If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant;
if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.
~Anne Bradstreet
April 3, 2022
Hike from Sugar Run Gap to Pearisburg (VA)
AT miles: 11.8
Ascent: 537’
Descent: 1055’
Weather: cool and sunny — perfect for hiking
Sightings: two wild turkeys and four section hikers
High points: finishing up this section — what a great three days of hiking
After a wonderful breakfast at the Woods Hole Hostel we drove up to Pearisburg, dropped the car off, and took a shuttle back to Sugar Run Gap.
The hiking was glorious— we basically spent the day walking along a ridge line. Since in the high regions it is still too early for leaves, the views were nonstop.
We walked by one of the nicest shelters I’ve seen on the trail — Doc’s Knob Shelter. In addition to being clean and well-maintained, it has a porch and lots of bench seating — a really lovely shelter!
We stopped for lunch at a protected viewpoint and admired the pastoral vista. Shortly afterwards we walked by a smoldering fire in a fire pit. Matt dumped a lot of water on it; we were just amazed that some idiots had recently walked away from a fire that still had some glowing red embers.
The trail was lovely and the weather was perfect. We had many miles of idyllic hiking.
We were fairly high in elevation, just below 4000 feet, so the woods felt like winter — all brown with no greenery showing anywhere except for the evergreen rhododendrons.
We hiked over the summit of Pearisburg Mtn (3770’) and passed the renowned view called Angels Rest, though we did not make the detour to see it.
The last 3 miles of today’s hike involved a rapid descent of over 2000 feet into the small mountain city of Pearisburg. The trail did lots of switchbacks, and occasionally there was a welcome set of stairs.
We had stellar views of Pearisburg, the New River, and the parking area where we had left our car. The New River is one of the few rivers that flows from south to north.
As we descended, we left winter and walked into spring. The ground became carpeted with violets, spring beauties, spring blue-eyed Mary, cut-leaved toothwort, Dutchman’s breeches, yellow trout lily, and many others. Spring has arrived in the lower valley, and the flowers are gorgeous.
What a terrific end to a wonderful 3-day 39.4-mile section hike! I hope to return to complete my remaining 73.3 miles of the AT in Virginia in two weeks.
Today is a great day for a long walk in the woods!