Backpacking The Virginia Triple Crown

Welcome back for another amazing backpacking adventure! For this trip, we spent three days in the lovely state of Virginia doing the full Triple Crown loop. This loop is called the Triple Crown because the trail system has three of the best mountain views in the state of Virginia. A little over half of this trip was along the Appalachian Trail, with the majority of the rest being the North Mountain Trail.
Day one started off with about eleven miles of hiking along the AT. We saw some awesome rock formations and two rattlesnakes along the way, but the highlight of day one were the first two prongs of the triple crown. Stop number one was McAfee Knob, which is a rocky outcropping overlooking the valley below. This view offers a 180 degree view of the adjacent mountain ridges and is one of the biggest views I've seen in the eastern US.
The second attraction was Tinker Cliffs. Similar to McAfee Knob, the cliffs offer over 180 degrees of sprawling mountain views of the valley and mountain ranges below. We moved on from Tinker Cliffs to our shelter area where we set up camp for the night. Unfortunately, the "reliable" water source at the campsite was NOT reliable and we ended up pulling water from a mud puddle.
Day two we woke up to some rain, but it was no match for the Hammock Gear dyneema tarp I hang over my hammock. The papery sound of rain dripping on the dyneema fabric made for a good nights sleep. We started off with some moderate rain, limiting my ability to record footage. The first part of the day revolved around finding water, because we were completely out for about the first hour of hiking. We finally crossed a reliable stream and filled up with four liters of water each to get us through the next dry stretch.
We covered the most elevation we've ever done in one day on this particular stretch of trail. We made multiple 1,000' ascents and descents throughout the day. After stocking up on water, we began the climb up to North Mountain Trail, which is roughly a twelve mile stretch of dry trail along a mountain ridge. Despite being a ridge trail, there were quite a few short, challenging climbs along the trail. Towards the end of North Mountain, the wind began picking up quite a bit with gusts up to about 35 mph.
Our planned mileage for day two was 16.5 which by covered by 6pm. We rolled up to our camp area to find that the entire area was fenced off and no camping was allowed. Exhausted, and again out of water, we pulled more water from a stagnant pool and began another 1,000' climb towards Dragon's Tooth to search out another campsite. After making the climb, we managed to find a suitable campsite. We sat down our packs and then I noticed there was a huge widowmaker in the middle of camp. With the 35 mph wind gusts, we didn't want to risk it, so we pressed on.
After almost 19 miles of hiking, including over an hour in the dark, we finally found a huge campsite that was suitable for our group. There was already another group of people set up, but they were kind enough to let us post up next to them. We sat down to eat and then it started raining, so we ended up just going to bed early.
Day three we woke up while it was still dark in an attempt to get a head start on the Dragon's Tooth summit. We managed to catch an amazing sunrise on the hike up, but we didn't make the summit before sunrise. There was a group of 30-40 college kids day hiking up to Dragon's Tooth, so the going was very slow was there was a literal traffic jam on the way up. Once we reached the top, the sprawling views from atop the rock spire made it worth the rock scramble up. We enjoyed taking in the views and then began the scramble back down the AT.
The hike out was similar to the rest of the trip, with the exception of hiking about a mile through a cow pasture which was very cool. The open meadows were a nice change of pace compared to the rest of the very wooded trail system. All in all, this was one of my favorite backpacking trips I've ever done and an experience I will definitely never forget!
Click the link below to view my packing list for this trip!
lighterpack.com/r/6bq4el
Click the link below to download the GPX file for this trip!
drive.google.com/file/d/1Sgnt...
Join our Facebook group and ask us some questions and tag along on our annual trip!
groups/13624...

[@Nick-lk2rv]

The adventures you remember are the ones that don't go as planned... love how you stay positive and push forward even when it's less than ideal... thanks for sharing the adventures!!

[@Bacon_N_Backpacking]

If you backpack enough, you'll run into problems lol. When I'm solo it doesn't bother me, but when I'm with other people I'm always concerned about whether or not they enjoyed the trip since I planned it. Luckily, we all backpack a lot and everyone took it in stride. It's still one of my favorite trips I've ever done.

[@AdaptorDieChannel]

Great video! Thank you for sharing your experience with us! I love the Triple Crown Loop! Such a great trip in the Eastern US! 💯🇺🇸

[@Bacon_N_Backpacking]

Great trip, I'd definitely go back. Thanks for watching!

[@sarak5033]

Probably one of my favorite trips

[@Bacon_N_Backpacking]

Me toooo

[@stephenhiker9807]

Oh my what did that rattlesnake eat?! Great trip!

[@Bacon_N_Backpacking]

Maybe a squirrel by the looks of it lol

[@RonsWorld5]

Congrats! Brings back fond memories when I did this about two years ago.

