Monday, October 10th, 2016 (Indigenous Peoples’ Day)
Start: US 52/0 Days Inn
End: Wapiti Shelter
Miles: 26.4
I started out from US 52 around 7:45am. After the guy at the hostel persistently offered to slackpack me to VA 606, I took him up in the offer and changed my plans a bit. So I slackpacked the ~18 miles to VA 606, arriving by 2pm. I got my pack and was back on trail by 2:30pm.
Today’s elevation was relatively gentle, all things considered. I passed by VA 612, Helveys Mill shelter, VA 611, Brushy Mountain (3101′), Jenny Knob shelter, VA 608/Lickskillet Hollow (where I saw signs for another new hostel), Kimberling Creek, VA 606, side trail to Dismal Falls, Dismal Creek, and then Wapiti shelter. I made the shelter by 5:15pm. I’m sharing the shelter with Casey and Ray, two hikers doing a ~60 mile section.
Tomorrow, I’ll have a 1,300′ climb first thing in the morning and then I’ll be mostly around 3500′-3800′ for the rest of the day until I begin to descend to Pearisburg. I’ll only have 17.9 miles to do tomorrow and then I’ll enjoy the ministrations of the AYCE Chinese buffet!
Transcending Mountains 