Day 3 – Loft Mountain Campground to Hightop Hut

Written by

Charles Stump

in

Thursday, October 9, 2025. Up at 7:30. Upper 30s this morning going up to  upper 50s today. Breezy.

Very windy last night but clear. Full

Moon was amazing. It was more light out at midnight than sunrise. Ate breakfast, packed up and headed to camp store for coffee at 8:50.

Breakfast at Loft Mountain camp store

We have a medium-hard 14.5 miles to go today to reach Hightop Hut.

Hard steep 1 mile climb out of Ivy Creek. My legs are feeling that one! Summited at 11:50 and 4 miles in.

Chuck at Ivy Creek

Stopped at the Ivy Creek Overlook on Skyline Drive at 12:00 for a short break. The leaves are turning colors just the past 72 hours.

Leaves turning in Shenandoah

Lots up solid uphills today. Getting a good workout.

Stopped at Simmons Gap Ranger Station for water at 1:50 and 8.4 miles in. Nobody here due to the government shutdown, but water pump works. Had to stop here on my thru-hike last year as well. Had lunch and got back on trail at 2:15. We have 6.4 miles to camp and the last 2 miles will be steep uphill.

Simmons Gap Ranger Station
Water at Simmons Gap

Tough last 3.6 miles uphill. Not as nasty when I hiked to this same camp site last year in July in 95 degrees and 85% humidity!

Got to Hightop Hut at little after 5:00. We have it to ourselves. Got camp setup and filtered water. Real nice spot. No wind, unlike last night!

Hightop Hut campsite

One bar cell service. Called Pitcrew and chatted while I made dinner. It got COLD as soon as the fun set and the wind is picking up again. Freeze warning tonight. 

Good day. I’m annoyed at my legs and hips. This hike should be easier than this. I suppose I deserve the pain done I took 2 weeks vacation right before this and got no exercise. One of these days I will learn.

Tomorrow should be a good day. 12.2 miles to Lewis Campground. It’s a Friday so we have our fingers crossed on getting a camp site. If not then we have another 1 mile to Bearfence Hut. Either way we will pick up dinner and snacks at the Lewis Mountain camp store. Should be there between 2:00 and 3:00.

Day 3 Map

Technical Notes:

  • Pop Tarts 360
  • Half a Hershey bar 180
  • Half a Hershey bar 180
  • Fatty sausage  300
  • Skittles 130
  • Ramen 370
  • Spam 230
  • Fritos 560
  • Water liters 2.75
  • Miles 14.87
  • Time 8:00
  • Up 3474
  • Down 3491
  • Calories consumed 2280
  • Calories burned 2785

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