Rant: the trail crew rerouted a whole stretch of the AT near Damascus and now the climb feels twice as long

Kelly Torres · 2026-10-13T16:40:03.201168+00:00

Hiked the section near Damascus, Virginia last weekend and something felt totally off compared to my trip there in October. The old path used to switchback up through the pines and it was maybe 1.5 miles to the ridge, but now it cuts straight up a rocky face for what felt like forever. A ridge runner told me a storm took out the old tread and they had to reroute around a washed out slope. My knees are still mad at me. Anyone else hit this new stretch, and does it get better past the shelter or should I plan a shorter day next time?

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Rant: the trail crew rerouted a whole stretch of the AT near Damascus and now the climb feels twice as long | Backpacking Routes - Thought Shares