travel light, wake early, walk far
April 22-26, 2024 four DCUL backpackers and two hiking dogs covered a delightful 57-mile section of the Appalachian Trail (AT) from the Bearfence Rock scramble south to the Shenandoah National Park (SNP) boundary at Rockfish Gap. We were treated by abundant wildflowers, butterflies, sweeping views, and jovial companionship. The relatively moderate mileage per day allowed... Continue Reading →
I was surrounded by a deep, thick fog. The worst fog I had ever seen. I didn’t know whether to blame Mother Nature or David “Spiderman”, but I had a pretty good idea that it wasn’t Mother Nature’s fault. The problem was, I could barely see my hands in front of my face. I had... Continue Reading →
“You probably won't even get your feet wet,” the Ranger said as he handed us a permit and a bunch of wag bags. “The conditions in Paria Canyon are unusually perfect. The low chance of rain tomorrow has cleared, the temperatures are warming, and the reliable springs are all flowing.” He saved the best for... Continue Reading →
I probably shouldn’t admit this, but—in full disclosure—I didn’t have high expectations for this route. Michael and I are working on updating the Shenandoah day hike book so the goal was to get Bear Church Rock into the mix and then walk more to get a high-mileage day for general training purposes. My usual mode... Continue Reading →
Three backpackers stumbled off the Wild Oak Trail onto the giant mountain top campsite of Hiner Spring. One held a bloody rag to her face as her companions hovered around her with deep concern on their faces. They dropped packs and rushed to the spring. A few moments prior, a windy squall whipped in from... Continue Reading →
DC UL Backpacking 