Astrogirl

March 23, 2001 ~ Ashby Gap to Snicker’s Gap (14.1 miles)

The roller coaster is done!  It was challenging, but I don’t understand why thru hikers find it to be especially hard after all they’ve done by this point.  It is an unusual configuration because there are seven or eight (depending on how you count) 500 [...]

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 [...]

2/24/2001 Chester Gap to Denton Shelter ~ 6.3 miles

I was expected the trip up and over High Knob to be harder than the climb out of Manassas Gap.  I was totally wrong about that.  It was a very smooth up and down.  

I checked out the Mosby Primitive campsite, and it’s a decent spot, but [...]

3/10/2001 Gravel Springs Gap -> Chester Gap ~ 13.1 miles

My original plan was to stay at Tom Floyd Wayside after about 8 miles and then to hike out in the morning.  That plan fell apart for a few reasons, but I’m getting ahead of myself.

When Tino dropped me off at Gravel Springs Gap, we were [...]

09/2001 ~ SNP North District

In September, I did two of day hikes (both loops, which why it took two hikes) to close up my mileage in the North District between Gravel Springs Hut and Elkwallow Wayside.

In general, I continue to be impressed with the treadway in the park.  There are many views, and [...]

May 13, 2001 Skyland to Elkwallow Wayside (18 miles or so)

I only have time for a quick recap on this one.  

The weather was stunning, there were many terrific views, and Pass Mountain Hut is quite nice.  The setting for the shelter is excellent.  The spring was great and there were bunnies and [...]

Rock Spring Hut to Skyland North ~ 9 miles total ~ November 3, 2001

It was another unseasonably warm day at around 75′.  Luckily, it was raining in the morning, so when I got to the park, there weren’t too many people there.  Later in the day, the place filled up.  I’d say it was in [...]

Rock Spring Cabin to Swift Run Gap ~ 20.6 miles, climb 3700, desc 4300 ft. (one way)

Whee, that was a long way. I started at 8:30am and finished at 4:30pm, which is much earlier than I expected. I figured I’d be getting out the headlamp, but I couldn’t have asked for any [...]

20.4 miles

It was too cold to write last night. Seriously. It was in the 30’s, which, frankly, is beyond the limits of my sleeping bag, but just barely. That’s all it takes, and if it’s happened to you, you know exactly what I mean. As a result, I slept poorly, and [...]

7 miles

It certainly wasn’t a heroic distance to here, but it was kind of interesting. I saw a turkey which seemed totally unafraid (more about turkeys in a minutes), and I saw many, many rabbits on Bear’s Den Mtn complete with hawks circling overhead trying to eat the little rabbits. No bears, however.

It [...]