AT Thru-Hiker Festival In Damascus

Well, as readers of this blog know I am a fan of all things AT, so Saturday Deb and I ventured to Damascus for the 30th edition of Appalachian Trail Days.

Damascus: Trail Town USA.

I have been to AT festivals before. The first was the AT Kick-Off (ATKO) at Amicalola Falls State Park and the second was Dahlonega Trail Fest, both in Georgia. Even at these I had heard about the the trail bash in Damascus. What was said is Appalachian Trail Days is the granddaddy of all AT festivals and one of the highlights of the thru-hiking season. So, moving back to Tennessee gave us a great opportunity to attend one of the largest (if not largest) AT festivals because it is only an hour and half drive to Damascus from Rogersville. I will say I wasn't disappointed as it was obviously a much larger event that the ATKO or Dahlonega Trail Days, but it still had the quaintness of these two events.

The Owl Show at the ATKO.

Dahlonega Trail Fest.

When we got there we decided to start the day with a hike. Unlike the ones we did at the AT Kick-off this was a guided hike by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC). The hike was led by Kathryn, Kelly and Crumbsnatch, Who you ask is Crumbsnatcher? He is the AT Shelter-mouse and the mascot of the ATC. I will say that he and Pete had an unease understanding. The hike was about two miles out-and-back south on the AT from Damascus. Because of the threat of rain, the hike ended a little early, so continued on two more miles (one-way). We decided to head back for one we didn't plan for a six mile hike and two we wanted to enjoy Trail Fest.

Kathryn & Kelly get ready to lead the hike.

Kathryn points to to the famous white blaze...

...of.

One of the black trail signs.

Here are photos...

...from the hike.

Deb & the white blaze.

Headed back.

Trail sign.

Pete & Crumbsnatcher

One of the big differences from Trail Days and other AT festivals was the number of vendors at the event. From gear manufactures, to people selling ready to eat meals, to all kinds of crafts there were a lot of booths and they were set up right on the AT. There was also live music at the Gazebo.

The vedors at the ATKO...

...& Damascus (that path is the AT).

ATC booth (I joined today).

American Chesnut Assocation booth....

...AWOL AT Guide booth...

Katahdin model at Katahdin S.P. both.

TrailSigns booth.

Church Hill Music Company at the Gazebo.

That allows me to speak a little about Damascus. The town is like a bigger Hot Springs as the AT goes right through town just like in the North Carolina. Also there are AT logos in the sidewalk, just like in Hot Springs. However Damascus also has the Virginia Creeper Trail heading through town.

Hot Springs...

...& the AT logo on the sidewalk.

Damascus...

...& its AT logo as the path goes through town.

AT sign at the post office.

Mileage sign.

AN AT U.S. Geological Marker (a first)!

Old railroad bridge now part of the Virginia Creeper Trail.

More of the Creeper.

The town mural.

Another mural at Mt. Rogers Outfitter.

If you go to Trail Days the one thing you have to catch is the famous Hiker Parade. It is like any parade except it has hikers and water guns. The point of the water guns is to wash the "dirty hiker trash." Now both hikers and parade attendees engage in a water gun fight.

Mt. Rogers AT Club & the ATC.

Backpacker guy.

Pictures from the Hiker Parade.

He hit me in the chest.

Besides thru-hikers past and present, trail legend Gene Epsy was honored Saturday with a day in his honor. He was the second person to thru-hike the AT back in 1951. I spoke about my first meeting, with Gene, in Dahlonega, back in 2014, and I got to see him speak again last year at AT Trail Fest. So, it was great to see him honored he is a true legend of the AT.

Wood Booger with Gene in 2014....

...two years later he was honored at Trail Days.

At his table...

...in the Hiker Parade.

Deb and I thoroughly enjoyed our first visit to Trail Days and I will have to say it won't be our last.