Ashby Gap, VA
February 17, 2001 ~ Denton Shelter to Ashby Gap (15.3 miles)
Back on the AT again...but now that I weigh 40lbs less, it seems a little easier. My pack weight is down quite a bit too.
I've decided that I should section off PATC Map 8 (Snickers Gap to Chester Gap) in day hikes. It's a well-hated section among thru-hikers, so I'll take their word for it and make it as easy as possible on myself. This, over all, was easy. It too me about 3.5 hours to do 8 miles, with a lunch break. This is something akin to flight for me.
I returned the Merrell boots after finding out they weighed as much as my old Raichles, so I decided to try a pair of Adidas trail runners that I bought at some outlet store two years ago. They did quite well. I had no ankle problems at all. My only complaint is that they want to make blisters on my Achilles tendons, but if I get used to them with day hikes like this, I think they'll be fine. They feel like a lot less to lift over and over again, that's for sure.
Anyway, I'm glad I did this little bit in the winter. There were some nice views through the bare trees that would be obscured by leaves. There were no insects (which is bliss, let me tell you) and I didn't see any other people until I got to the parking lot at the end. The meadowy bit, which is, ironically, is before Sky Meadows Park was just fab today with the brilliant blue sky and fluffy white clouds. I did the best I could to find a sheltered area (it was very windy today -- according to the closest weather station, it was 30 with a wind speed of 18-20mph) and had lunch up there.
Furthermore, the tread way through this part of the trail was damn nice, which is why I finished earlier than I expected to. I'm starting to understand why thru-hikers start whining about the rocks when they get to PA. SNP is reputed to be free of them (relatively, the Appalachians are made of rocks, after all) and this stretch was very easy on the feet. And I barely even noticed the one climb because it was graded so well.
There is a beautiful bald just north of the Denton Shelter with 360' views. Somehow I doubt that would be the case in the summer, and besides, the light would all be different. With the grasses all dead and straw colored, they contrast beautifully with the bright blue sky.
All in all, a good experience.