OD's comments: Started today at the Pinefield Hut near mile post 75 of Skyline Drive. We awoke to slightly cool air and the sun just coming over the ridge. We tried a semi-cold breakfast to see if we could get out of camp quicker. We hit the trail at 8:30AM, an hour earlier than normal. We wanted the early start wit 13.9 miles ahead of us. We were just below the 2,500' level when we hit the trail, our highest point today was about 3,400'. We crossed Loft Mountain and Blackrock Mountain today and went through Ivy Creek Overlook, Ivy Creek, Doyles River Overlook, Browns Gap and past Madison Run Rd. We ended the day on the south side of Blackrock Mountain about 600' below the summit. We saw quite a few Northbound Thru Hikers today,
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