{"id":1596,"date":"2016-05-07T22:50:02","date_gmt":"2016-05-07T22:50:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/?p=1596"},"modified":"2016-05-11T11:31:43","modified_gmt":"2016-05-11T11:31:43","slug":"at-the-at","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/2016\/05\/07\/at-the-at\/","title":{"rendered":"At the AT"},"content":{"rendered":"

Our campground is only 10 minutes from the southern tip of Shenendoah National Park. \u00a0From the highway you can turn left and go south along the famous Blue Ridge Parkway or turn right and drive the famous Skyline Drive through Shenendoah. \u00a0The mountains here are nothing like our Colorado mountains but they are no less beautiful. \u00a0There has been a lot of rain so everything is very green and today the sun was out, which felt really good.
\n\"View\"<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The road twists and turns as it climbs and the valley of trees you drive through gives way every so often for spectacular views out to the east and the west. \u00a0We wanted to get out and do a little hiking and we wanted to put our feet on the famous AT…the Appalachian Trail! \u00a0I’ve read and very much enjoyed Bryson’s A Walk in the Woods<\/a>, Stutzman’s Hiking Through<\/a>, Gilbert’s The Last American Man<\/a>, and Jenkins’ A Walk Across America<\/a>. \u00a0And I will admit, that before reading those accounts of through hiking or section hiking the AT I sort of poo pooed this trail in these so-called “mountains” out east. \u00a0But after reading books, trip logs and watching numerous videos on the AT and the people who hike its entire length\u00a0my impression has changed dramatically. \u00a0This trail is HARD. \u00a0Especially if you through hike it (that is, you hike the entire length in a single go). \u00a0I have a new respect for this dirt path across the country maybe even a fear that I could never make it…and its that fear I guess that draws me to it. \u00a0So mark my words, someday I will either hike the AT, the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail) or bike the TransAmerican Trail<\/a>. \u00a0Honestly, I think my best chance is on the bike ride…that way I can maybe have Steph come along. \u00a0She’ll drive our camper and I’ll catch up and meet her each afternoon.<\/p>\n

Anyway, today we are going to get to hike a piece of the AT. \u00a0I asked the family what they thought our chances of meeting a through hiker was. \u00a0Honestly I thought our chance was close to zero. \u00a0But when we pulled into the parking lot at one of the many places where the AT crosses the road there was a lone hiker sitting there resting. \u00a0We hopped out and asked his trail name. \u00a0Clean Skittle had started in Georgia late in February and he grinned a big ol’ grin when I asked if he was having fun, clearly he was having the time of his life. \u00a0I asked if I could get a picture of the kids with a real through hiker and he obliged only warning that he might stink.
\n\"Clean<\/a><\/p>\n

We got out and hiked a short piece of the AT. \u00a0It was beautiful, peaceful and the weather could not have been more perfect for hiking. \u00a0At one point I was walking close to Caden and he said, “you know Papa, I like the beach but I just really love the mountains”. \u00a0Later he asked if we would be able to get some backpacking trips in once we get back to CO. \u00a0We’ll be back at prime time for backpacking! \u00a0I’m so glad that all 3 of my kids seem to really enjoy backpacking.<\/p>\n

We met several other hikers along the way: GOBNU (growing old but not up), No Hurry, Dutch, Mountain Cat and one whos name we didn’t get. \u00a0As we walked we all tried to think of trail names for ourselves. \u00a0You see, there is an unwritten rule, or at least a tradition, on both the PCT and the AT that you take on a trail name while on the trail. \u00a0If you don’t have a trail name my understanding is that\u00a0others will make one up for you. \u00a0Part of what makes these hikes so special is the community on the trail. \u00a0The people we met and chatted with seemed to be on cloud nine and I was inspired seeing\u00a0them mid trip knowing how far they have walked.<\/p>\n

We drove a little further and hiked another piece of the AT. \u00a0We enjoyed the different flowers, trees, moss, lichens and the sounds of birds happily chirping away. \u00a0It felt good to be in the sunshine, it felt good to be on a dirt trail (a famous one at that) and it felt good to be outside with my family. \u00a0What an amazing life!! \u00a0Thank you God!<\/p>\n

We drove a little further on skyline drive to an overlook where we sat for a bit to take in the view before turning around to head home. \u00a0We were trying to set up the camera for a timed family shot when Anthony from New Jersey came over to offer to take a picture. \u00a0After the picture we chatted with Anthony awhile. \u00a0He was in town for his daughter’s graduation. \u00a0He asked about our trip and then had several suggestions of where to visit and where to stay in Philidelphia and New York city. \u00a0Anthony served our country in the armed forces and has sectioned hiked parts of the AT. \u00a0I’m so glad he came over to say hi and chat with us. \u00a0If you are reading this Anthony, THANK YOU!<\/p>\n

We headed back home at the Misty Mountain Camp Resort which was hosting an antique mall event. \u00a0There were LOTS of people, live music and this giant jump pad for kids to jump on. \u00a0You had to pay $5 per kid to jump on the pad but that included, are you ready for this, unlimited popcorn and cotton candy! \u00a0I told the kids we should wait until about an hour before the event is over and see if they’ll let them jump for free and sure enough they did. \u00a0When we first arrived on Thursday they actually had the pad to themselves but I think it was fun with the mayhem of other kids on it. \u00a0We played outside and took a short walk around the campground. \u00a0It was nice to relax in the afternoon and listen to the live music. \u00a0The only downside is with the numerous campers it rendered the WiFi totally unusable (it had been great on Thursday and Friday before the masses arrived).<\/p>\n

\"\"

View<\/p><\/div>

\"\"

Clean Skittle with the kids<\/p><\/div>

\"\"

AT trail marker<\/p><\/div>

\"\"

White blaze<\/p><\/div>

\"\"

Hiking the AT<\/p><\/div>

\"\"

Hikers<\/p><\/div>

\"\"

Tree<\/p><\/div>

\"\"

Cool looking lichen<\/p><\/div>

\"\"

Colors and textures<\/p><\/div>

\"\"

Hiking the AT<\/p><\/div>

\"\"

Moss ball in tree<\/p><\/div>

\"\"

Lichen?<\/p><\/div>

\"\"

Hmmmm?!<\/p><\/div>

\"\"

Awesome view<\/p><\/div>

\"\"

Hiking<\/p><\/div>

\"\"

Flower<\/p><\/div>

\"\"

The fam in Shenendoah<\/p><\/div>

\"\"

Steph and Huck<\/p><\/div>

\"\"

B liked the \"teepee\" behind her<\/p><\/div>

\"\"

Pretty flower<\/p><\/div>

\"\"

Ava and the Beast<\/p><\/div>

\"\"

Bear lover<\/p><\/div>

\"\"

Jump pad<\/p><\/div>

\"\"

Archery practice<\/p><\/div>

\"\"

Caterpillar<\/p><\/div>

\"\"

Campground creek<\/p><\/div>

\"\"

Campground \"mine\"<\/p><\/div>

\"\"

Steep hill at campground<\/p><\/div><\/div>