Waynesboro, VA (USA)

[Turning my attention south, now... Wasn't sure I was hiking AT today so left late. Got gas before leaving (0845) and headed out on I-495, I-66, US-29. Stopped for lunch at Chick-fil-A (mobbed again) in Charlottesville at 1100 and then continued (via I-64 and the Blue Ridge Parkway) to the trailhead at Reids (or Reeds - it was spelled differently in several places) Gap by around noon. All the parking lots were packed - it was peak foliage season! First hiked SOBO, climbing all the way, until I reached the summit of Three Ridges Mountain (3984'). On the way, I passed scores of campers and passed day hikers who apparently didn't know that the trail in this area was a mini-rollercoaster. I met more than a few families who seemed to have decided they needed to turn around before reaching the last ridge - what a shame... Reversed direction and, passing my car, hiked all the way to Dripping Rock (where Mollie and I hiked almost two months ago). I passed a family in this section who told me to watch out for a "big black bear" - for the rest of the hike, I kept my head on a swivel. Luckily, I didn't see him... When I arrived at Ol' Reliable (mountain bike), which I'd left along the trail so I could ride back on BRP to my car, it was nearly dark. But I made it back to the car without difficulty, finishing off the day with around 14.5 miles of hiking and around 4 miles of biking at around 6:30 PM. Will have to climb this peak from the other side next time - looking forward to it! Wanted to stay for another day but the hotels were all booked. So I headed home (via I-64, US-29 - got gas in Gainesville at 2030 - I-66 and I-495), arriving home at around 2100. AT Today = 9.46 miles / G.T. = 547.9 miles]