Camping at Laurel Fork (Day 38)

I had intended to hike only 16 miles today and camp just before Laurel Fork Falls. But today seemed like a windy hiking day and my feet felt pretty good. I’ve still been struggling with irritation in my right Achilles tendon, but it usually goes away once I warm up for the day.

Dennis Cove Trailhead

I arrived at the Dennis Cove Trailhead in the late afternoon. A group called Riff Raff was organizing magic trails. They are doing this at several locations leading up to Trail Days in Damascus, VA. They set up under tents with coolers full of snacks, soda, and beer, and even cooked fresh quesadillas for all the hikers. I couldn’t eat a single one, of course, and decided to have a soda before moving on. I wanted to see Laurel Falls tonight. Riff Raff also has a bit of a party reputation (not that there’s anything wrong with that), but it’s not exactly the AT experience I’m personally looking for.

Laurel Fork Falls

After just another mile of hiking, a small group of us arrived at Laurel Fork Falls. The waterfall was impressive and I immediately thought that this was a place I would like to visit again one day. The falls spilled into a pool of water below, which would have been nice to swim in if it had been warmer. We stayed by the water for a while and then continued. The next mile meandered along the rocky bank of the creek. It was a really fun section of trail, and I even saw a milk snake (the first one I’d encountered in the wild).

Campfires

There were numerous campsites along this stretch and we decided to stop at one along the water. It was a beautiful place. Before setting up camp, I sat with my feet in the water. It was very cold, but I wanted to freeze my Achilles tendon a little. Another hiker made a fire tonight as the burn ban was finally lifted. I’ve never cared much for fires, but it was nice to sit by one while eating dinner. Today might have been one of the best on the AT so far.

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