Tentatively, I am planning an easy, long-weekend, 37.9-mile hike on the Appalachian Trail over the June 18-21, 2010 weekend. This happens to include Fathers Day and the Summer Solstice. Anyone interested, if indeed I go? Here are current "plans" (subject to change):
Friday:
9:00 a.m. - Leave Nashville, drive to area of Marion, Virginia
Leave vehicle(s) at Happy Hiker Hollow AT "hostel" near Atkins
Be shuttled to Dickey Gap on the Appalachian Trail
Hike 3.9 miles to Trimpi Shelter
Saturday:
Hike 10.6 miles from Trimpi Shelter to Partnership Shelter (one of the fanciest shelters on the entire AT) at the Mt. Rogers National Recreation Area headquarters and Visitors Center
Order pizza delivery for dinner!
Sunday:
Hike 11.6 miles from Partnership Shelter/Mt. Rogers VC to I-81/Atkins, VA
Be shuttled back to Happy Hiker Hollow Hostel for dinner and overnight stay
Monday:
Breakfast at HHHH
Hike 11.8 miles from Atkins/I-81 to Virginia highway 42
Be shuttled back to our vehicles at the HHHH in the afternoon.
Drive home to Nashville that evening.
These mileages are considered "easy" by AT hikers, but probably strenuous by many day hikers. You decide for yourself. We'll be in the mountains, but there are no terrible mountains to climb. The rhododendron, azaleas, and mountain laurel should be in bloom, but we should avoid all the tourist crowds who drive to Roan Mountain in Tennessee.
Questions?
Raymond 'Rain Man' Myers
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