Pearisburg to Daleville

The Holiday lodge in Pearisburg.  Nasty place.  A hiker named Waffles ODed here  two days before I got there.  An hour after I checked in a hiker was arrested next door.  I was so happy to get back on the trail the next day!!!

The glee didn't last long.  A thunderstorm unleashed hail a half mile into the trail.  I made it to a shelter and called it a day.  1.1 mile day.  At least I wasn't in Pearisburg.

  So pissed.

  The next day was way better!

Trail magic!!!!  Beer, fresh fruit and oatmeal cream pies!!!!  Put the bounce back in my step!

A break in the clouds!

Cloudy but no rain.  Great hiking weather.

Keiffer Oak.   The largest oak tree on the AT in the south.  18 feet around and over 300 years old.  Dover oak in NY is slightly larger.

Tuna, cheese tortilla for lunch. Mmmm

These little dudes are everywhere.

 Trail magic!!!  This was great!  I went 7 miles, uphill without water.  Ice cold Gatorade was more than a surprise.  I have no idea how someone could bring these up here.  It was in the middle of no where.

Pop tarts!!!!

  Hikers enjoying the magic!

Audie Murphy memorial.  He's the most decorated American soldier of WWII.  He crashed a plane close by.

Oak from Jersey resting by Dragons Tooth.

 

 Cute kid art.

McAfee Knob!!!  The most photographed spot on the AT.  That's me making a postcard!

Two box turtles in one day!!! That brings my total count to three my whole life.

Pissed off!!  I went the wrong way for half a mile under the cliffs.

  Found my way finally back to Tinker Cliffs.  Great view back to McAfee Knob.

Another day running out of water.  Whoever said Virginia is flat is full of it!

    Power lines in their natural habitat.

    Nearly crapped myself when I found these guys!  Surprisingly they didn't mind me.  

  Where the trail comes out into Daleville. It continues across the highway.  Glad to be here!  I had two packs of ramen left.  Perfectly planned food ration.