Day 57

Origin: Virginia State Road 624

Destination: Campbell Shelter

Today's miles: 10.3

Total miles: 709.1

With an outdoor temperature in the low 30s, most hikers in the hostel/garage weren't in a hurry to get going this morning, and that included us.  Once we found out that the outfitter in Daleville that we were planning on visiting tomorrow is closed on Sunday, we adjusted our plan to do a short day today and see the outfitter on Monday, we were even slower getting ready.  When we did get on the trail, our pace was more deliberate than usual as our legs were a bit sore after a couple of tough days.

The highlight of the day was McAfee Knob, unofficially the most photographed point on the AT.  The only negative of the day was crowding.  The knob is only five miles from a parking lot, it was beautiful and sunny today, and it's Memorial Day weekend - all ingredients for lots of day hikers and weekend hikers, or "bear bait" as a fellow long-distance hiker called them.  I keep telling myself the trail is as much theirs as it ours, but I can't help but not like them.  They tend to be noisy, have poor trail etiquette, are more likely to leave trash, and they smell too nice.  McAfee Knob was beautiful, but I couldn't help but think of what it must be like on a weekday.  I met a trail maintainer who said it was the most crowded he's ever seen it.  We met a couple from Michigan who drove 12 hours today to make the five mile hike and will be headed back tomorrow.  The man had seen it on TV during a special on the AT and put it on his bucket list.  

Despite the crowds, it was a fantastic day with perfect weather.  We're looking forward to the Tinker Cliffs tomorrow and a BBQ dinner in Daleville.