Captain Blue's 2002 Summer AT Hike

Photos by Andy "Captain Blue" Niekamp

June 6 - June 17, 2002

Appalachian Trail
Rockfish Gap, VA to Pearisburg, VA
175 miles - southbound

Some thoughts from the Hiker

Click on an image to view a larger image and a description. Waive your pointer over a photo for a description.

Staying at the Rendezvous Motel the night before the hike. I started my hike at Rockfish Gap at the northern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The sign at Rockfish Gap. Getting ready to start my hike at 10:20am on June 6.
All that remains of an old homestead is the chimney. The view from the Appalachian Trail. My campsite near Bear Spring. A flat portion of the trail.
One of the many deer I saw. An immature newt. I saw lots of these. Mountain laurel in bloom. Rhododendron in bloom.
The trail goes over the cliffs near Wintergreen Ski Resort. The view of Wintergreen Ski Resort from the trail. A trail sign near Humpback Rocks. The trail is very rocky at times.
A view from a summit. A Garter snake on the trail. A baby Milk snake on the trail. The trail goes through this rocky area. Can you spot the white trail blaze on the tree?
A mountain meadow. Entering the Three Ridges Wilderness. This area was declared a wilderness by Congress in 2000. The view of Three Ridges Wilderness from Chimney Rocks. The view from Chimney Rocks. Looking south across the Tye River valley to the Priest.
A large vertical slab of rock next to the trail. My campsite at Harper's Creek. Morning at Harper's Creek. I hiked 18 miles on the second day I was on the trail. That is the higest mileage I have ever done for the second day of a hike. Rusty's is now closed due to his poor health. Many long distance hikers on the AT know about Rusty's Hard Time Hollow.
Crossing the Tye River bridge. The Tye River. This river valley was a frequent Confederate supply and escape route. Entering the Priest Wilderness. This area was declared a wilderness by Congress in 2000. The summit of the Priest is 3000+ feet elevation gain from the Tye River. This is a view part way up.
Rhododendron in bloom on top of the Priest. The view from the Priest summit. Captain Blue on the Priest. A youth outing group on the summit. I hope they don't get molested by the Priest. :-)
Another view from the summit of the Priest. The view from Spy Rock. Spy Rock. Confederate soldiers used this location to spot activities of Union troops. Today was a tough 14 mile day. Dinner at dark at Seeley -Woodworth Shelter.
The view of my campsite at Seeley-Woodworth Shelter the next morning. The view from the mountain top. Strange growths on the leaves of an Elm tree. A mountain meadow.
These walls were built by slaves. They were used to pen in hogs that were driven up the mountain in the summer to be fattened on acorns and chestnuts. The meadow near Hog Camp Gap. The meadow on Cold Mountain. More meadow on Cold Mountain. The meadow was almost one mile long. A hiker was killed here by lightning in 1975.
A ring neck snake on the trail. The Pedlar Dam. This water is used as the municipal water supply for Lynchburg, Virginia. After a 20 mile day of hiking I wandered into the camp of Renegade and Tomboy near Irish Creek who were making food for hikers. Renegade and Tomboy pose for a picture. Every year for a week they camp here and feed hikers for free.
This is a monument to Little Ottie Powell. In the fall of 1890 Ottie wandered away from his school while collecting firewood. His body was found five months later on top of this mountain - a distance of 7 miles. Captain Blue at John's Hollow Shelter. Pauline at the James River - US 501 crossing. Pauline gave me a ride into Glasgow to get my resupply package. I helped her the previous day saw a log that was blocking the trail. We both worked on the log until it was cut in two and off the trail. She is a trail maintainer for the Natural Bridge Appalachian Trail Club. She offered to meet me the next day at 8am at the road crossing and take me into town. The new Foot foot bridge over the James River. Dedicated to Bill Foot.
Del Doc is hiking the whole AT with sophisticated GPS equipment. My camera ran out of digital memory on this picture which is why it is incomplete. The Belfast Fire was just over the ridge. You could smell the smoke from the trail. The smoke blocked out the sun at times. Captain Blue at Marble Spring Gap. I wonder what they mean by this? Perhaps it was merely a suggestion? I just kept hiking.
Another view of the Belfast forest fire. At least I am walking away from it. The spring at Thunderhill Shelter. Note the rhododendron leaf being used as a faucet. This unique feature is called the Guillotine. The trail goes right under the suspended rock. I think I found a secret military UFO communication station. Nope, it just an FAA air-traffic radar dome on Apple Orchard Mountain.
The view from Apple Orchard Mountain summit. Bryant Ridge Shelter. One of the nicer ones. This is the only shelter I slept in. Leaving Bryant Ridge Shelter. This wooden sign is being eaten by the tree.
The Appalachian Trail overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Breakfast at Wilson Creek Shelter. Gary H. He was another southbounder. We had the same schedule for two days. Captain Blue leaving Wilson Creek Shelter.
A style. Used to let hikers get through a fence but not cows. Captain Blue A farm field near I-81. The Best Western at Daleville.
I spent the night here after nine straight days and 135 miles of hiking. I really need a shower and clean clothes. The trail to Tinker Cliffs. This is Diva. She is hiking the Trail in Virginia northbound. She is a professor at Old Dominion University and a freelance writer. We crossed paths and chatted for a few minutes. I wish she was hiking my direction. An odd sandstone formation.
A lizard on a log. This critter didn't seem to be too afraid of me. A view of the Great Valley in Virginia. Supper at Lambert's Meadow Campsite. I sat at this table and felt a large winged insect land on my leg. Without looking I immediately knew what could be going on. I quickly jumped up and ran from the table. Sure enough - there was a busy hornet's nest hanging under the picnic table right where I was sitting. In my tent at Lambert's Meadow Campsite.
Bed time! Note that I use my shirt and extra clothes as a pillow. Tinker Cliffs. Folklore says the name came from Revolutionary War deserters who hid near here and made pots and pans of tin. Another view of Tinker Cliffs. Another view from Tinker Cliffs.
Strange rock formation. McAfee Knob. McAfee Knob. The view from McAfee Knob.
The climb up the Dragon's Tooth goes over these rocks. The view from Dragon's Tooth. The Dragon's Tooth. Side view of the Dragon's Tooth.
Audie Murphy, the most decorated American soldier from WWII, died in a plane crash on this spot. The Audie Murphy monument. Craig Creek Valley. The hike is over! The end!

My favorite bird on the Appalachian Trail is the Veery (Catharus fuscescens). The Veery makes a resonant and downward-spiraling sound. Many have likened its call to someone whistling into a long metal tube. You can hear the Veery in almost all areas of the Appalachian Trail. Here is a picture and the range of the bird. Notice that the southeastern range of the bird extends along the Appalachian mountains from Maine to Georgia.

 

Please play the sound of the veery for me when I am old, tired and frail,

It will take me back to the time when I was young, strong and hiking on the Appalachian Trail.

Captain Blue

Andy's Other Hiking Photo Sites

Web page by -