Category: Trail Updates

• Thirteenth day 7/19/20

  START: 4am   Kimberling Creek FINISH: 9:15pm  Clendennin Rd. 48.8 miles     17:15     2.8 mph Warm weather 641.4 total miles     49.3 mpd For the most part, this was a smooth, efficient day of biped movement through the mountains. Fortunately, Mercury’s concern about the condition of her stubbed/tripped foot from the evening before was not […]

  Warren Doyle

  July 20, 2020

• Twelfth day S 7/19/20

  START: 4am     VA615 (one-room schoolhouse) FINISH: 10:30pm   Kimberling Creek 49.7 miles     18:30     2.7 mph 590.9 total miles    49.2 mpd average Weather – warm and humid Day started out with wet tall grass and then intestinal distress due to something Mercury ate. After she got that out of her system, the day […]

  Warren Doyle

  July 19, 2020

• Eleventh day F 7/17/20

  START:  Beech Mountain Rd.    4:14am FINISH: VA 615   10:50 pm 53.8 miles   2.9 mph 541.2 total miles   49.2 mpd average After a second night of shower/sleep at the Appalachian Folk School (45 minute drive from trail), Mercury flowed over Whitetop/Mt. Rogers/Grayson Highlands under overcast skies in the morning but then had to contend with […]

  Warren Doyle

  July 18, 2020

• Tenth day – R 7/16/20

  START: Wilbur Dam Rd.     4:14am FINISH: VA 601 (Beech Mt. Rd.)  10:20pm 56 miles   18:06    3.1 mph 487.4 total miles      48.7 mpd The ‘extra’ sleep seemed to help. Mercury ran for the first time in about seven days and walked without a hiking pole. This was her best day since day […]

  Warren Doyle

  July 17, 2020

• Ninth day W 7/15/20

  START:   Rt. 19E    4:05am FINISH: Wilbur Dam Road  6:48pm 37.7 miles       14:43   2.6mph 431.4 total miles     47.9 mpd Right shin is still bothering Mercury forcing her to walk all day. Day is the hottest one yet. Rater than tackle a 16.1 mile section at the end of the day, and then […]

  Warren Doyle

  July 17, 2020

• Eighth day T 7/14/20

  START:   Nolichucky River (Erwin, TN)     4 am FINISH: Rt. 19E  (Roan Mt, TN)   11:53 pm 50.9 miles     19:53        2.6 mph 393.7 total miles   49.2 mpd average Another nice day of weather, especially for the exposed heights of the Roan Highlands. Shin splints (more on the right leg than the left) […]

  Warren Doyle

  July 15, 2020

• First Week of Mercury’s AT Transit – Recap

  #1    T  7/7/20   Dicks Creek Gap       69.2 miles      midnight to 9:14pm  21:14   3.3 mph #2   W 7/8/20  Burningtown Gap     54.8 miles      2:28am to 8:35pm      18:07   3.0 mph #3   R  7/9/20   GSNP boundary        43.1 miles      2:22am to 6:30pm      16:08  […]

  Warren Doyle

  July 14, 2020

• Seventh day – M 7/13/20

  START: Log Cabin Drive   4 am FINISH: Nolichucky River (Erwin, TN)   midnight 53.2 miles       20:00     2.7 mph Total miles in seven days: 342.8        48.9 mpd average After a few hours of sleep, a groggy Mercury sets off in the darkness slapping herself a few times to stay awake. Right […]

  Warren Doyle

  July 14, 2020

• Sixth day – Su 7/12/20

  START: Davenport Gap   GSNP    2:55am FINISH: Log Cabin Drive    11:15pm 52 miles   20:50     2.5 mph Total miles: 289.6     48.3 mpd Better day than yesterday. Shin splints continue to improve slowly; but it still is Mercury’s ‘mind over matter’ every minute/hour/day. Continued good weather helps. Beautiful views atop Snowbird and Max Patch. […]

  Warren Doyle

  July 13, 2020

• Fifth day – 7/11/20

  START: Newfound Gap  GSNP   2:20am FINISH: Davenport Gap  GSNP  5:30pm 30.8 miles*    15:10    2.0 mph Total miles: 237.6 miles   47.5 mpd *does not include the 7 extra miles ‘second guessing’ ( and 2-3 hours lost) while walking back and fourth due to lack of blazing. This unfortunate occurence, along with Mercury’s slower pace […]

  Warren Doyle

  July 13, 2020