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Appalachian Trail – Shenandoah National Park

Virginia
Shenandoah National Park

“Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time.”

- Steven Wright

Journal Entry 5.13.00
“7pm at Calf Mountain Shelter, 7 miles north of Waynesboro. Dad left early this morning after we had breakfast at the hotel. I lounged in the air-conditioned room until 1pm and then started the hike out in the dreadful heat. I saw my first rattlesnake on the trail today – it was so cool! He was just sitting in the grass right next to the trail. There’s a big crowd here tonight – Freddie, Cruise Control, White Eagle, Geezer, Catchup, and Red Forest as well as some weekend warriors. I carried in the bottle of Jack Daniels from my mail drop and gave it to Freddie who then proceeded to drink the whole bottle! He is presently sitting in the shelter with a very nice grin on his face!”

Freddie enjoying some Jack Daniels

Journal Entry 5.14.00
“Mother’s Day. 20.4 miles today. 8pm at my campsite at Loft Mountain Shelter. I’m here with Coloradoo – the campground is still closed for the season so it’s just us in this big old place. Got some trail magic from the Honeymooners today at the 13 miles shelter – they brought us cold sodas and beer and bananas and cookies. What a treat! I’ve got a banana for my breakfast tomorrow. The terrain was good today but my allergies were really bothering me all day – stuffy head, itchy eyes, itchy throat – ugh. I got some drugs off of Cruise Control – hopefully they will help me breathe.”

Journal Entry 5.15.00
“9pm at campsite just north of the South River picnic grounds. 21 miles today and I don’t know why but I am BEAT.”

Journal Entry 5.16.00
“8pm at Rock Spring Hut. 18.5 miles today. Felt better today than the last 2 days – the allergies are still bad but not as bad. I felt stringer hiking today too – I think the drugs Cruise gave me really knocked me out. Saw my first bear today, on my way to Big Meadows just after Milan Gap. Actually I only saw his big black butt running away from me. It was a beautiful butt though and I was happy to have seen it! I’m here with Coloradoo, White Eagle, Horses Trot, and D-Low. Breakfast tomorrow at Skyland!”

Journal Entry 5.17.00
“6pm at Pass Mountain Hut. 15 miles today. Stopped for a hardy All-You-Can-Eat breakfast buffet at Skyland after 4 miles of hiking. I continued another 9 miles with Coloradoo and Horses Trot – I was feeling sluggish after all the food I ate but the conversation helped keep me going. We got to Thorton Gap at 3:30pm only to find that the restaurant was not open! Boy were we disappointed. I considered hitching to Elkwallow but decided instead to just go to the shelter and have an easier day. There are SO many deer in this park!”

Journal Index

Georgia – Overview And the poop on the Trail Divorce

0 (miles from Georgia) – Springer Mountain, Georgia Whose idea was this again??
87.7 – Georgia / North Carolina Aint no all-inclusive package vacation story…
161.7 – Fontana Dam, North Carolina No Rain, No Pain, No Maine
204.6 – Great Smoky Mountains National Park I My deodorant gets the heave-ho!
268.7 – Great Smoky Mountains National Park II The Food Appreciation Trail
336.5 – North Carolina / Tennessee & Trail Names How the Gimp got her name
390.7 – North Carolina / Tennessee The famous Roan Mountain hitch
452.9 – Crossing into Damascus, Virginia 3 states down, 11 to go!
516.7 – Grayson Highlands State Park Roughin it at Partnership Shelter
573.3 – Bland, Virginia My wonderful trail angels!
665.3 – Pearisburg, Virginia The switch from boots to sandals
767.4 – Catawba / Troutville, Virginia Heat wave in Virginia
839.4 – Montebello / Rockfish Gap, Virginia ‘Hiking with Gimpy Sr.
920.0 – Shenandoah National Park Rattlesnakes, Jack Daniels, and bears – oh my!
988.3 – Front Royal, Virginia Invasion of the Boy Scouts
1001.1 – Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia The mental half-way point
1061.4 – Maryland / Pennsyltucky Y’all done drank enough beer!
1123.8 – Duncannon, Pennsylvania The Half-Gallon Challenge
1208.9 – Port Clinton, Pennsylvania $1 Yuengling drafts and the rocks of PA
1283.9 – Pennsylvania / New Jersey Friends and family visit WonderGimp
1334.2 – High Point, New Jersey Rain, rain, rain, trail magic, and more rain
1440.7 – Bear Mountain, New York Hike Naked Day!
1486.1 – Kent, Connecticut Gimpy Sr. and Barkeater hike with W.Gimp
1543.8 – Great Barrington, MassachusettsWelcome to Mosquito Hell
1618.0 – Massachusetts / VermontPhoton and strobe lights for the 4th of July
1687.3 – Killington, Vermont The Inn at the Long Trail
1738.1 – New Hampshire Live Free or Die!
1794.4 – North Woodstock, New Hampshire Gettin’ above treeline
1814.4 – AMC-land, New Hampshire Entering the White Mountains!
1854.0 – Pinkham Notch, New Hampshire Mooning the tourists on Mt. Washington
1869.2 – Gorham, New Hampshire My first Moose sighting!
1920.7 – Andover, Maine The way Life should be…
1979.3 – Rangeley, Maine Closing in on the end
2015.6 – Kennebec River, Maine Eye of the Tiger!
2095.7 – Monson, Maine 100-mile Wilderness
2152.0 – Abol Bridge, Maine Katahdin is in sight!
2167.1 – Baxter Peak, Mount Katahdin, Maine Goodbye Capilene – Hello Cotton!!

Other Pages:
Map – Yep, 14 states
Gear – What to Bring
FAQs – See for yourself
Glossary (learn the AT lingo)
Links to Additional Info
Trail Injuries Everything from blisters to swampfoot
Trail Privies Bring your own TP
Class of 2000 Katahdin Thru-Hiker Pictures