[at-l] MA & PA's Virginia trip

[gareau at sprint.ca (Marielle and Paul)]

We are now back from our backpacking trip in the Catawba area and Blue Ridge area.   

Thanks to Chainsaw and everyone on this list and on the RATC list who gave us advice for the trip. It was helpful and much appreciated. Our friends really enjoyed their introduction to the AT and hiking in VA.

Of course we had a great meal at the Homeplace. We left our vehicles at 311 and at the Econo Lodge in Daleville and there were no problems. BTW the room rates were great there (coupon from book) and they put us in connecting rooms up on the second floor because they said hikers liked to be in connecting rooms near the laundry.  Nice people. We also liked the Outfitter in Daleville.

When we arrived in Virginia there was a severe rain storm warning so we adjusted our plans. We managed to see Mac Affee Knob and Tinker Cliffs on dry days but had to hike 9 miles in driving rain and 35 degree temperature from Lamberts Meadow to Daleville. 

At Campbell shelter we gave a little help to Dave and Jonathan from the RATC who were building new steps. Dave prepared a wonderful steak and veggie dish which he shared with us.

At MacAffee we met Bumpy, a 2000 SOBO whom we had met at IMP shelter in the  Whites. We did not recognize each other,  but I remembered her name when she introduced herself.

We also backpacked  in the Humpback Mountain Area. We were at the Rocks on a beautiful sunny day. Great views.

We did some geocaching while in Virginia, mostly in the Linden area. There were a number of caches near Dick's Dome and that brought back more fond trail memories.


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