Day 49 - Tuesday, April 13, 2021

Woke up to a cooler temperature of 42°.  Today’s high is forecasted to reach 64° and sunny. 

Today we are hiking from VA 611 (600.6 NoBo) to Laurel Creek, VA 615 (584.9 NoBo) equaling 15.7 miles. 

We started hiking at 8:25 am. The temperature already rose to 48° under partly sunny skies.
















Reforested area after a controlled burn.  By the size of the smaller pine trees growing we estimated the control burn was 7+ years ago.  




We didn’t know the significance of this?







View from Route 52 near I-77. 



Walking down VA 612 crossing I-77.





We didn’t go to this shelter as we didn’t need to replenish our water and it was .3 miles off the trail. 



A one room hostel right on the AT. Trail angels leave things on the trail for hikers to use. There was nothing in this so obviously some hiker took what was in there 😊. I didn’t have anything on me to leave for the next hiker.





Some hikers were highlighting the 600 NoBo trail mileage from Springer Mountain. They were about 200 yards apart from each other. The painted mileage marker was more accurate according to our calculations 🧐 😏.

We finished hiking at 4:05 pm and the temperature was 64°. The high was 67° and it’s becoming cloudy as rain is forecasted for later today and again mid afternoon tomorrow. 

The hiking today was easier hiking that we have experienced in quite a while. Only two minor climbs (less than 700 ft) and the trail was mostly an earthen trail with very few rocks and bolders to negotiate. Unfortunately there were not many views to see and enjoy besides the forest landscape. We are planning on getting on the trail tomorrow at first light to hopefully get our 13+ mile hike in before the rain begins 🙏🏻.

Till next time... Happy Hiking  🥾 

😋


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