Spent 3 nights out doing a 23 mile loop around Mt Rogers and Grayson Highlands in southern Virginia that I usually do once a year. Got to the trailhead about 7pm on a Thursday night after cutting out of work a little early for the 1.5 mile hike to camp for the first night at the Old Orchard Shelter area. Wasn't completely dark when we set up, but dark enough to hit the sack once we had the hammocks hung. Made the climb up the northern side of Mt Rogers on our second day and hit the AT for about an 18 mile section of our loop. Still some thru hikers coming through that had been at trail days in Damascus the weekend before. I had figured that the bubble of hikers was probably gone or I would have left some trail magic at the trailhead. Oh well, maybe next year. Stayed at Thomas Knob our second night with great views over the valley looking south toward Damascus. Back on the AT nobo for day 3 for our 11 mile section through Grayson Highlands & the Lewis Fork Wilderness. Surprisingly weren't visited by the ponies at Thomas Knob as we slept Friday night, but went trough several groups and a few cows on Saturday. Stayed at Old Orchard again on Saturday night making for an easy (and downhill) 1.5 egress on Sunday morning back to the trailhead on 603. Overall, a little warm for my tastes (mid to high 70's during the day), but always a great loop.
As far as gear, I wasn't trying to hit the UL mark on this trip, but did stay mid-range lightweight with a 15 pound base weight. I took my 1.6 Chameleon (not my lightest hammock, but plenty of comfort and features and has become my go to unless I really need to cut weight or if I'm not going far and want to carry a bridge) and a Superfly tarp. Only deployed the tarp one night (up on Thomas Knob) due to the potential of rain coming through during the night. Temperatures were low to mid 50's at night so a 40 degree HG econ set of quilts kept me nice and comfortable. Overall, good times out in the woods.
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/ma...e-2020-b3d6e13
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