The 2024 DC UL Four State Challenge was one for the books! A cool and clear fall weekend set the perfect backdrop for a trek across four states (VA, WV, MD, PA) in a single day on the Appalachian Trail. This year, our participants were Austin (“Citrus”), Brian, Steve (“Baconator”), Kyle (“Water Dog”), Aneesh, and myself (James/”Biodome”).
Friday night we hiked south from Harpers Ferry, finding a spot near the Virginia border to camp. Kyle set up a chem light on trail so that others would know where to look for this spot.
Not long after midnight on Saturday, the fun began with the usual mix of nervous excitement and pre-dawn headlamps. Some started hiking as early as 1am from the VA/WV border.
Everyone started strong, knowing full well that the day ahead would be a test of endurance, determination, and—of course—the ever-present trail rocks ready to batter our feet. The early morning section saw us tackling the dark descents and twists of the trail, each of us settling into our rhythm as we crossed into Harpers Ferry and pushed on.
Our support crew worked wonders, keeping us fueled and motivated. Huge shout-out to Jen, Shane, Maddie, and Marika, whose trail magic at the I-70 crossing gave us a massive boost. The cheers, snacks, chairs, and positive energy were exactly what we needed to keep moving. There’s nothing quite like being greeted with smiles and encouragement after hours of pushing through tough terrain.
Of course, no challenge is complete without a few hiccups. One of Austin’s trekking poles gave up the ghost. The bathrooms in Gathland were padlocked. Also, I made a wrong turn at the intersection near Pogo Memorial Campsite, adding some unplanned mileage and elevation to my day. Later at Pen Mar I learned that I wasn’t the only one who took this unplanned detour; Aneesh had similarly made a wrong turn there. Fortunately, we had both managed to backtrack and rejoin the Appalachian Trail before getting too far off course.
Kyle and I chose to bail at the Wolfsville Road checkpoint. I was suffering from some knee pain and Kyle wanted to preserve himself for a fun trip out West he had coming up the following weekend. We joined up with the support crew and headed for Pen Mar Park to await the remaining challengers.
Aneesh was the first to finish the challenge, arriving before sundown. His steady pace was impressive, and his well-earned celebration at Pen Mar Park was made even better thanks to his wife, who arrived with a bounty of incredible sandwiches from Shouk (I highly recommend, they were great). Austin, Brian, and Baconator pressed on and completed the challenge, each step earning their place in DCUL lore. Complementing those delicious sandwiches, Kyle and Maddie picked up a pizza from Rocky’s.
Aneesh, his wife, and most of the support crew headed home Saturday night. Maddie camped out with the challengers and helped a few of us retrieve cars at Harpers Ferry Sunday morning. We enjoyed a big breakfast at Mountain View Diner in Charles Town before making the drive back home.
Congratulations to all the finishers, and a heartfelt thanks to everyone who came out to support.
Meetup event: https://www.meetup.com/dc-ul-backpacking/events/303601285
DC UL Backpacking 
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