Mount Rogers is the tallest peak in Virginia. I hit the summit three days ago. I had climbed it 35 years ago with my youngest brother Pete.

It’s a spooky place in a dark conifer forest. No views from the top. Many trees are dead from the recent hemlock/fir infestation.

  
 

Mount Rogers is the tallest peak in Virginia. I hit the summit three days ago. I had climbed it 35 years ago with my youngest brother Pete.

It’s a spooky place in a dark conifer forest. No views from the top. Many trees are dead from the recent hemlock/fir infestation.

 

  Somebody was happy to hit the 500 mile mark.  
The ponies: 

  
  

  
Many say this section of the AT is their favorite:

  
 

  
  
  
  
I’m loving it.

Junco 

Passed the 500 mile mark yesterday I’m the Grayson Highlands of Virginia (home of the wild ponies). Can’t upload photos out here. I’ll do that tomorrow!!

Rolled in to Virginia yesterday and walked in to the famous trail town of Damascus – home of the annual Trail Days reunion (coming up in two weeks) – big AT hiker festival.

Stayed at the beautiful Lazy Fox Inn

  
The Inn is run by the legendary Ms. Ginny – age 92. 

  
She is a wonderful host and cooked the guests a huge southern breakfast this morning.

I’m so happy to be in a state where I have spent a lot of time – high school, med school and residency. Met my wife here at Camp Holiday Trails.

Here are some recent trail shots:

  
 
  
 
  
  
And some fine graffiti:

  
Keep that food bag full!!

Junco

I’ve been hiking with a fellow from Maine named White Owl. He introduced me to fiddle head ferns : 

  
We collected a bunch and had them for dinner:

  

  

To the right of the fiddle heads were hickory nuts which turned out to be too dry/too old.

A few more photos from today 

  
  
  
  

Saw some astounding things today.

Thought I’d share a few:

Yikes!!! Just got thru this section:

  
Azaleas started blooming:

  
  
Sassafras:

  
A newt:

  
A purple lady slipper orchid:

  
Does it get any better than that??!

All along the AT are shelters – every ten miles or so. In Tennessee they look like this:

  
They have a capacity of six, but often there are 30-40 hikers looking for a place to sleep on any given night near the shelter. I’ve only spent one night in a shelter. I prefer my tent/cocoon.

One thing I do like about shelters is the graffiti:

  
Throw me to the woods…

Junco

Last night, for dinner, I had a cup of noodles (something like Ramen noodles). Thinking that it might not fill me up, I was thinking about adding some “heft”. I opted for adding a bagel. 

Today I learned that the preferred Ramen noodle additive is a large amount of instant potatoes, affectionately known as a Rambomb (Rombom).

Tried and true…

Saw 10 miles of ground fire today:

  
  
  
Most of the fire was low level, so it might be good in the long run.

Nice trillium: