Rain was in the forecast for this afternoon, 40% chance after 2PM. I was getting 40% all over me by 1PM, but it didn't slow me down much, or even get me very wet, because I put on my trusty poncho quickly.
Today's hike covered ground with three access points to the Blue Ridge Parkway, and I parked at all three, so hiked fairly short legs of trail with a very light pack. The plan was to also stay dry by ducking back into my two-ton steel tent when the rain hit. But it hit when I was four miles down the trail, (and it ended soon after I got back 'home'). So much for that plan.
The trail had some rocky interludes but not a lot of steep climbing. At the end of the day I got up to the south end of Humpback Mountain, but it was only a 700 foot climb. The best view of the day came with virtually no climbing at all - Cedar Cliff is a popular day-hike via an access trail from the Wintergreen Resort, and it's less than a mile of nearly level walking along the AT from the Blue Ridge Parkway (at Dripping Rocks). Here's how it looked just before the rain moved in, looking toward Waynesboro:
Hard to believe that I'm almost to Rockfish Gap and will be hiking in Shenandoah National Park by Sunday. The miles just seem to be melting away.
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Here's the map and photo link for a full look at today's hike:
AT Day 242 - Reeds Gap at EveryTrail
EveryTrail - Find the best Hiking in Virginia
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