Views along the trail this morning!

4/30/16 12:57pm
It is official, hot off the press, The Appalachian Trail in Shenandoah National Park has now been reopened through the previously closed sections due to the Roc…ky Mtn. Fire. The fire has been 100% contained.
Great work volunteers, even if you didn’t get to shuttle, you pitched in for a great effort. A big shout out to the Ridge Runners who kept close contact, we worked terrific as a team and I couldn’t have pulled this together without their assistance. Just can’t say enough about how important they are to the trail. Thank you Incident Command Post, Firefighters and National Park Rangers.
Shoo.. I am gonna take a hike now. Have a wonderful trek hikers see ya uptrail!
The Appalachian Trail may be open tomorrow in Shenandoah National Park I was just informed by Lauralee Bliss, the Ridge Runner in the park. She took this shot t…oday of a Backcountry Ranger assessing the safety of the Appalachian Trail. Enjoy! Thank you Lauralee Bliss, your hard work keeping hikers safe during the fires is very commendable.
I have met many wonderful people through facebook who are following my journey and supporting my cause of our local Big Brothers/Big Sisters Program.. SO MANY of you have touched my heart in so many different ways. And then there are those who HAVE TOUCHED MY LIFE BEYOND WORDS!!! That happened today with a post by Shelly Stephens. I have said it before many times and I will continue to say it until I reach Mt. Katahdin in Maine, the most enjoyable part of my journey is ha…ving each of you along the trail to share this experience with. I asked Shelly if she minded me sharing her post with you. She was very gracious in allowing me to do so. If you have not already read it earlier today, then prepare to have YOUR HEART TOUCHED!!!
“Steve thank you for sharing these photos. I have lived in this area for six years (Murphy) and I am a quadriplegic so I am unable to hike these beautiful areas. I also used to work with BBBS through Americorps in Andrews and when I was a little girl I had a Big Sister so this organization is very near and dear to my heart. God Bless you for what you are doing and for taking us along on your journey. God’s speed and safe travels for you.”
Shelly Stephens
As I told you earlier Shelly, “THANK YOU FOR TOUCHING NOT ONLY MY HEART, BUT MY LIFE AS WELL!!! GOD BLESS YOU MY FRIEND!!!”
Just so that you will know, THIS is what an enchanted forest looks like along the A.T.. And I DID meet thru hiker “Tin Man” a ways back on the trail.
For those of you who know me very well then you understand when I say that I LOVE seeing groups like this out hiking the trail. These are four section hikers out backpacking about 80 miles of the trail. They are a part of the hiking club in Baltimore. It also gives me the opportunity to share my cause and hear their wonderful stories. WHAT AN ENERGETIC GROUP!!!!
Good morning everyone! I just wanted to give you an update on the Rocky Mountain Fire in Shenandoah National Park. At this time the fire has now been 90% contained. Current weather conditions are favorable with some rain expected, currently the park service is working to clean up the trails and prepare them so that they are safe when they are reopened. Full containment is hoped to be reached by May 3rd. There is no official word right now when the Appalachian Trail is expecte…d to reopen. It is still closed as of now from Rock Hut Gap to Powell Gap. Shuttles will run until trail reopens.
We (myself and a volunteer group I put together) are still shuttling hikers around the fires, 53 as of yesterday with 8/9 at the Pavillion this a.m.. Shuttles run from Waynesboro Pavillion/ the free hiker camp area to Swift Run Gap and back for South bounders. If you have any questions feel free to call the Incident Command Post or message me in regards to the shuttle thank you.
Below are some pictures (not mine) that I am sharing from the Shenandoah National Park Service website. A big thank you goes out to all of those involved in fighting the fires, the National Park Service as well as the Ridge Runners for keeping everyone safe.
My second morning since I started my journey that I got coffee while still in my sleeping bag. Warren, a gentlemen from Richmond VA. who is out camping for a few days made me a cup of coffee this morning before I even got out of my bag! Now this is REAL TRAIL MAGIC!!!