Reginald Spittle's Blog: See my book blog, page 18

A Peek at Life on the Appalachian Trail

Our six miles on the Appalachian Trail during our tour of Virginia stirred affection and respect for one of the world’s great long-distance paths. In Shenandoah National Park, we entered the AT at the Thornton Gap trailhead parking lot. The trail led us over a mostly rocky surface with more than 1,700 feet of climbing. … Continue reading A Peek at Life on the Appalachian Trail →

Tackling the Appalachian Trail (sort of)

While in the eastern U.S., Sue and I just had to walk the Appalachian Trail. Not all 2,135 miles of it and not even the 544 miles of the AT that runs through Virginia. The Massie Gap Trail in Grayson Highlands State Park took us up to the AT, where we witnessed some of the … Continue reading Tackling the Appalachian Trail (sort of) →

Hike or Ride Virginia’s New River Trail

If 57 miles of smooth, hard-pack trail along a beautiful river valley are your thing, then grab your bike or hiking shoes and head for southwest Virginia. The New River State Park, which snakes from Fries to Pulaski with a side trail to Galax, is built on a railroad line that once served a thriving … Continue reading Hike or Ride Virginia’s New River Trail →

Mammoth Cave: A National Park Gem

National parks and monuments are not to be missed and some are backpackers’ dream destinations, so we veered north from Nashville to explore Kentucky’s Mammoth Cave National Park. What did we find? Enough to fill three days. The ranger-led Gothic Tour took us below to walk two miles of the 365 miles of cave, more … Continue reading Mammoth Cave: A National Park Gem →

Together We Will Go, But Where?

Mark Antonelli, a struggling writer, concocts a plan that begins when he buys an old tour bus. His idea needs riders, so he advertises for special people to join him for a cross-country trip to San Francisco. The dozen passengers he picks up for the journey agree to ride until the bitter end, when he … Continue reading Together We Will Go, But Where? →

National Trails: Where Am I?

Sue’s camera caught me on two American national trails during the past week. In the top photo, the trail follows, for a spell, an historic American highway. Wanna take a guess? The highway is Route 66; in Grants, New Mexico, the 3,200-mile Continental Divide Trail is the side of the famous road. For the photo, … Continue reading National Trails: Where Am I? →

The Bell Trail: Avoid the Sedona Crowds

The red-rock trails of the Sedona, Arizona area are spectacular, but you need to secure parking at trailhead lots early, even before 8 a.m. in some cases. Thanks to a tip from a Montana couple we met on a hike, we explored a red-rock canyon near Camp Verde, without the crowds. The Bell Trail is … Continue reading The Bell Trail: Avoid the Sedona Crowds →

Monkeys on the Road: 30,000 Miles, Countless Tests

Mary Hollendoner quit climbing the corporate ladder at Google in search of adventure and a simpler life. Along with her husband John and six-year-old daughter Lilly, adventure was around every corner of a three-and-a-half-year van journey of 30,000 miles zig-zagging through Central and South America. The simpler life often eluded her. In Monkeys on the … Continue reading Monkeys on the Road: 30,000 Miles, Countless Tests →

Spotting Mount Whitney from Below

The USA’s tallest point rises slightly right of center, set back from peaks that look taller from below. My wife Sue snapped this view of Mount Whitney on March 11 from our site in the rustic Portuguese Joe Campground, just off the Whitney Portal Road west of Lone Pine, California. I had a lump in … Continue reading Spotting Mount Whitney from Below →

Mount Whitney to Death Valley

In August 2021, I stood atop California’s Mount Whitney at 14,505 feet, the highest point in the continental USA, as part of my 243-mile trek on the John Muir Trail. Seven months later, I stood at the USA’s lowest point, 282 feet below sea level, at Death Valley, as part of my cross-country RV adventure. … Continue reading Mount Whitney to Death Valley →