UTMom81 wrote: »

Appalachian Trail Mission Slimpossibles Thru Hike Step Challenge

Distance so far: 1300 miles

We have passed some major milestones since our last update! Mission Slimpossibles has put in over 2.6 million steps during this challenge to date! Way to go!!!

The first major feature we passed was McAfee Knob, the iconic rock precipice in Virginia that is probably the second most snapped shot on the AT. This ledge is one of the most visited spots along the AT and some of you may have seen some pics like this. I’ve been to McAfee, and it is an amazing experience to stand on that spot.



What a great place to do some morning yoga, like this woman!



Since Virginia is home to so many miles of the AT, it also is home to another famous stretch of trail—Shenandoah National Park. The trail runs right alongside Skyline Drive for 100 miles through the center of this park. Here you can find another large population of black bear and it is likely to see one any time you visit SNP.


Also, this part of the trail is relatively flat, so it’s a great place to do some night hiking, especially during the heat of the summer, which is when most thru hikers reach Shenandoah. There’s nothing quite like the open expanses of a national park far-removed from the light pollution we have become so accustomed to in our more urban lives.



Once we pass through Virginia, we enter West Virginia for a few miles and the home of the Appalachian Trial Conservancy offices at Harpers Ferry, WV. From there, it is just steps to cross the Potomac River into Maryland.

Roughly 70 miles after we enter Maryland, we pass the half way point of our hike.



By the 1300 mile mark, we have left Maryland behind us and are well into Pennsylvania, leaving a total of 6 of the 14 states in our stepping wake! More on Pennsylvania next time!