[@Bacon_N_Backpacking]

I imagine you enjoyed it as much as I did

[@lusmith39]

awesome views love it

[@Bacon_N_Backpacking]

One of my top 3 trips for sure!

[@Stewcraft55]

Heading out to do the triple crown loop in two weeks. Where would you recommend to park the car for 3 days? I have seen multiple postings saying McAfee knob parking lot is closed. Love the videos!!

[@Bacon_N_Backpacking]

I parked at McAfee trailhead 😬

[@notquiteultralight1701]

Can’t wait to see this one! You’ve a few bids ahead of ya I’ve gotta watch! This is a busy time of year for tubers slammin content

[@Bacon_N_Backpacking]

Let me know what you think when you watch it.

[@wanderer5183]

Gorgeous views! The Virginia Triple Crown is on my list to do at some point in the near future. :)

[@Bacon_N_Backpacking]

You should definitely do it, great trip!

[@michaelbroyer3918]

I enjoyed this video very much. You did a fine job with your videography!

[@Bacon_N_Backpacking]

Glad you liked it, thanks for tuning in!

[@ronosmianski812]

Looks like you were living on the edge! Great views, but demanding hike.

[@Bacon_N_Backpacking]

It was a really good time, one of my favorite trips for sure.

[@allisonkrieg4731]

Great video. Triple Crown is not easy. Genuinely launched at a few moments during this video.

[@Bacon_N_Backpacking]

Glad you liked it, definitely one of my favorite trips so far.

[@user-wr8ww9ei7n]

There is no LAY in Appalachian. It's pronounced (a·puh·lah·chn). Otherwise the video is very informative, thanks!

[@Bacon_N_Backpacking]

Cool story

[@m4olive]

Great vid! Thinking of doing this loop in the summer. How was the parking situation?

[@Bacon_N_Backpacking]

Where we parked it was packed. Huge pain getting in and out. Thanks for watching!

[@notquiteultralight1701]

Looks like a tough hike. You guys go way faster than i do. I really need to hike my local hills with a full pack so i can exercise those shoulders

[@Bacon_N_Backpacking]

We had a decent pace until we climbed Dragon’s Tooth lol. I think those four miles took about four hours.

[@shonprice8554]

I'm obsessed with your videos. I'd love to get more info from you. Do you have a website or just your FB group? Unfortunately I don't have FB or any other social media other than YT so I can't join your FB group. Do you have any trail recs in WV for a brand new backpacker? My hubs and I have never backpacked before but looking to go on our first trip next spring or summer. We live in WV. We've def camped (at campgrounds) and hiked before but never backpacked. Looking for a fairly easy first trip of 1-2 nights max just to see how we do. I'm really feeling the pull to get out in the wilderness. TIA. 😊

[@Bacon_N_Backpacking]

No website yet. The channel is still small and my KZbin revenue wouldn’t even pay to keep a website up. I have a bunch of videos up on the channel for WV backpacking. Dolly Sods, North Fork Mountain, Spruce Knob, Roaring Plains etc. Check them out and pick your favorite!

[@evilmonstar6910]

Would love to go with y’all next Va/wv trip you take. Here in Fredericksburg and none of my friends are trying to put in the miles with me, so I’m solo most trips.

[@RonsWorld5]

I live in Fredericksburg and have hiked and backpacked in SNP extensively. I did the Triple Crown solo less than two years ago. It was very challenging but also one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. My favorite section of the hike was Tinker Cliffs. The toughest section IMO was the climb up to Tinker Cliffs and the Catawba Valley Trail up to North Mountain.

[@Bacon_N_Backpacking]

Probably won’t be back until the summer, but I’m open to it. Also, backpacking isn’t for everyone lol, a lot of people don’t like the struggle.

[@MR-hb5mu]

Review of the new OV pack would be cool.

[@Bacon_N_Backpacking]

We don’t actually own it, Celeste let Sara borrow it for this trip to see if she likes it. If we buy it I’ll definitely review.

[@MR-hb5mu]

@@Bacon_N_Backpackinggotcha! I was considering that pack. I ended up going with a Durston kakwa

[@GarryCollins-ec8yo]

I’m cringing. If you had gone about 1/10 off a mile further than the shelter you would be on a flowing creek! Lamberts Meadow. Which did you like the best? Tinker is my favorite.

[@Bacon_N_Backpacking]

@@GarryCollins-ec8yo Good to know for next time lol. I think Tinker was probably the best.

[@thehafricanultralighter4973]

I would have let the sediment settle like you showed it and then just pinched it off and opened the top. Would have drained it just fine.

[@Bacon_N_Backpacking]

More than one way to skin a cat lol

[@thehafricanultralighter4973]

@@Bacon_N_Backpacking never skinned a cat but imma take ur word for it lol

[@Bacon_N_Backpacking]

@@thehafricanultralighter4973 first time for everything