Damascus, VA (USA)

My planned extra day of hiking was a bust yesterday (major traffic jams, steady rain) but the end result was that I was positioned a few miles away from the hiking zone this morning! After getting recommendations from several active friends, I decided to start using Emergen-C before my hikes (today was the first day). After using I-81 for a little while, I stopped for breakfast at McDonalds (0630) and for a gas fillup at Shell in Marion (0640) and continued on to VA-16 to the south. I was able arrive at the AT trailhead on VA-603 by 0715 (the sun was just peaking over the eastern ridges). With a thick frost layer on all the cars in the parking lot (full), I decided to layer up (3) before I headed SOBO. The frost became snow and it just kept getting deeper as I climbed up Pine Mountain. I soon came across tent campers and, by the time I reached the Old Orchard Shelter, I’d seen close to 10 people. Everyone I talked to was surprised at the snow and a few admitted they weren’t prepared. This theme continued throughout the day - I guess the campers’ weekend adventure plans didn’t include the pretty white layer over everything... I, on the other hand, loved it! Just over 30 days ago, I was sweating my @$$ off on the AT but today I felt pretty comfortable - perspiration was not an issue. I was very glad to have my new boots and thick skiing gloves. I only actually saw one hiker on the trail before I reached the ridge (5K’) but by the time I reached my turnaround point, I’d probably seen over 50 people. I think I passed at least 25 (including two hunters with rifles) going back to the car too! It was not a pleasant day but everyone was out - most were hiking a counterclockwise circuit that took them around the outside of Grayson Highlands State Park. Almost all of the other hikers were men - I only noticed two groups of ladies (near where the wild ponies were grazing). When I reached The Scales (holding yard for horses and staging area for riders), I found myself in a clearing with wide open balds in nearly every direction. The wind up there was COLD. I realized I’d sprung some kind of leak in my backpack and had the sensation of water freezing to my legs as it dripped - brrrrr! Dreaded the return trip as the icy wind was definitely at my back - started scheming for a different trail on the backtrack... Biggest treat of the day: saw four groups of wild ponies, all close to the trail and unafraid! As I approached the SP boundary, I started to encounter huge marshy, muddy areas - new boots (and lower 10 inches of pants legs) drenched. Also discovered that my recorded turnaround point was wrong - the error in location (map/guide to reality) was at least a mile. The terrain wasn’t too difficult so I hiked the section I’d claimed I finished previously. The end result, though, was that my outbound leg was 8.5 miles. I was feeling good, though, and turned around at the southern SP boundary with my mind convinced that I could get back without difficulty. It was mind over matter: ~2200 miles breaks up into 400+ hikeable sections and so does 8.5 miles. Cut off about two miles on the return leg by using the Chestnut Trail (wet, rocky riverbed!) to Scales. After that, I made good progress towards the car. Of course, meeting 75 unique humans on the trail required a lot of socializing! Everyone’s life story, motivation to hike and weekend plans were great to hear. Just before I was done (3:00, after 15.5 miles), the sun came out and started melting the snow - but it didn’t make much of a dent in the high ridge-lines, still snowy white from my vantage point on the road. At the lower levels, though, the colors of the leaves were revealed to be spectacular! Explored US-58 east of Damascus (planning for the roughly 20 miles I’ve got left there). Visited with Crazy Larry but his hostel was full. Instead, headed (used TN-91) to Elizabethton (TN), where I was able to check into the Travelers Inn by 1715. Ate dinner (again) at Amigo Mexican Restaurant (finished at 1930) and later watched football and movies. It was the night of the Fall time change (ugh) so knew that would affect the following morning. Excited for more AT tomorrow! AT Today = 7.50 miles / Grand Total AT = 1220.62 miles