Looking at Pearisburg from Angel’s Rest

May 27, 2026

It’s another soggy morning on the AT. I run back to my truck, making stops at Sugar Run Mountain, Doc’s Knob Shelter, and Angel’s Rest along the way.

saturated morning

RThis was the only thing I could do to try to improve the bad condition of my feet. I knew they could go on hikes today, but I still wasn’t happy with the prospect of tearing them apart more. I stayed in bed until 8:00 a.m. That was the longest rest I could give them before I knew that returning to the truck was best for them. It rained heavily during the night but by morning it had stopped. My store had performed better today. The interior was less wet than yesterday, probably because it was at a higher altitude and away from water sources. My socks seemed almost dry, but my shoes were still wet inside. The laces leaked water while I tied them. Wet leaves hung from the outside of the tent as a reminder of the previous night’s rains. I packed my things and set off.

sugar mountain

I set up a tent near the Sugar Run Mountain trail and couldn’t help but turn the tenth of a mile into my hike to check out the view. As promised, it was spectacular. I could see the clouds hanging over the Walker Valley and hear the sounds of the people below beginning their days.

View from Sugar Run Mountain.

View from Sugar Run Mountain.

Diver drink

I met up with Diver at Doc’s Knob Shelter. I was backpacking today and had packed a Mountain Dew from the hostel. He said he always carries a soft drink on the road. He is thriving here on the trail and knows that a boost can make or break a day on the trail. He was modest about his knowledge of the equipment and acknowledged that he has some gaps in his walking skills. I loved the process of selecting my equipment and gathering all the information I could. But he was the one who taught me things along the way. I learned from him that in trekking pole handles, cork is superior to foam when wet. The cork will still have good grip, while the foam can become slippery. Not ideal for something you hold in your hand all day. My foam handles didn’t make my hands slippery, but I also noticed that the grip wasn’t as strong when wet.

Getting closer

The rain was letting up and I met up with Diver at a few more points along the trail. At one overlook, a hiker named Blarney attracted butterflies. They seemed to love his red shirt but also noticed his hat.

A rabbit ran across the path before stopping just a few meters from the path. In my friendliest voice, I assured him I just wanted a photo. Surprisingly, he obeyed.

As I shortened the distance back to Pearisburg, the wind picked up from time to time and a few drops of rain fell. I took a photo at an overlook and returned to the trail just as the sun began to fall. I had to put on my wet poncho only to take it off a few minutes later.

At Angel’s Rest I got the view of Pearisburg I wanted. I could almost see where I had parked, but it was 3 miles of trail and a steep descent.

View from the trail back to Pearisburg.

View from the trail back to Pearisburg.

Something about this view of the trail with a carpet of fallen rhododendron flowers looked photo-worthy.

The trail often provides a view as it crosses a power line gap.

A butterfly cools off on Blarney’s hat.

A clear view of Walker Valley from the trail.

A curious rabbit poses next to the path.

The railroad yard and site of Celanese Corporation, a chemical manufacturer, as seen from Angel’s Rest.

View of Pearisburg and the New River from Angel’s Rest.

View of Pearisburg and the New River from Angel’s Rest.

View of Pearisburg and the New River from Angel’s Rest.

Mudslide

The descent was not easy at all. It was the trail section that prompted me to write about Monday’s muddy conditions. Today was no better, only my momentum would be working against me. My feet weren’t exactly at their best. My trail runners had little grip and there were signs everywhere that other hikers had slid their way down the trail. The diver, two other hikers and I were making the descent at the same time. Incredibly none of us fell. I had a rock slide that I quickly caught with my trekking poles. Moments later, the diver had a slide of his own that he also captured. In a strange way, I was proud that I had made it down the path without slipping even though everything was against me.

Toe treatment

Back in my truck I grabbed two pillowcases of cat litter from my trunk. While walking the day before, I had the idea that they might be good for drying and deodorizing my wet gear, particularly my shoes and socks. It could be wishful thinking, especially since they had failed to dehumidify my truck, which is why I had them in the first place. It wouldn’t hurt, so I figured why not try it.

After a shower with baby wipes and changing into city clothes, it was time to take care of my feet. I had decided to apply a generous layer of antiseptic triple cream to my toes. Then I wrapped them in a baby wipe and put the socks on. I hoped this would give the ointment time to work. Surprisingly it didn’t feel too strange. My next stop was the grocery store to buy some cinnamon rolls. Those were the reasons I walked almost 30 miles the day before.

writing in the rain

Once I indulged in my cinnamon frozen treats, I got to work writing my blog posts for the previous 3 days. All the rain meant I hadn’t been able to do much in the way of blogging, and now I had a few hours to catch up. I pulled out my laptop and was able to connect to the store’s WiFi. For the first time, I was a little ahead in terms of publishing posts.

This season was another mixed one. I survived and managed to complete my itinerary earlier than planned. My new approach to packing my tent seemed to be working. Although I found that my poncho gets wet inside with a lot of humidity, which isn’t ideal for me or my gear. My shoes are as problematic as ever. I have a pair of dry wool socks left. The weather looks good for my upcoming 4-day stint, but I plan to check on my feet in the morning to make sure they’re ready for a quartet of 20+ mile backpacking days.

-See you tomorrow

Total: 14.4 miles, 32,924 steps

• Hike type: Backpacking
• Camp: Minivan

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