Day 1 of AT in VA NOBO

VA 621/Craig Creek Rd
(689.5) to VA Route 785
(706.5)
Total miles: 17.0

Stayed at Fairfield Inn Roanoke I-81. Homer shuttled me back to where I finished off last spring… VA 621/Craig Creek. Clear and 30 degrees, started by fording the Craig Creek in my sandals. Climbed up and over Brush Mtn. 13 miles in, hiked by the Dragon’s Tooth monolith. The first of what’s known as the Virginia Triple Crown (Dragon’s Tooth, McAfee Knob & Tinker Cliffs… the latter two come tomorrow). Clouds broke into sunshine. Lots of locals out day-hiking today as it’s the weekend and the first warming trend of the Spring is upon us. High temp today 60. Fairly rocky and treacherous heading the 2 miles down from “The Tooth”. Ended the day trekking through pastoral farmlands filled with cows. Homer picked me up on rural route 785 at 5pm for the ride back to the hotel.Read more