Yes! Virginia is FINISHED!! State #6 knocked off, and 1,074 +/- miles done on the AT. This was the last gap that needed to be filled in that connected up GA to the MD/PA line (in general, although not technically) the southern half is done!
After having to come off the Trail during last month’s hike because I was ill and too wiped out to make it up the simplest of hills, I came back this weekend to finish strong! It was a GREAT hike!
I took it easy and did 35.2 miles over 3 days. I also got “creative” and did what I have dubbed a “3 day flip flop.” Meaning I started at the highest point of this section and hiked south for 2 days to Bearwallow Gap where my car was. For a change of scenery I camped at the Peaks of Otter campground and then drove my car to the James River the morning of the 3rd/last day. I was then shuttled to the top again and hiked north back to my car to finish up the trip. It was more down than up although the 2nd day was more up. I did this primarily because I had been quite sick (for me) and did not want to burn out the energy reserve I had been building back up in my body over the past month — and it worked!
Plus, that’s the beauty of section-hiking — you can choose to hike N to S, S to N, high to low, low to high!
