Just got back from my longest solo hike yet and wanted to share a write up. The goal was to use my lightweight gear/techniques and knock out a 28 mile loop of Trout Run Valley in one night. Interestingly, it took me 28 hours to do 28 miles, so there's that haha. New PR for me distance wise.
I did a slight twist on the trip as described on MidAtlanticHikes.com, parking at Trout Pond Recreation Area in West Virginia. The idea was that by coming at it from this corner I could hike counterclockwise halfway and camp at the intersection of Tuscarora Trail and Pond Run Trail with guaranteed water. Because I got out there late though I went clockwise instead with the first day being my short day, and I ended up camping at the spring below the PATC'S Sugar Knob Cabin. The next morning I walked back up Little Stony Mt Trail and the Tuscarora Trail to connect back to Middle Mountain Trail, hiked down to Big Schloss, over to Tibbet Knob and completed the loop using 691 and Long Mt Trail. You can connect back to Trout Pond using their Purple and then Orange-blazed Trails.
All in all this was a pleasant trip. I knew it would be hot, but the coolness of the evening helped to balance that. Every spring and creek was flowing well. If you go anytime in early June, it's probably safe to assume abundant water. From the time I left Trout Pond until I got to Big Schloss (about 24 hours) I didn't see another person – helps to do trips in the middle of the week! I only got turned around once…as I headed in from the loop and connected to the Trout Pond trails I turned off the Purple too soon, missing the Orange and catching a short White/Blue tape-blazed trail that dumped me back on to the Long Mt Trail. I realized my mistake when I hit the campsite below Ben's Ridge – luckily only slowed me down by a few minutes. For what it's worth, I was focused on hitting my goal and getting home by a certain time so I skipped a few overlooks. If I was doing this slower, or with other people, I may have hit every single one. I found 3 sections to be quite boring – the Long Mt Trail, the Middle Mountain Trail above Big Schloss and 691. Long Mt Trail was at least shaded, the other two were pretty hot and Middle Mountain Trail was lined with awful thistles.
My chief goal in doing this trip was to see if I could do the loop over one night, and accomplishing that felt really good. 28 miles, 28 hours. I HIGHLY recommend this loop if you're in the Mid-Atlantic, it's one of the few areas within 2 hours of DC that allows you to hike a loop and feel a bit removed from civilization. Also, of course, Big Schloss and Tibbet Knob are two of my favorite overlooks in the GWNF.
Regarding gear…I used an REI Flash 45 which continues to work well for me. It's not perfect, but it was cheap enough that I'm using it to figure out exactly what I like and don't like in a pack, and I'll use that info when I upgrade. I also got to use my Neoair Xlite for the first time on a hike, and it was amazing. Same goes for my Exped Air Pillow. Shelter was a YMG Net Tent 1 under a MLD Silnylon Grace Tarp (first for both of those as well) and I was very pleased. My sleeping bag was a fleece blanket. Soon I'll get around to sewing a true 45-degree quilt but this worked fine.
