my way northeast, bound for Stony Fork CG, at the foot of Big Walker Mountain north of Wytheville, VA. I'd started the morning encountering two guys about my age who were sectioning from 19E near Elk Park to Damascus. I then checked out the Dennis Cove/Kincora and Watauga Lake areas before shooting up to the Mount Rogers Nat Rec Area HQ on VA 16 south of Marion. Missed closing time by 15 min, but no worries. I circumnavigated Glade Mountain in the truck, then headed on up to the CG and get the tent set up just as it got dark. Met no other hikers after the 9:00am encounter with the guys at Elk Park.
By 7:00am yesterday I was on the north side of Big Walker Mountain where the AT first reaches VA 42. A nice lady from Ohio was at the trailhead waiting for her friend, an endurance runner, to reach that point from the Atkins side of Big Walker. The runner's goal was 50 miles over the two days. I drove up to the crest above Burkes Garden from Sharon Springs and took in the view, then back down to 42 to head in to Laurel Creek.
At Laurel Creek were a pair of thrus who had just hauled an injured hiker's gear down from the Jenkins shelter. Bubba the local shuttler had been summoned and True Brit arrived moments afterward. Within 15-20 minutes 4 other thrus plus the injured gentleman from Germany arrived. Even though it was just after 10:00am, the PBRs in my cooler were quickly depleted. The ice water, not so much. All disbursed by around 11:00am, with trail names jotted down on my note pad so I can follow their blogs.
One of the missions for the day was a burger at Trent's, so that was the next stop after replenishing the beer supply at Bland. A group of 5-6 thrus were walking back to the trail as I approached the store and they cheerfully accepted the offer of a ride in the back of the pickup. All quite young and quite happy after their repast at Trent's.
Returned to the store and had an excellent cheeseburger and tater wedges chased with ice water on the tailgate while talking fishing with a couple of the locals. A HUGE bald eagle flew down Kimberling Creek as we hung out for a while. I stepped back inside to advise a table-full of thrus I'd be heading back towards the trail shortly and another 3 hopped in. One was fresh out of the Marine Corps, something I guessed in advance when he kept on referring to me as "sir". Well, that, and the close-cropped hair and obvious level of fitness. He'd done Bland-Trent's in 6 hours and intended to complete 30 miles by nightfall Saturday.
The locals at Trent's assured me the NF road from the old Wapiti Shelter up and over Flat Top and Sugar Run mountains was open, so I took the long, slow grind up the mountain. Left a bit of trail magic at Big Horse Gap and cruised on down the Pearisburg side, delighted to "find" Woods Hole just off of the trail and right where the county road ends at the NF road.
Next was the drive through Pearisburg where "Max" was hoofing it through town and accepted a ride to the far side of the New River Bridge. Max and I talked geology for a while until the security team from the Celanese plant politely suggested we carry on our conversation somewhere off of their property, so we parted company.
Took a long ride down Craig Creek Rd to Miller Cove and noted a large collection of hikers at the AT crossing of Rt 620 there. Must be a hostel, or perhaps a collection of students, etc from nearby Roanoke. The VA 311/AT crossing was mobbed at 4pm when I passed it, day hikers to McAfee, I suppose.
The thrus I talked to at Laurel Creek and Trent's had started in early March--March 23 for the Marine--and seemed generally in good condition, with normal aches and pains and some worn-out shoes and boots and broken gear. All in all, a pretty happy bunch and seemingly well on the way to reaching their goals.
AO aka "Map Boy"
By 7:00am yesterday I was on the north side of Big Walker Mountain where the AT first reaches VA 42. A nice lady from Ohio was at the trailhead waiting for her friend, an endurance runner, to reach that point from the Atkins side of Big Walker. The runner's goal was 50 miles over the two days. I drove up to the crest above Burkes Garden from Sharon Springs and took in the view, then back down to 42 to head in to Laurel Creek.
At Laurel Creek were a pair of thrus who had just hauled an injured hiker's gear down from the Jenkins shelter. Bubba the local shuttler had been summoned and True Brit arrived moments afterward. Within 15-20 minutes 4 other thrus plus the injured gentleman from Germany arrived. Even though it was just after 10:00am, the PBRs in my cooler were quickly depleted. The ice water, not so much. All disbursed by around 11:00am, with trail names jotted down on my note pad so I can follow their blogs.
One of the missions for the day was a burger at Trent's, so that was the next stop after replenishing the beer supply at Bland. A group of 5-6 thrus were walking back to the trail as I approached the store and they cheerfully accepted the offer of a ride in the back of the pickup. All quite young and quite happy after their repast at Trent's.
Returned to the store and had an excellent cheeseburger and tater wedges chased with ice water on the tailgate while talking fishing with a couple of the locals. A HUGE bald eagle flew down Kimberling Creek as we hung out for a while. I stepped back inside to advise a table-full of thrus I'd be heading back towards the trail shortly and another 3 hopped in. One was fresh out of the Marine Corps, something I guessed in advance when he kept on referring to me as "sir". Well, that, and the close-cropped hair and obvious level of fitness. He'd done Bland-Trent's in 6 hours and intended to complete 30 miles by nightfall Saturday.
The locals at Trent's assured me the NF road from the old Wapiti Shelter up and over Flat Top and Sugar Run mountains was open, so I took the long, slow grind up the mountain. Left a bit of trail magic at Big Horse Gap and cruised on down the Pearisburg side, delighted to "find" Woods Hole just off of the trail and right where the county road ends at the NF road.
Next was the drive through Pearisburg where "Max" was hoofing it through town and accepted a ride to the far side of the New River Bridge. Max and I talked geology for a while until the security team from the Celanese plant politely suggested we carry on our conversation somewhere off of their property, so we parted company.
Took a long ride down Craig Creek Rd to Miller Cove and noted a large collection of hikers at the AT crossing of Rt 620 there. Must be a hostel, or perhaps a collection of students, etc from nearby Roanoke. The VA 311/AT crossing was mobbed at 4pm when I passed it, day hikers to McAfee, I suppose.
The thrus I talked to at Laurel Creek and Trent's had started in early March--March 23 for the Marine--and seemed generally in good condition, with normal aches and pains and some worn-out shoes and boots and broken gear. All in all, a pretty happy bunch and seemingly well on the way to reaching their goals.
AO aka "Map Boy"