Day 2 - Campsite 28 to the AT and Derrick Knob Shelter

Day 2: Sam's Gap on the Appalachian Trail and then Derrick Knob shelter
Mileage: 6.1 miles
Elevation Gain/Loss: 1,710 feet / 310 feet

We set off for the Greenbrier Ridge Trail with an ascent to the Appalachian Trail, or AT as everyone hiker calls it. 
The trail followed an old railroad graded bed part of the way, last used by the Little River Lumber Company to harvest hardwoods from the slopes.
Tantalising glimpses through the trees as we ascended to the ridge.
Galax grew abundantly. Often 'stolen' from the Parks to be exported illegally for foreign floral displays.
 At last, the 'AT'...












...and Derrick Knob shelter.
One hiker, told us that he'd never seen a bear in is 33 years of hiking.
A useful clothes line for me to dry my tights.
And a great fire for our first chilly night.
We were squeezed in like sardines on a giant bunk bed, supposedly a maximum of 12. 

However, lots of 'through hikers' and 'section hikers' pitched up as the rain began to fall and the temperature dropped.

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