Appalachian Trail - Day 051 - Thunder Hill Shelter to Salt Log Gap

Day: 051

Date: Wednesday, 14 June 2023

Start:  Thunder Hill Shelter (AT Mile 772.5)

Finish:  Salt Log Gap (AT Mile 794.7)

Daily Kilometres:  35.9 (Ascent 4787', Descent 6112')

GPX Track:  Click here for Julie’s Strava & Photos

Total Kilometres:  1340.7

Weather:  Cool overcast and very windy in the morning, then warmer and mostly cloudy in the afternoon with a very light shower.

Accommodation:  Tent 

Nutrition:

  Breakfast:  Pop tarts 

  Lunch:  Trail mix 

  Dinner:  Chicken & rice

Aches:  Dave - still dealing with a blister on right heel; Julie - nothing reported.

Highlight:  The James River, which we crossed in the early afternoon was something different.  Wide with occasional shallow rapids, we first saw it from high on a mountain and then steadily descended with more river views along the way.  We could hear some lads jumping into the river from the bridge before we got there and when we arrived we had a nice chat with them.  Turns out they were both serious runners and one was soon to visit Australia.  We crossed the river on the very long pedestrian bridge, the longest on the AT.

Lowlight:  Setting up camp, and preparing and eating dinner, was made quite unpleasant by a horde of tiny biting insects.  We couldn't wait to finish dinner and get into the tent.

Pictures: Click here

Map and Position: Click here for Google Map

Journal:

We were hiking by soon after 6:30am and shortly crossed the Blue Ridge Parkway for the first and last time for the day.  It was cool and windy and the trail was good as we passed through the waking forest.

The first hour was mainly downhill but then we had a solid rocky climb to Highcock Knob (3056') with some good views along the way.  We were now on a 10-mile stretch where no camping was permitted because of "aggressive bear activity" but made no bear sightings.  Instead, the forest was peaceful and we began our long descent to the James River, stopping for lunch in a shelter near the bottom.

Dave was struggling a bit with the blister on his heel and for the third time of the day took the boot off and tried some different first aid. This last attempt did improve things and it was more tolerable on the afternoon.

Soon after lunch, we reached the James River and crossed (see above).  After the crossing the initial walking through lovely forest following a babbling Rocky Row Run was very pleasant, but soon we were climbing quickly in humid sweaty conditions to Fullers Rocks (2333') from where there were excellent views back down to the river and then more and very steep climbing up to Big Rocky Row (2911') with more good views.

The tough climb was also rewarded with a long section along a forested ridge with nice even grades.  By this time we were starting to look out for tent sites, which seemed very scarce, eventually finding one surrounded by nettles at 6:30pm.  Not ideal but it will do.