I'm starting on my fifth section hike in Virginia, a three-day trek. This morning, I drove an hour and a half from my home in Maryland to the trailhead. Initially, I planned to park at the Snickers Gap AT parking lot, but upon seeing its location alongside a busy road and not feeling safe leaving my vehicle there for two nights, I opted to drive to Bear's Den Hostel and park there.

Of course, I don't want to miss a single mile or blaze of the trail. After parking my vehicle at Bear's Den Hostel, I hiked to Snickers Gap and back to my vehicle, a 0.6-mile one-way trip, without carrying my backpack.

I stopped at Bear's Den Hostel to fill up my water bottle. The hostel is located 0.1 mile east of the trail and is owned by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. It operates as both a hostel and an education center. I engaged in a friendly discussion with the caretaker and a few thru-hikers who were taking a zero day on this hot day.

After retrieving my fully loaded backpack, I began hiking southbound on the trail.

Right near Bear's Den Hostel are some fine views to the north, overlooking the valley from a set of tall cliffs. I stopped for a lunch break and asked a fellow hiker to take a picture of me.

Finally, I reached the south end of the Roller Coaster section, a 14-mile stretch of steep climbs and descents with very few views. This has been the most difficult section I have hiked so far in my 90-mile journey on the AT.

I never thought I would reach the shelter today; this Roller Coaster section really challenged me. Upon arriving at the shelter, I discovered a flat platform nearby and promptly pitched my tent. After dinner, as soon as I lay down on my sleeping pad, I drifted off to sleep, utterly exhausted.