Waynesboro, VA (USA)

Some medical issues sidelined me most of the month - but doctor cleared me for hiking (minus backpack) this week. Obviously, I jumped at a chance to get back on the trail! Woke up at 4 AM this morning (no alarm), on the road by 5:45 (I-66 and US-29). Stopped for breakfast (McDonalds) in Gainesville and continued south - all the way to Charlottesville. Used I-64 west (stopping at a rest area on the way). Arrived at the trailhead (Humpback Gap on the Blue Ridge Parkway, just south of I-64) by 8:30. Plan when I left the car was to climb Humpback Mountain and connect to a section (near Rockfish Gap) that I hiked in February. ...Succeeded on both counts! First, I headed NOBO (part of it on the Albright Loop Trail) until I arrived at the Paul Wolfe shelter. What a difference the arrival of Spring made on the experience: leaves, flowing water, much warmer, lots of people... Chatted with Scarecrow and Pattern (LASHers = Long Ass Section Hikers) - they wanted intel about trail conditions to the north (and I had it). After that, I backtracked on AT - all uphill. Encountered lots more people, including a group of 28 people, lost on the mountain. I think I helped them (?)... By the time I reached a sign for the Humpback Rocks, I decided to skip them (hikers I passed said it was packed). Instead, I tagged along with two new friends (Greg & Susie) for several more miles up the mountain and found a spectacular view (with no people) at the end. After we backtracked, we used the access trail (VERY well traveled) to the car instead of the AT. When I checked the map and pedometer, I found I'd hiked more than I intended (planned to cover around 12 miles today but ended up completing around 14.5). End result: I depleted the few bottles of water I had before I was done. I will need to manage this better as the weather gets warmer... Drove a short distance to the west and got a room at a place I used previously (Colony Motel - see FEB 2015). Found a rather large stowaway (insect) when I unpacked... Actually took a nap before dinner (!). My car has been having trouble with fuel starvation when I'm nearly out of gas and on a steep downhill stretch, so I drove to a gas station in Waynesboro as a precaution (1805). Looked around in the "downtown" (and south towards I-64) and then stopped to eat dinner (Mexican food) at Mi Rancho (finished at 1845) then read some more before bed. A great day - and another expected (in SNP) tomorrow! AT Today = 7.30 miles / Grand Total AT = 420.17 miles.