Leonard M. Adkins - Best of the Appalachian Trail: Overnight Hikes

ALSO BY LEONARD M. ADKINS AND VICTORIA AND FRANK LOGUE

The Best of the Appalachian Trail: Overnight Hikes

ALSO BY LEONARD M. ADKINS

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Images of America: Along the Appalachian Trail: West Virginia, Maryland,
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Images of America: Along Virginias Appalachian Trail

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Postcards of America: Along Virginias Appalachian Trail

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ALSO BY VICTORIA AND FRANK LOGUE

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The Best of the Appalachian Trail: Overnight Hikes

Copyright 1994, 2004, 2018 by Leonard M. Adkins and Victoria and Frank Logue

All rights reserved

Printed in the United States of America

Published by Menasha Ridge Press and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy

Distributed by Publishers Group West

Third edition, first printing

Project editor: Ritchey Halphen

Cartography and cover design: Scott McGrew

Text design: Leslie Shaw

Cover photo: Sunset hike along the Appalachian Trail at Roan Mountain in the spring (see ); Serge Skiba/Shutterstock

Interior photos: As noted on page and as follows: , Kelly vanDellen/Shutterstock

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Adkins, Leonard M., author. | Logue, Victoria, 1961 author. | Logue, Frank, 1963 author.

Title: The best of the Appalachian Trail : overnight hikes / Leonard M. Adkins, Victoria and Frank Logue.

Description: Third Edition. | Birmingham, Alabama : Menasha Ridge Press, [2018] | Victoria Logue appears as principal author on the previous editions published title page. | Distributed by Publishers Group WestT.p. verso. | Includes index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2017050899| ISBN 978-1-63404-147-8 (paperback) | eISBN 978-1-63404-148-5 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: HikingAppalachian TrailGuidebooks. | BackpackingAppalachian TrailGuidebooks. CampingAppalachian TrailGuidebooks. | Appalachian TrailGuidebooks.

Classification: LCC GV199.42.A68 L65 2018 | DDC 796.51/0974dc23

LC record available at lccn.loc.gov/2017050899

MENASHA RIDGE PRESS
An imprint of AdventureKEEN
2204 First Ave. S., Ste. 102
Birmingham, Alabama 35233
menasharidge.com

Appalachian Trail Conservancy
PO Box 807
Harpers Ferry, WV 25425
appalachiantrail.org

DISCLAIMER The hikes in this book reflect the route of the Appalachian Trail at the time of publication. Note that portions of the Trail are occasionally rerouted, meaning that the hikes described may not reflect conditions (such as storm damage) at the time of your hike. If the white blazes differ from those described, please follow the Trail as it is marked. Neither the authors nor Menasha Ridge Press can guarantee your safety on these hikes, so use caution and your best judgment.

Note: Water sources are identified for your convenience, but this is not an endorsement of their purity. All water should be treated before consuming.

DEDICATION

For my mother, Nancy Adkins: her strength and determination
put A.T. thru-hikers to shame.
Leonard

For Willie Frank Logue, the best grandmother a boy could have.
Frank

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

A book is never the work of the authors alone. We wish to acknowledge and thank the many people who took time out of their busy schedules to assist us.

Leonard would like to thank Michael Alper, Batona Hiking Club; Nancy D. Anthony, Natural Bridge Appalachian Trail Club; David Boone, AMC Connecticut Chapter; Jeff Buehler, Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club; Cosmo Catalano Jr., AMC Berkshire Chapter; Daniel D. Chazin, New YorkNew Jersey Trail Conference; V. Collins Chew, Tennessee Eastman Hiking Club; Kitty Farley, Mount Rogers Appalachian Trail Club; David Field, Maine Appalachian Trail Club; Rita Floriani, Blue Mountain Eagle Climbing Club; Doris Gove, Smoky Mountains Hiking Club; Mark Hedee, Old Dominion Appalachian Trail Club; Edward F. Kenna, Jr., Philadelphia Trail Club; Christine Lauriello, Cumberland Valley Appalachian Trail Club; Howard McDonald, Carolina Mountain Club; Andrew Norkin, AMC White Mountains Trails manager; Herbert Ogden, Green Mountain Club; the late Charles Parry, Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club; Bill Rogers and James Newman, Tidewater Appalachian Trail Club; Lee Sheaffer, Potomac Appalachian Trail Club; Cynthia Taylor-Miller; the late Vaughn Thomas, Piedmont Appalachian Trail Hikers; Melanie Wertz, Cumberland Valley Appalachian Trail Management Association; and Barbara Wiemann, Allentown Hiking Clubthank you for being valuable sources of information. Any errors that may remain are ours and not yours.

Brian B. King, ATC Publisherthanks for your support through the many years.

Dr. Stephen Lewis, Caroline Charonko, Terry Cumming, and Susie Surfasthank you for the many extra years of trail life you have given me.

Nancy Adkinslove you forever, Mom.

Kathleen, John, Tim, and Jay Yeleniclove you too.

Lauriewho could ever have imagined I would find you? You are my perfect companion through the trails of life.

Victoria and Frank would like to thank Vic Hasler of the Tennessee Eastman Hiking and Canoeing Club for his invaluable input; Bill Van Horn of the Nantahala Hiking Club for his help with the hikes in that clubs section of trail; and Tom Weaver of the Carolina Mountain Club and Pete Buak of the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club for their assistance.

INTRODUCTION

D awn stretched her rosy limbs as slender pink fingers caressed the grassy plain around our tent. The surreal nightvelvet-black sky with crescent moon, feral ponies grazing, the insistent drip of dewfaded as daylight illuminated the sleeping world. Except for the ponies, we were alone.

Wilburn Ridge, near Grayson Highlands in Virginia, is an exquisitely beautiful area to camp in. You must backpack to get there, and it is worth every straining muscle to ascend the ridge. Grassy meadows, clumps of fir, rock outcrops, and wild ponies decorate the tableau before you, not unlike a Monet landscape.