No, there is no one down that ravine (anymore) -- Bland, VA

[joshuasdad]

Heads up on the downhill SOBO into Bland/Bastian, VA. While the first 10 miles of the section I did yesterday were awesome (just a little slushy and a few blowdowns), the downhill near I-77 was nearly impassable without traction control (like crampons or microspikes). I, of course, left the microspikes in the car...

Slid down a 30-40 ft sideslope in area where surface was ice/wet compacted snow. The rhodys got the worst of it, but it was a real pain to get back up (soil was just duff, crumbling roots, etc.). My blue (cheap) hiking pole is still sticking out of the sideslope about 8 feet below the trail, because there was no good way to retrieve it without risking another fall.

I hope everyone is doing well.

--joshuasdad

[HikerMom58]

Hey... nice to hear from you! Thanks for the info!

[psyon27]

so that pole is up for grabs? lol

[Old Hiker]

LEAVE NO TRACE !! LEAVE NO TRACE !!!!! I'm tellin' !!!!!

[Sarcasm the elf]

LEAVE NO TRACE !! LEAVE NO TRACE !!!!! I'm tellin' !!!!!

Dang it! I was going to use that line...

JD, glad to hear you're okay.