Summary
Distance: 15.5 miles
Elevation gain: 3,490 feet
Type: Out and back
Start: Paved lot, state park parking fee. (map)
AllTrails map here
It has been a while since I’ve been able to get up to the mountains for a hike, so I chose something that I’m familiar with to see how I’d do. I also wanted to test a new pair of shoes, a zero drop trail runner from Topo Athletic, called Pursuit. This hike has a few pretty solid climbs, so I thought it would be a good test of my fitness and the shoes. As it turned out, I’m in better shape than I expected, and had a fun, fast hike. The Pursuits performed well. The vibram soles have great traction, and I appreciated the thickness of the soles in comparison to some other zero drop shoes.
The weather forecast called for rain and cool temperatures, and was fairly accurate. The day was foggy and windy with temperatures in the low 50’s. It never really rained, but there was an almost constant drizzle. For me, this was a perfect day to be in the mountains on the AT approach trail.
It was a great late fall day with the fog making for some interesting photos.
Steve's Outdoor Life 