Somewhere between the bottom of the climb and the summit is the answer to the mystery why we climb.
~Greg Child
April 1, 2022
Hike from VA Rt 16 to Atkins, VA
AT miles: 12.4
Ascent: 1372’
Descent: 2237’
Weather: a snow flurry, then sunny, cool, and windy
Sightings: one hiker and a turkey
High points: early spring wildflowers
My hiking partner Matt and I had an early start to our day — we left Williamsburg at 4:30 AM and were on the trail near Marion, VA, by 10:20 AM.
It was wonderful to be back on the Appalachian Trail again! Our starting location was about 3000’ above sea level, so initially it was cold and the woods were wintery brown.
We did have a great view!
It is glorious to be back on the Appalachian Trail again!
We climbed up Glade Mtn (4101’) and then began the long slow easy descent down to Atkins (~2000’), where we left our car. As we descended, we left the cold wintery heights and entered springtime. The sides of the trail were covered in spring beauties.
We saw bloodroot, a striking flower commonly found in herb gardens because of its many medicinal uses.
and the speckled slightly brown trout lily
As we approached Rt I-81 we walked through a boggy area and saw a special site — skunk cabbage! Through a process called thermogenesis skunk cabbage actually produce their own heat. The warmth of the plant can melt snow; the flowers can be as much as 36 degrees above the ambient temperature. True to its name, skunk cabbage smells terrible. Amazingly, an individual skunk cabbage can live for several hundred years!
Today is a great day for a long walk in the woods!
Greg Child’s quote was great!
Hope your found this stretch of trail enjoyable.
So were the pix you posted. So much beauty lies amidst those brown, crunchy
leaves — if only one will look — and you did!!
Thanks!