We got an early start, before 8 am, which made me happy. I spent far too many years in the “Start Late” slot due to the kids, but now I can get them going early, since they are teens… it is almost fun to make them wake up at 6 am. It was already 77°F, with no wind, and the smoke from the Canadian forest fires drifting over the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Kirk wanted to take me on the AT, and he decided to start at Keys Gap on Route 9. The trailhead is situated right on the border between West Virginia and Virginia.
Keeping it real here…..
(It is spelled both Keys and Keyes Gap)
The trailhead parking lot is at the top of the ridge if you are coming from WV. It was mostly empty when we got there, full when we left.
Elevation of 906 feet. And I got to use the hike as historical education for the boys – thanks to the fun facts on the trailhead kiosk about the history of the gap, going back to George Washington (which makes sense as his brother Charles is who Charlestown, WV is names after. The family had a lot of land in the Shenandoah Valley.) The gap also has Civil War history, as both sides used it.
The trailhead starts in Virginia and then turns back and forth, crossing into West Virginia. I am trying to get all my AT miles in WV (of which there are not many).
It reminds me a lot of hiking in Washington State, just at a higher elevation. The section starts out smooth and wide, enough that you can say, “This is great tread!” You fool! The AT is never smooth. It’s like the PCT is never “Flat along the ridgeline”.
I saw a lot of Poison Ivy living its best life out here, though not on the trail itself. But enough, I told the boys not to go off the trail. And don’t touch the nope rope going around trees either.
It was cool to show the boys what White Blazes were.
Kirk and Alistaire far ahead.
White Honeysuckle in the woods. So good smelling. Especially since there was zero wind, it meant smelling something besides the not-so-fragrant smell of Canadian trees burning.
Balance boards, right?
More smooth trail…this was too easy.
But I was enjoying it.
I passed a snake sunning and a few toads/frogs running from Alistaire who has the eye for them.
I noted how many trees had Turkey Tail fungi on the bark, and this tree was heavily covered. Even the White Blaze was growing them.
The trail was up and down, never steep.
Eventually, we got to the very rocky sections, and I put my phone away.
We turned around near Sweet Run State Park, which has a trail that connects to the VA park.
It wasn’t a long hike, but it was nice to get outside for a short bit. Even if it was over 80* by 9 am. We got sun, before the first thunderstorm hit in the afternoon over the Shenandoah Valley and the ridge.
But I got my Mountaineer Mile in easily today (and a number more!)
~Sarah