Date: 2016-05-25
From: Stealth Camp near Catawba

To: Daleville, NC
Miles today: 21.0

For some reason I had trouble falling asleep, but finally did and slept until 7 am. Usually I'm out like a light when the sun goes down. I packed up, had a quick breakfast, and started down the trail. This would be a big day, McAfee Knob and hopefully all the way to Daleville, 21 miles away. To hedge my bets, I made a hotel reservation in Daleville when I had a cell signal. I got down to VA 311 and found lots of cars in the parking lot and lots of day hikers heading up to McAfee Knob. I didn't realize it before, but McAfee Knob, one of the most photographed places on the AT, was only 3 miles from this parking lot. In my mind seeing it's photographs in the AT magazine, I had always pictured it as being one of those secret treasures accessible only after a five day hike thru the wilderness. In reality, it's an easy 3 mile hike from a busy road up a well worn trail. As I was climbing, scores of day hikers were going up and down the trail, and here again, they were SO clean! As I approached the top there was an unassuming sign to a side trail that just said "Overlook". I decided to see what it was, and lo and behold, there was the iconic McAfee Knob. There was a line of people waiting to get their picture taken on the rock that juts out. In reality there is a whole line of rock outcroppings hundreds of feet long that make up the "overlook", but really only one spot has the Classic "hang your feet over the edge" view. I waited my turn and chatted with three women up for the day. They were interested in the thru hiking experience and I was happy to answer their questions. Finally I got my chance to get some pictures and it was a beautiful day for it. I hung my feet over the edge and asked one of the ladies to get some shots. I felt "accomplished", I was on McAfee Knob. After I got my pics I hustled on, I still had over 15 miles to get to Daleville.The next challenge was Tinker Cliffs, which some people claim was more impressive than McAfee Knob and part of the Virginia Triple Crown - Dragoon Tooth, McAfee Knob, and Tinker Cliffs. The profile map shows it to be a similar climb as going up McAfee Knob. The profile map was deceptive though, after a fairly flat section connecting the Knob to the Cliffs, there was a whole series of climbs and descents along a ridge line to finally get to the Tinker Cliffs. It was so demoralizing to climb several hundred feet up to a ridge and then descend down a hundred feet only so you can climb back up a couple hundred feet, over and over again. Finally, I got to the cliffs and there were impressive views, but my weariness was zapping my enthusiasm. I stopped to have lunch on the cliffs before starting the long 9.6 mile descent to Daleville. The trail down passed through areas that had been closed to camping due to high bear activity, so I kept hoping to see some bears, but no such luck this time. The last five miles into Daleville were along a ridge with some wonderful rock outcroppings to view the valley and town below. On the other side of the ridge was a reservoir and the sun, sinking lower and lower. I was able to get some nice sunset pictures, but was getting concerned about the late hour. I finally got to the end of the ridge and the trail started to take me toward Daleville just as the sun set. I still had 2 more miles to go so I would be descending in the dark. I put on my headlight and hastened down the trail. As always it seems like AT followed the most indirect path possible. I finally emerged from the forest at 9:30 pm onto the highway that forms the majority of Daleville's commercial area and the Howard Johnson's hotel was right adjacent to the trail. I checked in and found scores of other hikers staying there, it was very popular with the AT crowd. As always, the younger hikers we're seeing how many people they could squeeze into one room. I was just happy to be there, it had been a long but memorable day. My day to go over McAfee Knob.