Humpback Mt - Miles 842.0

Crazy Lady 5am - ready to hike into town





Patches at camp - Humpback Mt





Snake came out of tree

Fly Poison Flower - very poisonous

View from a vista of Three Ridges Mt

The Priest Wilderness -

George Washington National Forest

Camp At Montebello, VA

June 6 was Patches and Chipmunk's 2 yr anniversary. He was sad that they were not together. Lucky AT&T had a few minutes service - just long enough to say Hi and a few more words. (AT&T is definitely not the way to go for hiking) Chipmunk is back in college - we miss her, but are very proud of her.

The last few days we went up - down - south - north - east - all together - over boulders. Some very pretty views - The rolling Mts are really amazing - we love the vistas - just to chill out - some big rocks - solid rock - very pretty.

Patches foot is still swollen - but better. The last few days we averaged 13 miles a day.

We camped at campground with RV's and tents - had laundry facilities - nice bathrooms with showers. Now that it is warmer - we definitely need to shower more often. Lucky it rains a lot - that helps.

Met a very nice guy (mid 50's) has hiked the trail 3 times - he knows where the rocks are - the ups and downs. He will camp with us, but likes to be by himself. He thinks it is really funny that Patches hikes with his mother-in-law. According to the guy that works at AT Association - we will be the 1st Son-in-law - Mother-in-law combination that has completed the thru hike. SO THAT IS OUR GOAL - STILL GOING NORTH. Every day is a new challenge.

Message from Crazy Lady to everyone that reads this blog:

Take time to enjoy your life - we do.

Hog Camp Gap - Mile 801.5

Patches enjoying swing @ Hog Camp Gap



Bridge over Pedlar River
We camped in green meadow




Mushrooms




Monument of 4 yr old boy that got lost in Mt
7 miles from his school - sometime in 1800




VA Mt View



Snake sun bathing.

Last 2 days hard - emotional and physical. We went from 735 ft elevation to 3375 ft - Bluff MT - then down to 1000 ft - Pedlar Dam - just to go back up to 4022 ft - Cold Mountain. It does not sound that bad - but it was hard walk!

June 3 - 95 degrees! June 4 - raining and cool.

Yellow jacket stung Crazy Lady. Patches got stung on foot but something (not sure what) - his foot swelled and hurts a lot.

Had to pitch our tents in the rain - worked as a team - pitched his and then mine - zipper in my tent is going bad. Hopefully REI will ship a new one - also my backpack has lost a part. Hopefully we can repair in Waynesboro. At his time we are only carrying 3-4 days food and that makes a difference - still our packs weigh 45 - 49 lbs. (enough complaining)


We miss Chipmunk - but we still enjoy the hike. Central VA is less rocky and they keep the trail very nice and clean. The volunteers cut the side of trail back 2 ft on both side - so the trail is 6 ft wide (very nice) Most of the wild flowers are finished blooming - the blue berries are starting to show.

Middle Creek Campground/James River Foot Bridge - 773.2 miles

James River Foot Bridge
longest foot-use-only bridge on AT




Patches trying to feed ducks



Crazy Lady

Patches

Hiked 14.6 miles - very nice hike (some ups and downs)

The 1st few days we saw such pretty butterflies (the wings so colorful - dark blue, velvet red with yellow) - looked like stained glass windows. But, we could see the places in the mountain where there was not vegetation due to pollution from plants and mines (so sad)

Patches called Ken that has a shuttle to take hikers to close by campground and town - 5 miles off of trail. Very nice campground with a swing,swimming pool, laundry, tent sites, RV sites and tent sites - paid 24 for 1 campsite. We relaxed and enjoyed the swing - did laundry - now our clothes and ourselves are nice and clean. So nice after 14.6 mile hike!

Next few days BIG MILES!

AT trail goes thru and under rocks




Patches enjoying trail magic feast




Radar tower for airplanes

A new calendar month - Where is the time going? - How do I describe today.....Fantastic!

