The "Big Idea"

It had been nearly 30 years since I left the Blue Ridge Parkway for a career in Public Education when I noticed an article in the Salisbury Post about a retired Park Ranger who was Backpacking the Parkway. This was a feat that had never been done before. As I read the article, I noticed that it was Tim Pegram, my colleague from 1974 and 1975. We had worked as Seasonal Interpretive Park Rangers at the Museum of NC Minerals at Gillespie Gap Mile Post 331.3 near Spruce Pine, NC.

Tim recently published his book "The Blue Ridge Parkway By Foot" A Park Rangers Memoir. His wonderful book weaves the magic of the Parkway and its people, its places, and its history with stories of his career as a Protection Ranger in several of the Districts that he worked in.
Immediately after I turned in my retirement papers I called Tim to let him know that I planned on repeating his Thru Hike on the Parkway. What a great way to "Bookend a Career teaching Geology and Astronomy in High School and College.

The next question was - How could I make it different?

Tim suggested that I add ~10 miles to the walk by starting at Jarman Gap in Shenandoah National Park and that way I would have backpacked the original Blue Ridge Parkway Section 1A - the first section completed. This section had been deeded over to Shenandoah Nat. Park in 1961. Next, I would continue onto the current Blue Ridge Parkway at Rockfish Gap at Milepost 0 and would then only have 469 more miles to go to arrive in Cherokee, NC.

There are definite ground rules that I have established for this experience. They are listed below.

1. Make myself very visible - People driving cars do not expect to see a backpacker on a curvy roadway. Flourescent Green and Orange and retroreflective I will be.
2. No overnight stays in Motels, Hotels, or Lodges.
3. No Fires.
4. Keep a neat appearance. I am not homeless - my home for these 40 days is just a long and winding road.
5. No Firearms. They are illegal on the Parkway.
6. I will carry a Cell Phone but it is for a weekly check in only.
7. Resupplys will take place in Roanoke, I-77, Boone- Blowing Rock area, and Asheville.

I really want to make this event unique. I am trying right now to decide how to best use this event to raise funds to dig wells in underdeveloped countries through an organization like World Vision. Since I am a Captain in the Fire Service and involved in Urban Search and Rescue, I am also looking into the possibility of using a particular brand of boots for later promotion.

More to come later. I need to go and finish packing. I'll bet you can't tell how excited I am.

Dave Barlow