Elk Garden Trail/Appalachian Trail
Our Hike to Nowhere
Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, Virginia

Our segment hike on the AT began at the Elk Garden Trailhead in Mount Rogers NRA, Virginia, when, like idiots, we mistakenly went the wrong way on the trail in an attempt to summit Mount Rogers. Instead of heading towards Mount Rogers—the correct trail was across SR 600 from the parking lot, we followed the portion of the AT that left directly from the parking lot, and we didn’t notice our mistake until we reached a sign 2.5 miles into the hike. It was one of those moments when you could kick your own ass for being so stupid! Oh, and to make it even better, it started raining buckets about ¼ of the way into the hike—leaving us not only humiliated but soaking wet. Despite the fact that we one—went the wrong way, two—were freezing cold and soaking wet, and three—didn’t get to summit the highest point in Virginia, we actually enjoyed the sights along the trail on our hike to nowhere.