Hiked 10 very easy miles - mostly up - tonight we are back up to 4000 ft(3 or 4 miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway, so close we hear the noise of the traffic)

At Blue Ridge Parkway - 6 ladies did the most fantastic trail magic! Dutch oven cooking - lasagna - rolls - brownies - chicken on the grill - all sorts of salads - fruits - drinks. The feast started @ 3 pm. Patches was there between 1 and 2 - I arrived just after 2 - started eating and ate until 5:30 (very impressive) The 3 to 4 miles back to shelter was as much as I could do. Patches forgot his hat and went back and eat again.

Five of the six ladies thru hiked in different years. They have been doing this trail magic for 4 years - did it 2 wks ago at a different spot. Yesterday they fed 30 - I did not count how many today. Ann - the lade that did not hike gave us all a marble /gemstone and sent of off to do good - enjoy - good luck (very nice speech)

Tomorrow is back to BIG MILES HIKING

Bryant Ridge Shelter - Trip Miles 750

View from Blue Ridge Parkway






Hiking next to Blue Ridge Parkway







Patches reading - waiting for water to filter.



Hiked 13.5 miles (both days) - very nice hike - VA rolling mts - no rocks to climb - just easy up and down. Start to cross hike above/below on the ridge parallel with Blue Ridge Parkway - very nice. No rain today - but had a storm last night - stayed in shelter so tents could stay dry 1 more day. Due to being on the ridge - no tent spots at shelter. Met new hikers today.



Today we sent down to 951 ft - Jennings Creek - the lowest point we have been. I put my feet in the water, it sure felt good! Tonight we are at Bryant Ridge Shelter. Patches got stung by a bee yesterday - he is OK.

Tomorrow we are invited to trail magic - we are looking forward to that

Tinker Cliffs - 726 miles - 1/3 of trip finished

Re-supply

Patches and pet (king snake)

Fantasy Railroad

Mushrooms

Views from Tinker Cliffs

Interesting rock formations
























"Crazy" Lady has no fear

Tinker Cliffs

New Hats - thanks Doug & Peggy - they work very good in rain

McAfee Knob

Still raining (everything wet and stinky) - made it to camp late 7:30 pm (but lucky no rain). 3 guys in shelter - Patches and Crazy Lade in tents. Last night camped near creek/small river in a green meadow - even had a camp table - that was very nice - camped with Jazz man and Turtle - a couple from Chicago. Jazz man is an RN - very nice couple. After we all ate Patches and Jazz man enjoyed talking about Eagle Scout experiences/projects. 8:30 pm down came the rain again - all made it to our tents sort of dry - 11pm came the storm (lighting & thunder).

The last few days we have climbed over rocks - around rocks - on top of rocks. Very pretty rock formations - but must hike very high (+ or - 50 ft) on narrow ledge. McAfee Knob (excellent view if clear weather) - high, scary and slippery - but worth the climb.

Tinker Cliffs (0.5 mile cliff walk, dangerous in bad weather, steep drop off) was also an experience. While up here hear storm coming - tried to make it off the cliffs - I made it and here came the storm with small hail - waiting it out in the shelter.

I have decided a good trail name or description of any lady 45+ hiking would be "Camelion" (the little reptile that changes colors and move very slow) - if you are carrying 40+ backpack and have to go over, under, around and on top of rocks and boulders you measure each step and look

before you put you feet, hand, or arm down.

Went to town and visited with Jazz man and Turtle - re-supplied - had nice shower and ate at Mexican restaurant - it was very nice.

Dragon Tooth - Miles 690.4 - Elev 3020

What an interesting day! We went up Dragon's Tooth - this is a stone monolith - unbelievable stone formation - no view (still raining). It was definitely the most strenuous climb we have done yet - you slide down, then when your legs are to short you climb hand and feet, crawl, hold onto ledges which are to small. When made it to camp with no injuries.

Back on trail - spent 2 days in Salem, VA - did a foot tour to see the old buildings (but most of town closed due to Memorial Day) - had lunch at American Sandwich place - so many to chose from but very good and healthy. We showered a few times and slept in real beds at hotel. Doug also brought us nice cookies her made - they were wonderful. The hike today was easy and short - had some rain. It is raining now but we are in our tents and no leaking. Patches backpack is also fixed (thanks to his Dad for getting correct part. When we first pitched our tents there was three here - after we returned from eating - there are 7-8 tents and the shelter has 6-7.

CHIPMUNKS VA PHOTOS