-1- ( March 9th, 1981 to May 7th, 1981 ) The route for Virginia passed through or near: Cumberland Gap Ewing Damascus Pearisburg Newport Hollins College (spy rock) Skyland Waynesboro Linden Route information Reese Lukei, Jr. was the Virginia Coordinator for HikaNation. Reese laid out the route for HikaNation from Cumberland Gap, Kentucky to Cape Henlopen, Delaware. Ed Garvey provided some Pathfinder duties along the Appalachian Trail.

still catching up March 11, 1981 -- Day 334 ...and the grueling task of catching up to the main groups continues. March 11 journal entry: Before 10am, with smiling faces, truckers on Rt. 70 to Blackwater told me I was way behind, that I'd never catch up, and these mtns are steep...."sure you don't want a ride?" Hiked about 34 miles today, 845am-1015pm, but finally did catch up to the rest of HikaNation, asleep near the "Griffith house", about 8 miles west of Gate City. Found out later that Donna and Shellie were shot at today by an old geezer. near Cherry Tree Lean-to March 19, 1981 -- Day 342 The first couple of days on the Applachian Trail we were hiking through several snowstorms. near Trimpi Lean-to March 21, 1981 -- Day 344 More snow to camp in and hike through... near Trimpi Lean-to March 21, 1981 -- Day 344 Mike Halm, Shellie Newell, and Scott Davis sharing a tent while "sitting" out the snowstorm. in front of Trimpi Lean-to March 21, 1981 -- Day 344 The lean-to's constructed along the Appalachian Trail are mainly 3-sided buildings, some with elevated wooden floors, and some with just dirt floors; a great place for sheltered breaks, but due to the mice problems, tents were a better place to sleep at night. William Ewart Scott Davis Shellie Newell Mike Halm near Killinger Lean-to March 23, 1981 -- Day 346 ...tents in the snow... Killinger Lean-to March 23, 1981 -- Day 346 ...snow covered picnic table, with a water bottle embedded in the snow... A view of ?? March 25, 1981 -- Day 348 Big Bend Recreational Area March 25, 1981 -- Day 348 Breakfast, lunch, or dinner ?? David Marple David Chernow Tim Geoghegan Shellie Newell The High Rock Hilton March 27, 1981 -- Day 350 An enclosed cabin at the top of ??? Compared to the open lean-tos, this was a "Hilton" !! A view from the Hilton March 27, 1981 -- Day 350 Another view from the Hilton March 27, 1981 -- Day 350 Mike Collins Tim Geoghegan David Chernow David Marple inside "The High Rock Hilton" March 27, 1981 -- Day 350 Cramped quarters, but still roomier than inside a tent. Road break March 28, 1981 -- Day 351 Click onto the photo for images of the roadbreak participants. Refreshments for a hot day March 28, 1981 -- Day 351 Tish Butcher Jerri Hudson Marika Matyus Gayle Fisher Shellie Newell A party on the trail March 28, 1981 -- Day 351 Bad trail etiquette. Party over March 29, 1981 -- Day 352 Even worse trail etiquette. Pearisburg, Virginia March 31, 1981 -- Day 354 Scenes from the Holy Family Catholic Church Hospice. In 1975, the Church allowed hikers to stay inside a "common area", but in 1981, a separate "structure" had been built for hikers to spend rest days. Mike Collins on the guitar and Tim Geoghegan sportin' a new haircut. A year on foot In Virginia now, hikers have nearly traversed the U.S. by Joe Kennedy, Roanoke Times & World News Bobletts Gap Lean-to April 12, 1981 -- Day 366 A typical three-sided lean-to along the Appalachian Trail. near Matts Creek Lean-to April 15, 1981 -- Day 369 Spring has sprung. Check-in point April 16, 1981 -- Day 370 The group hiked along the Appalachian Trail at various speeds and Monty and the airstream trailer would set up check-in points along the trailheads to see that all were ok. Mail he had collected for us at various post offices was available when we met up with him at these checkpoints. Marce Guerrein at the check-in table. Another "spring" tree April 16, 1981 -- Day 370 Foggy days April 17, 1981 -- Day 371 Near Punchbowl Spring Meadow Shellie Newell and ??. Stinging nettles April 17, 1981 -- Day 371 Very green and very picturesque, the stinging nettles blanketed forest floors and hung over into the path of the trail, causing a lot of discomfort when they brushed up against your legs. Practice April 17, 1981 -- Day 371 Lake ?? April 18, 1981 -- Day 372 Somewhere after Punchbowl Spring Meadow Cole Mountain summit April 19, 1981 -- Day 373 Several of us hiked 6+ miles in the moonlight to reach the summit of this mountain----although the moon was full and bright, the going was a little ackward when the trees obscured the moonlight.

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