Pocosin to Skyline Dr. MP 66.7

Date:    June 16-17
Start:    Pocosin Cabin 
End:     Skyline Dr. MP 66.7 (1.2 miles south of Swift Run Gap)
Today's miles: 7.6
Total (cumulative) AT miles: 60
Time: ummmm  < 6 1/2 hrs?


Finally back on the trail!! It seemed like a lifetime since we'd be on the AT, but actually it was only about a month. Our time in between was taken up by helping helping the parents out, taking a Memorial Day trip to Spruce Knob, and taking a mental health weekend off.


I'm so far behind in my posts, I'm having to go back and look at the pics to refresh my memory on all the details. I did "summer hours" at work and was able to leave at noon on Friday. Packed up the Escape and the dog and headed for the mountains. Did some photo-expedition on the way in.  Got a nice hawk picture and saw a bear near Skyland.  

We camped at Big Meadows in our favorite campsite (#37). It's the most remote hike-in site in the campground. There's only one neighbor that is close enough to possibly be an issue. So, you have a 50/50 shot at a good night's sleep. Well...there were 3-4 guys that finally showed up late Friday. They weren't as bad as some...no loud music, no partying. The only issue was they liked to talk.  And talk.  And talk. They were talking mostly about Jesus and the Lord and being a Christian. Finally around midnight, after the rest of the campground had gone to bed, I hollered over and said "Jesus says it's time for bed now".  That did the trick. They finally shut up and went to bed.


Jen and I woke up early on Saturday morning (pre-sunrise) to start our hiking day. We made sure the Christians got as much sleep as we did before heading out. We decided to hit the trail early and take advantage of the cooler morning temps. Shuttled the Escape down to Swift Run Gap, then back up to Pocosin to start our hike. It was probably around 8am when we finally got started on the trail.  Our goal was to crank out the first 3.3 miles to South River Picnic grounds before stopping for lunch.  The trail was pretty uneventful. A view of some treetops and a couple of big rocks. The only cool parts were a patch of laurels that were still in bloom, and running into all the NOBOs along the way. We even ran into skinny Santa on the trail!! He's got a long ways to go!!


We finally reached South River Picnic grounds for lunch. We used the flush toilets, and refilled our bellies and our water supply before the gnats drove us to pack up and make a run for it. The hike from there to Swift Run Gap was a very gradual downhill until the last 1/4 mile or so, then it got steeper. It was right about then we ran into Toni's doppleganger heading north. Just when Rosie was saying hi to the doppleganger, a bug flew down and landed on Rosie's back. Rosie hates bugs and was snapping at it trying to kill it, when the doppleganger swooped in and saved said bug. I had never seen a bug like it before. She said it was a clicker bug, but it was bigger than any clicker bug I'd ever seen. I was still holding it in my hand after the doppleganger had headed on down the trail. Right about then the bug FINALLY clicked in my hand. I'm pretty sure anyone within a 1/4 mile heard me squeal with delight! :)

We finished up at Swift Run Gap, posed for a few pictures, then headed back to Big Meadows for a hot shower, a hot meal, a warm campfire and a cold six-pack. Just our luck the Christians had broke camp and were gone. No one else claimed the site, so we had a wonderfully quiet evening that night. Ahhhhh!!!

Sunday morning we did a short "recovery" hike from Swift Run Gap down to the next intersection with Skyline. About 1.2 miles total. It was pretty boring trail-wise. Once again, the best part was meeting all of the NOBOs on the trail. After the hike, we did a mini-photo expedition. Saw another bear, or maybe it was the same bear from Friday. It was too close to Skyland and the rangers called out the guys with the paintball guns to chase it off.  Oh well. We got lots of pics of flowers, birds and bugs. It was a gorgeous Sunday afternoon in Shenandoah.


I'd like to do a 1 or 2 night backpack for our next section. Get some serious miles done in one weekend. Not sure though if we can pull a 2-nighter with Rosie slurping up all the water.  Hmmmm....