OmPi's Adventures

This week started off with an amazing hike to the most photographed place on the Appalachian Trail, McAfee Knob. What an exceptional day it was waking at 4am and hiking the 1.5 miles up to catch first light and sunrise. The knob itself is something to see but the views are like none I have yet found on the trail. Mountain ranges and valleys with cities and farm lands as far as the eye can see. There is so much glory of raw nature but for me I have grown to love and find so beautiful the creative and mastery power of the human will and spirit that takes charge, manipulating that nature. It raises cities and beings fulfillment to the earth.

That day also included hiking over the Tinker cliffs which is the exact opposite mountain from McAfee knob. These cliffs were beautiful in a way that words and photos cannot capture but must be visited. In the future I will hike this 20 mile section again and simply divide it over a 3 day period to be able to get the most of all it can offer.

My hiking buddy for the week was Storm, we managed to catch up with some friends, the Royal Couple (Slosh and Scavenger) from early in the trail, actually the first thru-hikers I met still in Atlanta. We took a brief rest at the Howard Johnson Express on Daleville. I give my full recomendation to this establishment, clean, affordable, swimming pool, grill, and includes breakfast.

The next few days are all a bit of a blur running together without a lot to report. The trail was fine but nothing that stands out to mention. I was glad to slow my pace as my ankle issues have started to flair up again. There were a couple swimming holes and even a bit of trail magic along the way.

Today, Wednesday, I experienced my first and apparently last "Take it easy Wednesday". This was created by the Royal Couple to have a day where miles were reduced and you got to enjoy a bit more of the trail. It so happened that it also corresponded to their resupply at a little hostel. 3 Springs Hostel is owned by Oma, a sincere trail angel, who section hiked the portion of the trail that I am currently hiking. She realized how hard it was to resupply in this particular section on her hike and decided to do something about it. As soon as she finished her hike she called a realtor and began looking for a plot of land in the area that was near the trail. When she found a little homestead property just about a mile off trail surrounded by national forest land she quickly bought it and opened her hostel.

With a kind and curtious personality that makes you feel at home she provides a little higher priced hostel. For the price though you get a far superior hostel experience closer to that of a B&B. The best and most noticeable feature was how clean everything was. Even though we were not staying we we welcomed openly to enjoy the beautiful property, resupply (very reasonable prices and many options), she also had a limited but delicious hiker menu for hot lunch and dinner. The best though was the Ice  Cream which she mixed as they do at Cold Stone or Marble Slab, your base flavors were limited to vanilla or chocolate but the add ins were numerous and able to be customized to your liking. She then mixed by hand a personal bowl of flavorful ice cream in one of 3 sizes, day hiker (8oz), section hiker (12 oz) or Thru-hiker  (16 oz). If you are passing thru this section of the trail or while on your thru hike be sure to visit this amazing little hostel. I would recommend staying bit of not go for a quick meal and Ice Cream!

Though the week was a little more low key I am still enjoying the trail. I can hardly believe that I am more than half way through Virginia, and over 800 miles into this 2189 mile adventure. I promise to get back to posting more regular blog updates though they will probably cover a week rather than a day at a time.

Much Love to All!

I'm really am trying to get back on track and have notes and photos that I will post when I have a moment until then here is my dispatch to the Naples Daily News for weeks 7 & 8. My Virginia Blues set in on the Appalachian Trail. In the last 2 weeks I have learned that Virginia is not at all flat but it has some of the most beautiful vews so far on the trail.

Still way behind. Keeping up with a blog, three social media sites, writing for the local paper all while hiking the Appalachian Trail from dawn until dusk has turned out to be more than I can handle and creates a greater drain on my phones battery and backup battery pack than I ever expected. Here is my dispatch to the Naples Daily News for weeks 5 & 6 on the trail. This covers Trail Days, Lots of Rain, Entering Virginia and my birthday.