After Thanksgiving AT hike Bland to Pear isburg

“Bland Virginia to Pearisburg Virginia

VA52 to State Route 634

Friday

Shuttle from Pearisburg, VA to VA52

Hike from VA52 to Jenny Knob Shelter (12.1 miles)

Saturday

Hike from Jenny Knob Shelter and camp near the northern intersection with the Ribble Trail (18.7 miles)

Sunday

Hike from Ribble Trail Campsite to State Route 634 (12.6 mile”

“That wuld be gooood times! Kno what tho? Them is VERRY MENNY theengs to walk ever day. I do not theenk my nees and butt can walk them menny ever day. I gess I am perty old now. But I am still verry perty bwt - BOL!”

“why not the wapiti shelter”

“Hey Mocs, I might be interested. I will sign up as a definate maybe.”

“Sounds interesting but I don't think I can do that 18.7 mile day.”

“The trip plan isn't set in stone. We can stop earlier or later as needed. I will just need to get back to the truck early enough to make the 5-6 hour drive back to Chattanooga Sunday night.

I will be trying to set up a shuttle here in the next few days.”

“As you may have seen in my GSMNP thread, I hurt my foot on my last hike and have an appointment scheduled with an orthopedist next week. Depending on the extent of the injury I may or may not be able to do this trip. I will know more next week after my appointment. If I am not able to hike, I will reschedule for another long weekend.”

“Geez Mocs! Heal quick will 'ya! I was getting excited about this trip. If you still do this hike, at least your injury will slow you down to a more humanly pace - one I might be able to keep up with. :)”

“Hope you heal fast Mocs!!!!!!!!!

We need to start planning the annual New Years Hike..

'32oz”

“I may have to move this trip to that weekend we will have to see. If not, What about VA16 to VA52 (Mt Rogers Visitors Center to Bland)? What would the temps be like there over New Years? What about snow? Should I look for something warmer?”

“Mount Rogers over New years could have a bunch of snow on it.. I would definately be up for anything North of Damascus though...

'32oz”

“The Visitors Center for the Mt. Rogers National Recreation Area is quite a bit north (on the AT) than Mt. Rogers itself at an elevation of around 3300 ft. I have already done from the Visitors Center to Damascus itself. I wouldn't attempt to do the Highlands that time of year.”

“Sorry, didnt read the post too closely.. that would be fine.. I am slso looking at something April 4 - 8th or something along those dates)”

“How is your foot doing Mocs”

“It might be a little better. The bruising has almost gone away, but it is still a little swollen. Sometimes it seems to be getting better other times not. I am still limping on it a bit. Hopefully it is just a stress fracture, but I will find out when I go to the doctor on Thursday.”

“I just got back from the Doctor and I have a stress fracture in at least one bone. I am going to have a MRI (stress fractures don't show up well on x-rays)so he can see the extent of the fracture as well as check another bone that looked "iffy" in the x-ray.

This doctor is a very highly recommended orthopedic doctor specializing in sports injuries to the foot and ankle, so hopefully I will get a good diagnosis this time, unlike the other doctor did with my ankle a few years ago. Anyways, I am in a boot for now, but he said I could ride a bike for exercise so I will have to go to the YMCA tomorrow to try a stationary bike out (I haven't ridden a bike since I was a kid)

Now for what you have been waiting on- as far as the trip, he said, that he would have to wait on the MRI, but if it is just one bone and not cracked all the way through, I could probably go, if not, no trip. That is better than I thought he would say, so at least there is hope. I will keep this thread posted.”

“injuries suck man.

good luck.”

“I am going to the doctor on the 19th. He will tell me then if I can go on the trip.”

“Mocs how is the foot feeling?”

“It feels good now, but it is in a boot. I hope they let me take the boot off and resume my normal activities the end of next week, but we will see.”

“I got cleared by my Doctor to do this hike, Is anyone still interested?”

“Hey Mocs were you able to make the trip.”

“I did make the trip without any problems. The first day was cold, windy (really windy), and spitting snow, I think the high was 35, but the other two days were nice and sunny, and very pleasant. This section was a nice easy ridge most of the way with a few nice views. I should have my pics up shortly.”

“Sounds nice, wish I could have made it. Son was home from college that weekend. How did your foot do.”

“The foot did great. No problems whatsoever.

Pics are:

http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/575748125AkRFLo”

“Great pics Mocs. Brings back a lot of memories.”

“I bet you were flying by the time you got that far Wildbill. That was a lot easier than the stuff in GA/NC/TN.”

“Glad you got to do this hike Mocs and that your foot is doing better. Wish I had been able to join you.”

“When I think of Bland, I think about the time I went to the Subway to get a sandwich.

I was standing in line, making sure I was not too close to the guy in front of me, because I KNEW I had some body odor. A few moments later a family of 4 came in behind me and they would not even get with-in 10 feet of me. I still get a chuckle thinking about that.”