Madison, VA (USA)

I was wide awake at 0415 this morning and decided not to stay in bed. Instead, I got in my car and headed to SNP for the last day of National Park Week. Got gas in Madison, VA (0645). I entered the park at Swift Run Gap again and parked in the Lewis Mountain area. I then rode my bike about 5 miles north and started SOBO on the AT from Milam Gap (0810). The weather was brisk at first but it warmed up nicely. There were lots of day hikers out and I found myself wishing for the solitude of the winter months... One really nice discovery today was that the Bearfence Boulder Scramble was optional - for once, the AT went around the obstacle. On the way down from the summit, I encountered a female flip-flop hiker who'd just come through the South District and the forest fire that recently closed 17 miles of AT. Got some good trail intel and some good escapist vibes from her! Finished up at my car around 10:30 - it was definitely a short trek but I actually hiked around 6.5 miles because I also covered the first section of AT I'd ever really hiked (in 1992). Best news of all, though: I completed the AT in the SNP Central District! Picked up my bike again and then drove north on Skyline Drive to US-211 (out of SNP at 1110). Made good time on the return trip (home by 1300) and ended up with hours of afternoon to recover from the busy weekend. As always, the early bird got the worm! Glad to have a chance on the trail again before all the thru hikers arrive on the Blue Ridge... AT Today = 5.40 miles / Grand Total AT = 685.50 miles