Buchanan, VA (USA)

[I was up early this morning but I waited to leave the hotel until I saw how the forecasted snow would develop. Things seemed OK in town when I picked up breakfast (Hardee's, 0840). I then drove east on U-60 and then turned south onto the BRP. The gates were open but, after I had driven about 10 miles, the snow really started coming down. In some places, the road was completely covered. However, I caught glimpses of the valley below - it wasn't snowing down there... Just after I passed US-501, I encountered a park service employee who told me to get off the road because he was locking the gates as he headed north. This meant that I basically had to head almost all the way back to Buena Vista (that's the risk each winter day on BRP and Skyline Drive...). I used VA-130 and US-11 to get to Buchanan, where I drove east again on VA-614. Found the trailhead around 1030 - the snow was about a half inch thick by then and still coming down. Undeterred, I headed SOBO towards the top of Cove Mountain (where I'd turned around the last time was in the area. I saw no people and no wildlife (just tracks) all day. It was foggy at first - I was walking in the clouds until well after noon. It was cold (low 30s) at first but warmed up throughout my hike. It was almost all climbing on the outbound leg. When I reached a third summit, I was able to locate my last turnaround (a distinctive stand of three trees) and then headed back towards my car. Stopped to rest a bit (and test out a brand new privy) at the Cove Mountain Shelter. The snow was melting in the lower elevations - completely gone when I reached the road (1445). This gave me hope that I might fit in some more miles - but I hit a dead end when I drove east and had no cell signal to be able to navigate. Oh well - 10 miles in the snow had to be good enough... Made my way to I-81 and pre-positioned (at a Motel 6 near Staunton - 1615) for another day on AT. Watched the end of one NFL Playoff Game. After cleaning up, I drove a short distance North to get dinner (Wendy's in Verona, 1900). Will hike in SNP tomorrow! AT miles today = 5.00 / Grand Total AT = 600.70 miles]