AT hike in VA from Hwy 42 to Bastian/Bland/I-77 Aug 20-23, 2010

I am planning an easy, long-weekend, 32-mile hike on the Appalachian Trail from VA Hwy 42 (just north of Groseclose/Atkins) to Bland/Bastian/I-77.

Friday, August 20, 2010:
4:00 p.m. - Leave Nashville, drive to Atkins/Groseclose, arrive around 11:00 pm.
Night hike 2 miles to Knot Maul Branch Shelter from VA Hwy 42.

Saturday:
Hike 9 miles from Knot Maul Branch Shelter to Chestnut Knob Shelter above Burke's Garden aka "God's Thumbprint."

Sunday:
Hike 10 miles from Chestnut Knob Shelter to Jenkins Shelter

Monday:
Hike 11 miles from Jenkins Shelter to Bastian/Bland, VA at I-77
Drive home to Nashville that evening.

Questions? If you'd like to go, please send me your email address and cell number. So far, about 4 hikers (including me) from Nashville plan to be in the group.

Rain Man


P.S. All participating hikers should choose "A" or "B" below!

A. I can carry 25 lbs minimum from the Group Leader's pack for him, or
B. I can only carry 10 lbs from his pack, but will buy him his post-hike dinner to make up for being such a slackard!

.

Rain Man,

I can't join your hike but I will be interested to learn how it works out for you.

It is about 132 miles from my house to Bland. Making it the nearest point on the AT from where I live. I have never hiked the AT except for some short sections at Harper's Ferry and I have thought about sampling the AT over a long weekend or even a full week by using Bland as either a starting or ending point. Haven't decided whether to go to Bland and walk either east or west or better to start at a point east or west of Bland and hike toward Bland.

Anyway, looking forward to reading your trip report as a way to decide if this section is something I want to do or if maybe I might like to drive a bit further and hike a different section.

D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rain Man

P.S. All participating hikers should choose "A" or "B" below!

A. I can carry 25 lbs minimum from the Group Leader's pack for him, or
B. I can only carry 10 lbs from his pack, but will buy him his post-hike dinner to make up for being such a slackard!

.

---

I choose "A".
I can't make it to VA Hwy 42 by 11:00pm, so just leave my 25lbs. by the edge of the road. I'll pick it up when i get there. :D

I'd look at some different places to go hike on the AT if I were you. 130 miles isn't that far, considering I'm 1000 miles from the AT. Did the whole thing in 2009 and best place near you is the Grayson Highlands.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DavidWa

Rain Man,

I can't join your hike but I will be interested to learn how it works out for you.

It is about 132 miles from my house to Bland. Making it the nearest point on the AT from where I live. I have never hiked the AT except for some short sections at Harper's Ferry and I have thought about sampling the AT over a long weekend or even a full week by using Bland as either a starting or ending point. Haven't decided whether to go to Bland and walk either east or west or better to start at a point east or west of Bland and hike toward Bland.

Anyway, looking forward to reading your trip report as a way to decide if this section is something I want to do or if maybe I might like to drive a bit further and hike a different section.

D

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by The_Saint

I'd look at some different places ...best place near you is the Grayson Highlands.

---

Thanks, its probably not that much further to drive especially if the trail is more interesting there. I'll have to check some maps. I was hoping to sample the AT this summer. But with my son going to the BSA Nat. Jamboree this summer , the time just wasn't available.

I'll still be looking forward to Rain_Man's group trip report.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DavidWa

Thanks, its probably not that much further to drive especially if the trail is more interesting there. I'll have to check some maps. I was hoping to sample the AT this summer. But with my son going to the BSA Nat. Jamboree this summer , the time just wasn't available.

I'll still be looking forward to Rain_Man's group trip report.

---

Grayson highlands are in the top 3 best places on the trail outside of the Whites and Maine. Wild Ponies, Open Mountain tops and Longhorn Cows!?!?!? How can you top that?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by PapaSmurf

I choose "A".
I can't make it to VA Hwy 42 by 11:00pm, so just leave my 25lbs. by the edge of the road. I'll pick it up when i get there. :D

---

No problem. But to avoid other people stealing them, I'll cleverly disguise them as rocks. You may not be able to tell the difference, but just trust me and bring them anyway.

Rain Man

.

The hike is this Friday through Monday. Right now I have 6 hikers chomping at the bit for Friday to roll around.

If anyone else wants to go, let me know.

Rain Man

.

Six of us did the hike. Had a great time. Beautiful weather. Great trail. Good water.

Here's a link to the photo album I posted, for anyone who's interested:

Click for photo album of this hike.

I slept in my modified HH Asym UL on Friday night, cowboy camped on Saturday night, and in my ENO Double on Sunday night.

The photo captions are pretty much a trip report.


Rain Man

.

Pictures came out great...looks like a nice part of the AT!