“There was never a night or a problem that could defeat sunrise or hope.”
-Bernard Williams
November 6, 2021
Hike from Laurel Creek Rt 615 (Bland, VA) to Chestnut Knob Shelter
AT miles: 15.1
Ascent: 3764’
Descent: 1832’
Weather: cold and clear
Sightings: one Amish family, one hunter, and a flip-flipper
High points: the views from Chestnut Knob Shelter
Today was bookended by steep climbs, with some humpty-dumpties along a ridge during the middle of the day.
At 7:00 the hostel owner picked us up and drove us to Laurel Creek. When we left the hostel it was still so dark out that I could clearly see Orion in the dark sky! Thankfully the sun rose quickly, and by the time we arrived at the trailhead it was light out.
We started the morning with a steep climb up Brushy Mountain. The AT rarely has benches, so when we saw this bench about halfway up the mountain we stopped for a snack break.
The sun shining through the multicolored leaves scattered on the ground made me feel like I was walking on confetti!
Due to the dry summer and fall most of the water sources along the trail are currently dry, so when we hiked past VA Rt 623 (a dirt road), we were delighted to see that someone had left lots of water bottles for thirsty hikers. What wonderful trail magic!
Leaves on the trail make hiking quite challenging. They hide the path, so keeping track of the trail can be quite difficult. This trip I have had to backtrack and use my GPS to stay on the trail more than I ever have before. Additionally, the leaves hide the terrain so you often have no idea what you are walking on. MJ dubbed this hike “all the rocks you cannot see.” Lastly, the loud crunch and rustle of the leaves as you walk make holding a conversation a challenge. Despite these issues, we still enjoyed the colorful foliage!
We spent most of the day walking along a ridge. We had a wonderful sense of being on the top of the world!
The views were not great but what we could see was beautiful!
After hiking fourteen miles, we hit our final mile — a long, steep, tough uphill climb to the shelter. When we finally arrived at the top of Garden Mountain (4392’), we were breathless and amazed. The shelter, a 4-sided old stone structure, sat on the peak, surrounded by meadows. The views were unbelievable. What a spectacular place!
From the field in front of the shelter we could see for miles. We saw a lovely sunset.
As the sun sank lower the sky turned a brilliant shade of orange.
There is something magical about being in such a solitary and beautiful location!
Tonight the temperature is supposed to get down into the low 20’s, so I have my balaclava and down booties on in addition to my usual cold weather gear. We have latched the door and are ready for a cold quiet night.
Today is a great day for a long walk in the woods!
Thank you!
Dad