Blue Ridge Country editor-in-chief Kurt Rheinheimer and his wife Gail woke up on Valentine's Day in 2004 looking to do something a little different in recognition of the occasion.
Since then, Kurt and Gail have hiked at least once every weekend for almost five years. Of those 250 weekends, they have missed 13, virtually all due to occasional balkiness from Kurt's old-man knees or achilles. For the first two years (Valentine's Day 2004 through Valentine's Day 2006) they didn't miss a single week. They completed the 546 miles of the Appalachian Trail in Virginia in the summer of 2008, and have walked more than 2,300 miles total, mostly in Virginia but including hikes in West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Florida and Oregon.
Whereas, the best place to walk is in the woods.
Whereas, Roanoke is surrounded by a bounty of woods and mountains.
Whereas, for scores and scores of weeks in succession over the second half of the past decade and now into a new one we have retreated to said woods.
Appalachian Trail from U.S. 220 at Daleville to Carvins Cove overlook point and back. 6 miles.
With a son visiting from Pennsylvania and wanting a relatively short hike he hadn't done before, we headed to a convenient favorite for an AT tromp through ...
Another cold day, but predicted to be not as cold as the ensuing two, which as of this writing on January 11 has turned out to be the ensuing 10 at least – some of the coldest weather in Roanoke in a decade. With big ol' wind. And the snow from Decem...
From home in Southwest Roanoke to the Roanoke City Market area and back. About 6 miles.
On the morning after Roanoke's record-breaking 17.8-inch snowfall, we set out on a trek that involved no driving to get to the walk; just out the door and onto the s...
Sharp Top/Harkening Hill/Johnson Farm at the Peaks of Otter at milepost 86 of the Blue Ridge Parkway. 7 miles.
What a concept: Hike not just to the midpoint for lunch as always, but – for the first time ever in our nearly six years – an indoor lunch! On...
Appalachian Trail from Va. 614 north to Bryant Ridge Shelter and back. 6.4 miles.
On the cold day after snowfall ranging from an inch or so to six inches, we made big plans to be sure we'd have a good fire at Bryant Ridge Shelter . We checked for good m...
Appalachian Trail from U.S. 220 south to Hay Rock and back. 8 miles.
There are many signature rock formations along the 550 miles of Appalachian Trail in Virginia, some of them relatively close to roadways, and thus with easy access to many. The sands...
