Atkins, VA (USA)

Ate a nice breakfast at The Barn (0730) before heading out to stitch more AT sections together... Like yesterday, I had to re-locate a turnaround from my last visit to Atkins in 2014. Luckily, I did remember this one because it was a busy train crossing. Starting NOBO at 0900 at VA-615 (after a great breakfast at "The Barn"), I linked up with the old section and turned SOBO. After returning to the Settler's Museum, where I'd parked, it was all uphill until I'd had enough. I somehow avoided a nasty wasp nest that was heavily advertised. All around me, the leaves were falling furiously - the colors were fiery red and bright yellow. The climb up Glade Mountain was steep and rocky. At some point on the way, I entered Mount Rogers NRA (again). I didn't see any wildlife today, unfortunately. But I did encounter an older lady (and her dog) from North Carolina. She provided a lot of local trail knowledge - she said she hikes in Mount Rogers NRA often. I turned around at a beautiful vista point above Atkins. I saw one more local hiker on the way down but didn't talk much to him (in a hurry - long drive home). I exited the trail at VA-727 (dirt and gravel road), enjoying the historic farmland and buildings on the way to my car. Finished my 10 mile day at around 1400. Drive home sucked (three accidents and LOTS of traffic). But, from the horror stories I'd seen about the crowds in SNP this weekend (from the AT Hiker FB Group), the driving to/from remote trail experience was well worth the effort! Gas fillup in Haymarket (1830).  AT Today = 5.00 miles / 798.78 miles