Thursday (8/25/2022): Headed out around 8AM to go to the SNP South District to meet Bruce and Mike at the Turk Mt trailhead around noon. Very warm day, but the hike was fun. After the hike, Bruce and I drove to Cliff’s House near Elkton (Mike was avoiding indoor venues since his Mont Blanc trip was only a week away, and he didn’t want to risk COVID). We set up the cabin, showered, and went to dinner at the Old 33 Beef & Burger Grill. Pete rolled in around 11PM. We discussed the plan for Friday’s hike, and decided to change from the Big Run hike to the Trayfoot Mountain Trail – Paine Run loop (to avoid wet boots on Saturday).
Friday (8/26/2022): Pete, Bruce, and I had breakfast at the C&S Diner, then drove to the Blackrock parking area. We hiked the AT up and over Blackrock (barely avoiding a copperhead sunning himself in the middle of the AT), then took the Trayfoot Mountain Trail spur to the Trayfoot Mountain Trail. We hiked that trail to its junction with the Paine Run Trail, and took that trail back to parking area. After the hike we drove back to Cliff’s House (stopping by the Elkton 7-11, where we saw a voluptuous dancing girl). After showers we headed to the El Paso Mexican Grille, then back to the cabin for a few hours of poker.
Saturday (8/27/2022): We got breakfast at McDonald’s, and ate on the way to meet Mike at the Wildcat Ridge Trail parking area. We shuttled back to the Riprap Trail parking area and then did the Riprap-Wildcat Ridge hike. After the hike we went to the Loft Mountain Wayside to get blackberry milkshakes, then Bruce, Pete, and I headed back to Cliff’s House. After showers we went to Ciro’s Italian Eatery. More poker after dinner.
Sunday (8/28/2022): Up early, cleaned up the cabin, and headed out around 8AM. On the way home I did a little exploring in the Beldor/Sandy Bottom area, and met a likely distant cousin, Doug Baugher. Doug showed me a few small cemeteries where Baughers were buried. I also stopped by the Stanardsville cemetery to visit mom and dad’s graves. Got home around 11:30AM.