kevin hikes

Let’s start off with another video

​
This crayfish was found while turning over rocks in a small stream on the AT.

Also uncovered this red backed salamander

Paula found another friend

She loves walking sticks (the insect type)

Blue Cohosh

Jack in the pulpit fruit

The trail (and the trail queen)

Some have asked what the bear may have been eating in yesterday’s  video. I’m told they eat black cherries and acorns this time of year.

Guess what this guy preferred?

A two headed mushroom – I’ve never seen one of these:

Shagbark hickory 

Its nut in the husk

Squirrels love these (first they chew through the husks)

White oak leaf and acorns

Pretty aster

Round lobed hepatica – one of my favorite spring wild flowers – wish I were here 4 months ago

One parting image

Time for bed, 

Junco

Rolled in to Big Meadows today and was treated to a nice view of a bear about 50 yards away. Tried to capture some of the event on video

​

​
​Paula was with me and got to see her first bear. She was calmer than I was when I saw my first.

We hiked nearly 9 miles from Skyland to Big Meadows – she hiked faster than me most of the way – very impressive!!

More “Chicken of the Woods” today – it’s become my favorite mushroom

A couple flowers waiting to be identified.

Solomon’s seal 

Views of the Shenandoah Valley 

Pretty web

Cool snail

You can ride a horse at Big Meadows

A late violet

Some scary bee nest:

Joe Pye weed

Paula’s new friend

See the owl?

It’s a barred owl.

All for now,

Junco

These last two days have been exciting, with visits from, and encounters with, some incredible folks. 

First and foremost, my wife, Paula, flew out from Arizona to join me for 6 days of backpacking. Her sister Marcia and husband Patrick joined us, as did my great friend, Trueman.

We stayed at a B&B in Washington VA

Then hiked the AT together

My apologies to Trueman for not getting him in a photo..

Then, Paula and I made the acquaintance of Stumbledwarf, a retired military specialist from the U.K. 

He charmed us and amused us with stories from the trail and from his career in the military

Check out his website and AT videos – Google “Stumbledwarf”

My friend Trueman headed back to Arlington VA on Sunday morning. While hiking south toward Skyland after Trueman’s departure, we ran into his wife, Kim, on the AT, finishing up a 3 day hike with a group of friends – another crazy coincidence.

Finally, this evening, Paula and I hiked to Skyland in Shenandoah NP, and checked into a cabin to dry out after getting soaked in a thunderstorm last night and this morning.

While checking in, I met a fellow who turns out to be Diné (Navajo) from Kaibeto. First Navajo person I’ve met on the AT!!

His name is Rodney Fowler and I got a chance to practice my limited Navajo language skills with him.

He was quite surprised to see someone from the Rez – particularly an Anglo who could speak a few words of Navajo. What an exciting encounter!

My wife, Paula, did superbly on her first two days of backpacking in SNP

We harvested some “chicken of the woods” mushrooms and feasted on them tonight

In addition to all that, we saw a lot of nature’s beauty.

Hickory nut

Pokeweed

“Viewpoint” of the Shenadoah Valley – socked in with fog after the storm

Acorns

Rose hips 

Jewel weed

Witch hazel fruit (for you, Pat)

Ending the day (and ending the storm) with a beautiful sunset

I’m a lucky guy,

Junco

Yesterday I entered the Shenandoah NP, the second NP on the AT (the other being the Smokies). This park I visited frequently in my teens and twenties. I’ve been a member of the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club for over 30 years – they maintain this part of the AT.

In the first 30 minutes of my time in SNP, I saw 4 bears. Two sets of moms with a single cub.

Also saw a very tame deer.

Then the rain came.

Some rainy day shots

A hickory nut.

Set webs galore:

Then the sun came out.

Great first day in SNP, 

Junco

Cooled off a bit today – highs in the high 70’s, compared to the mid 90’s the day before. And the trail was quite a bit easier.

Lots of nice seeds

Hickory

Walnut

Another fruit, the Persimmon

Yum – tastes like an apricot

Nice leaves

And flowers

And tree bark

White Oak

Tulip poplar

Sassafras (I didn’t know it could grow into a large tree!)

And a few more sights along the way

Passed under interstate 66

Good thing I like Virginia, because there are 522 miles of it on the AT!!

Junco

As I left West Virginia today

I saw this sign

Little did I know that the Trailboss had designed 14 miles of trail that were very steep and very rocky. It took me all day to get thru this section. I’m not sure I’d call it a “great ride”. It was 94 degrees today, do I’m calling it a “great sweat”

I’ve seen several of these the last few days

But wasn’t able to catch one until today

Very beautiful snake!!

Some interesting bark

A few more notable findings from today’s travels:

Another healthy beech tree

Sassafras leaf 

Hoping for cooler weather and no more roller coasters,

Junco



As I hike these days, I am appreciating the end of summer – days are getting shorter, leaves are falling and fruits and nuts are raining down.

Right now I’m in my tent and acorns are falling constantly

So are walnuts

Anybody know what this is?

I never tried paw paws before but decided to try one today – they taste like a cross between a banana and a mango – really good!

Left Harper’s Ferry this morning after another visit to the ATC headquarters. 

They had this cool poster on the wall:

Lucky I had s nice clear day to summit Katahdin (unlike the guy above).

I’m hiking along the Virginia/West Virginia Border

The trail is intermittently very rocky (in the photo below, the only way to figure out which way to go is to look for the white blaze in the distance.

I crossed the Shenandoah River – one of my favorite places on earth – I’ll be hiking along this river for quite a while

A few more photos from just outside Harper’s Ferry:

I’m camping at the Blackburn Center campground tonight – quite a place

This large structure hosts ATC events and trail maintenance work teams. It has electricity and running water. 

Enjoying the end of summer, 

Junco

Crossed the mighty Potomac River into Harper’s Ferry WV this afternoon 

The bridge (which you can see in the photo above) is for both pedestrians and a train

View from the bridge (lots of folks tubing)

Harper’s Ferry is a small town with a lot of history

John Brown (some controversy here):

The civil war:

Robert E Lee was a confident guy:

23000 casualties in one day!!!

And here’s a story for any of you who like to plan ahead:

Check out the inscription above the mausoleum:

Earlier in the day, I hiked along the C&O towpath

A few more photos from today

There’s a lot to see on the AT!!

I didn’t mention that Harper’s Ferry is the home of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. They welcomed me in, sold me a cool “white blaze” Tshirt 

and photographed me for their thru hiker year book

When I stepped into WV, I touched the 14th and final state on the course of the AT. Now I just need to finish up some big miles in Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

Touchin’ ’em all,

Junco

Finally cooled off today and I got to appreciate some of what Maryland has to offer. The forest is beautiful with tall deciduous trees. Today was a windy day and leaves were falling and covering the trail.

Passed over interstate 70 on a very pretty bridge

Visited the original Washington Monument (which is right on the AT)

George Washington did a lot of stuff!!

At the top of the monument, I met Kirk. He was counting migrating raptors, which are headed south in large numbers now. He pointed out a broad winged hawk to me.

The Dahlgren Chapel (also right on the trail)

Maryland is great!!

On to Harper’s Ferry,

Junco

Yesterday was a brutally hot and humid day

I was drenched in sweat and had gnats flying all around my head.

The beech trees in this part of the country are much healthier and have smooth bark. Smooth enough to get carved up:

There are nice stone walls – like in southern New England

Some fine views:

A snake

A couple more

Cooling off today,

Junco