McAfee Hikes

Date Written: 11/10/2024 | AT Mile 1663.0 | Day Total: 14.4 miles | Gain: 3065 ft

I was awake at 6:30 but rolled around until 7. I don’t have many miles planned today so I’m going to take my time this morning. Not to mention I have a bear line to untangle. After 15 minutes, my scissors came out and my backpack became a few grams lighter…

I made some breakfast and packed up my backpack. I began hiking just before 9. I’ve got 14.4 miles to the shelter right next to the road into Marion. Tomorrow morning I’ll get a ride into town.

Trail was mostly downhill to start the day. I walked through forest, laurel tunnels, then pastures before reaching interstate 81.

There was a gas station right on the side of the trail that I stopped in. I got a coffee and an honeybun as a second breakfast. There was an outlet on the corner of the building that I charged my phone up at.

After that refreshment I hit the trail again. I walked across a short board walk while I climbed over some hills. I passed by a few meadows as well.

A mile or so later I passed by the Settlers Museum. It’s closed today but from the sounds of it they usually have trail magic in the old schoolhouse.

Shortly after I walked under the loudest, scariest sounding power lines ever. Their cracking and buzzing could be heard hundreds of yards away.

I stopped for lunch at Chatfield Shelter. It’s part way up the mountain and had a stream (Vaught Branch) nearby so I could filter water. When I signed the log before I left I was shocked to read that Little Bit had stopped here for lunch also today. I had stopped pretty early for lunch and thought the she may have written the wrong date. She appeared to be two or three days ahead of me based on the lost log books I had read.

The rest of the climb wasn’t too bad. Some rockier sections with stairs but it went by fast. Near the top I got a view of Walker Mountain around some rhododendron. Every so often the clouds decided to spit a few raindrops on me. None of which lasted very long luckily.

I continued along the ridge hiking up and down some puds. I could see a large group in front of me and Little Bit was talking with them. The group was doing a weekend hike heading northbound. Afterword, Little Bit and I walked through some uncut blowdowns. Some of which were a bit more tricky. We eventually parted ways but she will pass me at Partnership shelter. Sounds like she’s going to hike a few miles past the shelter so she can be at Elk Garden by Tuesday.

I eventually made it down to Partnership Shelter. It’s a big shelter with running water and even has a hot shower. It’s also right next to the Mt Rogers National Recreation Area headquarters.

While I was sweeping the shelter Little Bit showed up. We talked for around an hour while she cooked dinner. She’s nearing the end of her hike in Damascus but still has a section down south she need to complete. She skipped over it and her uncle (the one picking her up) insists she go back and finish it with him. She’s still got a few more miles to go today to reach elk garden by Tuesday. It was nice to have another thru hiker to talk with. I haven’t seen one for over a week.

After she left I walked over to the Mt Rogers National Recreation Area headquarters building to see if they have wifi. They do but it’s not public wifi. I was expecting there to be service here tonight but there’s none. Oh well…

Once back at the shelter I cooked some dinner and journaled. I also reread some of the journals I’ll upload tomorrow before heading to bed.