Trail Log: Day Three - Saunders Shelter to Damascus
The birds were up early today, singing their morning songs, so I found myself out of my tent with coffee in hand before the sun even started to peek out from behind the mountains. Being the first one awake, I was thankful for the bear box provided at the campsite. It meant I didn’t have to hike 500 feet to retrieve our food bags from the trees like I had done the previous morning. Instead, I just grabbed them from the locked metal bin. I had some Malt-O-Meal for breakfast and settled in to wait for the others to wake up so we could get our day started.
After the usual camp routine—packing up gear and checking everything off our lists—we finally hit the trail around 9:30 a.m. Our destination? Damascus. We took extra water this time, knowing that the water sources between Saunders Shelter and Damascus were unreliable or, in some cases, dry. Extra water meant extra weight, but we weren’t taking any chances.
Leaving the spur trail from the shelter and heading back onto the AT, we started a steep descent down switchbacks that lasted for several miles. I was SO relieved we were heading downhill and not up! After what felt like forever, we finally found a good water source at a campsite near Feathercamp Branch. Good thing we had loaded up on water earlier!
We stopped for a snack where the AT crosses the Virginia Creeper Trailhead and Highway 58. I had a Kind bar, some Goldfish, and made sure to take some electrolytes before we started the final push to Damascus.
As we got closer to Damascus, I couldn’t help but reflect on what we’d accomplished over the past two and a half days. Thirty miles! I’d just completed my first-ever overnight backpacking trip of more than one night. The Appalachian Trail had been calling me for so long, but I’d stayed away—too busy with work and other commitments. Not anymore.
I started to feel bittersweet as we neared the end of our section hike. We only had a few miles left, and I wasn’t ready to leave the trail just yet. Hiking 9.5 miles in four hours would leave us with half a day to spare once we reached Damascus. My legs were grateful for the rest, but my heart… my heart wanted to keep going. There was still so much more trail ahead, winding through the quiet woods and small towns toward the Tennessee state line.
I’m already thinking about my next section hike. Do I continue where I left off, or do I choose a Georgia section for a few days to be closer to home in case work calls? Either way, I love how close I am to the Appalachian Trail. It’s a trail I’ve truly fallen in love with, and I’m hopeful I won’t have to wait long before I’m back out there again. The white blazes will be waiting for me.
By 1:30 p.m., we entered the small trail town of Damascus, completing our 30-mile stretch. I couldn’t believe it—I actually hiked 30 miles of the Appalachian Trail! Every mile was worth it, from the steep inclines to the unexpected rainstorm and the infamous hiker hunger. I enjoyed it all—the physical challenge and the sense of accomplishment. But at the same time, it was bittersweet. The end of one journey always signals the beginning of the next.
We dropped our gear at the car and headed into Sun Dog Outfitters, where I finally bought the AT sticker I felt I truly deserved. Afterward, Anna, an outfitter employee, recommended a place called Mamma Mia’s Pizza, so we drove 20 minutes to the next town over for some “real” food—not JetBoil fare, but delicious wood-fired pizza loaded with meats and extra cheese. The moment we walked in, I could almost taste it.
After days of trail food, I didn’t think I’d be able to eat much. But between the three of us, we devoured two large pizzas and a cheese bread the size of a medium pizza. It was, without a doubt, the best pizza I’ve ever had. The perfect end to an unforgettable hike.
Stuffed with carbs and cheese, we made our way to Bear Tree Campground, where we’d stayed on the first night before getting shuttled to Massie Gap. We found a good spot, set up tents for my mom and Aaron, while I opted to sleep in my hammock for the night.
After a long-overdue shower, we cracked open some cold beers and settled in for a game of Uno around the campfire. We used headlamps to see, and a cheap Styrofoam cooler served as our table. Uno didn’t last long—exhaustion set in quickly—but it was the perfect way to wind down after a long day.
We called it a night, and sleep came easily for all of us. So far, this has been the best trip I’ve ever had.
Daily AT miles: 9.5
Total AT miles: 30.3
Gear I Packed (live links):
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