You don’t expect graffiti anywhere on the Appalachian Trail, except for the seemingly inevitable (though no less regrettable) carving of initials into the wood in, of and around shelters. The lone exception that I can recall in walking all of the Virginia AT is at Hay Rock, four miles south of Daleville, where the underbelly of the formation has long been full of dark paint.
But on this, our umpteenth time to “Hey” Rock–about 1.2 miles short of Hay and where the trail goes out onto a set of boulders to look down on Carvins Cove–we got to read a foot-tall-letters prom invitation, in blue and green spray paint. Easy enough to ignore, yes, given the view, the breeze, the company and the lunch, but disconcerting nonetheless, as the “Leave no Trace” ethic of the trail becomes perhaps less known and to fewer people.
Maybe there’s a need for a new catch phase that would somehow include graffiti, though it escapes me.
Hike: May 5, 2014, Appalachian Trail from Daleville to Carvins Cove viewpoint and back. 5.6 miles.
How to get there: Exit 150 of I-81.
