A two and a half hour hike along the Appalachian Trail from McCormick Gap south was my highlight of a really cool day with Steve Killen, Rebecca Stephen, Kathleen Ellis and Peter Johansson.

Steve and Rebecca are doing a 10 day section hike along the trail from McCormick Gap up to Rockfish Gap. Their plan was to hike from south to north, ending at a parking lot containing "Casper", Steve's car. Unfortunately, there's no regular and reliable transportation from the ending point just south of Shenandoah, VA to the starting point just north of Jonesboro, VA. That's where I come in.

Steve and I had a fun time driving south from Baltimore to Shenandoah at around 95 mph until we entered the park and stopped off at the visitors center. A friendly National Park Ranger gave Steve and Rebecca some helpful advice about section hiking the trail and we all watched a 12 minute slide show and presentation about the joys of the national forest.

We set off from there to Rockfish Gap, where we left Casper and piled the two 40 pound hiking packs and all five of us into the Civic and set out on the 100 mile journey southbound. Along the way we picked up a great lunch at the supermarket, and finally arrived at the McCormick Gap overlook off Skyline Drive.

With a set of bellies full of food we walked over to the entrance just north of the overlook. We thought we were going to hike north to the next overlook just a few miles up the trail, but then met a rather loud fellow about 30 minutes down the trail who pleasantly informed us that we had been travelling south all this time. We decided to continue out for about 45 minutes more in that direction, and then back the other way.

Once I got out on to the trail I realized how much I missed being out and in nature. The feeling I got on the trail, just for a few minutes, was really indescribable. I just wanted to stay out there and go section hiking with the both f them and not come back until ten days later. Unfortunately, my life doesn't quite work that way now, but it has set the wheels into motion for a future trip.

I got some great pictures along the way, and some cute shots of Steve and Rebecca headed off down the trail before Peter and Kathleen and I piled back into the Civic and headed back to Baltimore.

July 6, 2002 - July 8, 2002

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