Stanardsville, VA (USA)

It was raining almost everywhere but I wanted to take advantage of a chance to put in some AT miles. I left the apartment by 1130, got a gas fillup in Gainesville (1145), entered Shenandoah National Park and reached the trailhead at Blackrock Gap (m/m 87.4) by 1400. Headed SOBO, into thick fog. The trail section was hilly but there were few rocks. It wasn't raining but the moisture drenched me to the skin - luckily, it wasn't cold. I finished my outbound leg at the parking lot for the Rip Rap Trail and then used Skyline Drive to return to my car. There were very few cars in the park all day - a pleasant change from normal. In my car by 1630 and home by 1900 after close to six miles on the trail. Felt good and ready for more hiking in 2017. I was tying together the last two sections I had left in the Southern District - now I only have about 11 miles in SNP left to go! AT Today = 2.90 miles / Grand Total AT = 827.78 miles