Bad DNA, AT Thruhiker 1994

BadDNA's Appalachian Trail thru hike as a photo essay. This is Paul Vail's 1994 Appalachian Trail thru-hike. I hiked the A.T. as a northbounder, known by my trail name as Bad DNA. Yes, I was the guy with the Virginia License tag on the back of my pack, a nickname I had earned at Virginia Tech back in 1985. I started the thruhike at Springer Mountain, Georgia in April, and climbed Katahdin in October, '94. In the meantime, 'DNA had the good fortune to cross paths with dozens of other 94 thru hikers and other trail folk. Long distance thru hiking is not just in my blood, but my DNA. Dry socks and cool breezes, everyone.

Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8

My Mist-covered Mountains
My Mist-covered Mountains 		Grayson Highlands
Grayson Highlands 		Grayson Highlands ponies
Grayson Highlands ponies 		A pony pony
A pony pony 		Walking with Spring
Walking with Spring 		Creek crossing, May 19
Creek crossing, May 19
Why I love SW Virginia
Why I love SW Virginia 		Couples on trail
Couples on trail 		Dairy Queen, Atkins, VA
Dairy Queen, Atkins, VA 		They call me the Breeze
They call me the Breeze 		Storm damage
Storm damage 		Hugo leftovers, May 20
Hugo leftovers, May 20
SW Va, May 20
SW Va, May 20 		Hiking up the Chestnut Knob
Hiking up the Chestnut Knob 		Looking back toward the Highlands
Looking back toward the Highlands 		Feed Me
Feed Me 		Descent to Little Wolfs Creek
Descent to Little Wolfs Creek 		Little Wolf Creek fire
Little Wolf Creek fire
After the Fire
After the Fire 		Trail Magic from the local firefighters
Trail Magic from the local firefighters 		Moonrise along Va 608
Moonrise along Va 608 		He wasn't alone...
He wasn't alone... 		CowWalker, May 24
CowWalker, May 24 		Kimberling Creek
Kimberling Creek
Bridge over Kimberling Creek
Bridge over Kimberling Creek 		Dismal Creek Falls Trail
Dismal Creek Falls Trail 		Creek crossing on way to Woods Hole
Creek crossing on way to Woods Hole 		Woods Hole, May 25
Woods Hole, May 25 		Woods Hole
Woods Hole 		Angels Rest above Pearisburg, VA
Angels Rest above Pearisburg, VA
McAfee Knob, May 30
McAfee Knob, May 30 		View NW from McAfee
View NW from McAfee 		McAfee Knob
McAfee Knob 		McAfee, looking NW
McAfee, looking NW 		SW from McAfee
SW from McAfee 		Cades Cove, June 2
Cades Cove, June 2
Howard Johnsons foot spa
Howard Johnsons foot spa 		Cloverdale HoJos
Cloverdale HoJos 		Rhododendron near Fullhardt Knob Shelter
Rhododendron near Fullhardt Knob Shelter 		Bad DNA & Sweet Magnolia
Bad DNA & Sweet Magnolia 		Peaks of Otter Overlook, BRP
Peaks of Otter Overlook, BRP 		View from the BRP
View from the BRP
Apple Orchard Mountain
Apple Orchard Mountain 		The Guillotine
The Guillotine 		The Guillotine from N
The Guillotine from N 		Punchbowl Shelter
Punchbowl Shelter 		Spiderwort after Thunderstorm
Spiderwort after Thunderstorm 		Gypsy Moth Larva canopy damage
Gypsy Moth Larva canopy damage
Columbine, June 8
Columbine, June 8 		Tye River Suspension Bridge
Tye River Suspension Bridge 		A.T. Map, NoVA, WV, MD, PA
A.T. Map, NoVA, WV, MD, PA 		Wrong Way, Please Turn Back
Wrong Way, Please Turn Back 		Heading toward Doyles River Cabin - Southbound Deer
Heading toward Doyles River Cabin - Southbound Deer 		Pinefield Hut, June 15
Pinefield Hut, June 15
Deer at Bearfence Mtn Hut
Deer at Bearfence Mtn Hut 		Hazel Top, June 17
Hazel Top, June 17 		Big Meadows Wayside
Big Meadows Wayside 		Rock Spring Hut
Rock Spring Hut 		Skyland for Breakfast, June 18
Skyland for Breakfast, June 18 		Sweat
Sweat
Another 'view' in the SNP
Another 'view' in the SNP 		Panorama, SNP
Panorama, SNP 		Big John Lunching at Panorama
Big John Lunching at Panorama 		Stiff Socks, June 18
Stiff Socks, June 18 		Doe at Elkwallow
Doe at Elkwallow 		Swallowtail on pack
Swallowtail on pack
A plague of bambies
A plague of bambies 		Leaving the Shennies, June 19
Leaving the Shennies, June 19 		Tom Floyd Wayside
Tom Floyd Wayside 		Jim and Molly Denton Shelter
Jim and Molly Denton Shelter 		Solar Shower
Solar Shower 		June 22, N of Linden, VA
June 22, N of Linden, VA
Near Sky Meadows Park trail
Near Sky Meadows Park trail 		Mt. Weather
Mt. Weather 		Toonman, Bears Den
Toonman, Bears Den 		Bears Den, June 24
Bears Den, June 24 		Looking at Rt 7 from Bears Den
Looking at Rt 7 from Bears Den 		Toonman, Smithsonian
Toonman, Smithsonian
DNA, Capital from the Mall
DNA, Capital from the Mall 		Dad at the helm in Callao
Dad at the helm in Callao 		Reggae Party on the Mall
Reggae Party on the Mall 		Reggae Party on the Mall
Reggae Party on the Mall 		Lincoln Memorial from the Mall
Lincoln Memorial from the Mall 		White House, June 26
White House, June 26
Blackburn A.T. Center
Blackburn A.T. Center 		Indiana Jean waters up at Blackburn
Indiana Jean waters up at Blackburn 		The fifth state, WV
The fifth state, WV 		Entering Harpers Ferry
Entering Harpers Ferry 		Shenandoah River, Rt 340 Bridge
Shenandoah River, Rt 340 Bridge 		A.T.C. Headquarters, Harpers Ferry, WV
A.T.C. Headquarters, Harpers Ferry, WV