3    Virginia         536 miles / 858 km

Back in spring the following year I started the next section In Damascus. has been my standard so far it was another two weeks of hiking. I made it until Pearisburg. On the way to Pearisburg I hiked through the last mountains in the south. The White Mountains were the next real mountains. Mount Rogers is with 1.746 m the highest peak in the Graison Highlands. The AT passes nearby. From now on it became due to loss of elevation and the time of year warmer and warmer. In Atkins I was forced to stop for a couple of days. My right foot was injured. I went to the hospital. Their diagnosis was not quite clear except that I should rest the foot for a few days. They gave me some cream and two crutches. From the motel I had to walk uphill along the road to the restaurant to have breakfast. That was a quite exhaustive hike. For lunch another restaurant picked me up. After three days the foot had recovered enough and I was fed up with hanging around. So I walked on.

On the ridge short of Pearisburg a thunder storm was threatening. I had to come down very fast. Unfortunately a snake blocked the trail. It took me quite a while to get it of the trail. One year later and this time together with a friend from home I continued north. We planned to get to Harpers Ferry in the next four weeks.

We made it and had two days to spare in Maryland.

Arriving at Mc. Affee Knob I was a bit disappointed. I had expected it to be more spectacular. Pictures I had seen just seemed to make it more imposing. In reality it is not really that high. This whole section was relative easy to hike. Long stretches followed the ridge line. Probably the most comfortable part was through Shenandoah NP. In the park the trail was even better maintained and had very few climbs. It confirmed that the most difficult parts are in the south and north.

Welcome to Damascus, Virginia

Approaching thunder storm, Wilburn Valley, Virginia

Woods Hole Hostel, Virginia

Dragons Tooth, Virginia

Mc. Affee Knob, Virginia

View from Cove Mountain, Virginia

Jim & Molly Denton Shelter with porch and bench, Virginia

Guillotine

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