Starting location: Blackrock Hut
Ending location: Hightop Hut
Miles today: 21.4
Miles total: 894.5
We have to say that the Shenandoah National Park hasn't been our favorite section of the trail. When Skyline Drive was beening built, the AT was moved into a less desired part of the park. As result, the AT normally remains close the road and actually crosses it 28 times. Skyline Drive has all of the best views while the AT remains in the woods with no views. Many thru hikers will actually decide to walk the road instead of the trail in order to more enjoy the Shenandoahs. Kristen and I are too big of trail purist to do this, but it is not to mean that we haven't thought about it. With all that being said, if you are car camping, have an RV, or driving Skyline Drive, the Shenandoahs are incredible.
While we were planning our thru hike, we had heard that the ticks in the Shenandoahs were bad. Since entering park, we have heard of an increased number of fellow hikers pulling ticks off themselves. If someone were to ask me the thing I am most scared of on the trail, it's not bear, coyotes, or snakes, it is ticks. Getting Lyme Disease will force Kristen and I off the trail faster than anything else. While it is unlikely, we check each other for ticks most every night.
It may seem that recent entries have been less postive, but we are trying to make the blog include some of the negatives to make the blog as realistic as possible. But the postives far surpass the negatives.
Deer are everywhere in the SNP
Conan + Backwards
1 comment:
I love reading the positive and the negative....I'm glad that you are presenting an open and honest look at thru-hiking. As Dory in Finding Nemo says, "just keep swimming, just keep swimming." Keep it up guys....all our love and support from Tampa, FL.
Post a Comment