Back at it! (861 Miles)

After a much needed week off from hiking, I spent the last six days making up some miles cruising through Virginia. 861 miles on the AT brings me into Waynesboro, VA and the southern entrance to the Shenandoah National Park, which I will be trekking through soon.

I could not be happier to have reached this part of Virginia as the last section was boring to the point that the daily monotony began to wear me down.   Now that the woods are in full bloom the views and outlooks consist of trees and more trees. When in the green tunnel you’re constantly surrounded by flies and run into snakes and other critters.  While I’m sure this won’t change much in the Shenandoah’s the park has waysides close to the trail which serve hot food.   I’ve learned I can endure pretty much anything out here as long as there is food to look forward to! BTW this blog post is thanks to the wifi at the Ming Garden All You Can Eat Buffet (Finest in Virginia).

Also once I’m out of the Shenandoah’s it is less than 100 miles to the unofficial halfway point of the AT -Harpers Ferry. If all goes to plan I will be celebrating my birthday on the 21st as I reach this point.

Back to my time off (hard to focus with all the fried food I’m consuming), my sister, mom and her husband joined me near Washington DC for a week of adventuring.   We visited Gettysburg PA, cruised around northern Virginia with destination unknown and even managed to spend a night backpacking on the AT.

20150604_090520The backpacking trio enjoying the rainy weather. Thanks for sharing part of this journey with me!

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From the Gettysburg Museum.

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From the Priest shelter, where thru hikers leave hilarious trail confessions.

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Virginia is in no way flat!

Now that I’m hiking by myself for the most part I’ve seen tons of wildlife. Yesterday I ran into two black bears, a turkey, multiple deer and a few snakes. The Virginia woods are alive and looking for hikers food…

Time to get some sleep and prep for the next section in the woods. Harpers Ferry here I come!

 

 

 

 

 

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