Fall AT section hike, day #9

Sunday, October 2, 2016
Start: Wilbur Dam Rd
End: TN 91
Miles: 16.1 miles

After breakfast this morning, David (section hiking ER doc) and I were dropped off at Wilbur Dam Rd by 8:25am. We each hiked our own pace but David offered to drop me off in Damascus when he arrived at TN 91 if I were to wait for him. I decided to take him up on that offer.

Today started off with a climb of ~1,200'. I'd been warned by a NOBO hiker that there was no water directly on trail until right before TN 91; however, I brought my normal 1.5L of water. I was lucky - it was cool so I wasn't sweating much and didn't need much water. I passed by Vandeventer shelter and Iron Mountain shelter during my day.

The terrain was a lot of up and down. Additionally, there were dozens of large blowdowns - trees that came down in a fierce storm a few months ago. Apparently, AT maintenance crews are not allowed to use gas powered saws (have to use hand saws) within national land areas, and it's within a national forest. They require permission from the federal government, which hasn't happened. So they haven't been able to clear the trail for months since the trees are large and numerous. A shelter yesterday, Laurel Fork, has been closed since the storm due to a precariously fallen tree near the shelter that is dangerous to people.

Tonight, I'm staying at Woodchuck hostel in their bunk room and they'll give me a shuttle to TN 91 so I can slackpack back to them. After that, I'm hoping to slackpack another ~20 miles north, since there very few hostels between here and Pearisburg. And I'm trying to focus on this being a vacation and not a thru-hike.

Fall AT section hike, day #8

Saturday, October 1, 2016
Start: Moreland Gap shelter
End: Wilbur Dam Rd
Miles: 19.7

This morning, I started out from the shelter by 7:30am. I climbed over White Rocks Mountain (3977'), passed by Laurel Falls, and climbed up and over Pond Flats (3693'). I made really good time, arriving at Shook Branch Rd and Boots Off Hostel by 2:30pm.

Once I arranged for a bed in the bunk room, me and another NOBO hiker, David, got a ride to Wilbur Dam Rd and then hiked back to the hostel. We did the ~5 miles in 1.5 hours, chatting the whole way. He works as an ER doctor when he's not hiking; he's hiked most of the AT, all the way up to Rangeley, ME.

Tomorrow, it's only ~16 miles to TN 91, where I'm thinking I might get a ride into Damascus and then slack back the day after.