Photo atop Mt. Pleasant looking southwest toward the Peaks of Otter by Ken Knott.
Blue Ridge Country editor-in-chief Kurt Rheinheimer and his wife Gail woke up on Valentine's Day in 2004 looking to do something a little different in recognition of the occasion.
Since then, Kurt and Gail have hiked at least once every weekend for more than six years. Of those 300-plus weekends, they have missed 14, virtually all due to occasional balkiness from Kurt's old-man knees or achilles. For the first two years (Valentine's Day 2004 through Valentine's Day 2006) they didn't miss a single week. They completed the 546 miles of the Appalachian Trail in Virginia in the summer of 2008, and have walked more than 3,000 miles total, mostly in Virginia but including hikes in West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Florida, Oregon and ... New Zealand!
Sharp Top/Harkening Hill/Johnson Farm at the Peaks of Otter at milepost 86 of the Blue Ridge Parkway. 7 miles.
What a concept: Hike not just to the midpoint for lunch as always, but – for the first time ever in our nearly six years – an indoor lunch! On a cold day! In spot nearly as pretty as a mountaintop!
Appalachian Trail from Va. 614 north to Bryant Ridge Shelter and back. 6.4 miles.
On the cold day after snowfall ranging from an inch or so to six inches, we made big plans to be sure we'd have a good fire at Bryant Ridge Shelter . We checked for good m...
Appalachian Trail from U.S. 220 south to Hay Rock and back. 8 miles.
There are many signature rock formations along the 550 miles of Appalachian Trail in Virginia, some of them relatively close to roadways, and thus with easy access to many. The sands...
Several trails in the Wye Island Natural Resources Management Area in Queen Anne's County, Maryland. About 5 miles.
As a part of a long-weekend getaway to the eastern shore of Maryland and the town of Easton (with the trip built around a wonderful Frida...
Appalachian Trail from James River north to Fullers Rocks and back. 7.4 miles.
You could do a whole lot of hikes and then try to pick a top 10, say, but it would be silly, because they're all great. (Well, that one hot August day down near Pearisburg ...
Andy Layne Trail to Appalachian Trail at Scorched Earth Gap; AT to just north of Lamberts Meadow Shelter; blue-blazed connector trail to AT along Tinker Mountain; AT across Tinker Cliffs back to Andy Layne and down. 10.7 miles.
A new twist for us on a p...
Appalachian Trail, U.S. 220 to Carvins Cove viewpoint and back. 6 miles
The lure of fall seems to be made of three primary ingredients: cool, crisp air, good visibility and the presence of fall foliage. This little walk, which we've undertaken many time...
