David Gray's video: Appalachian Trail Backpacking - Grayson Highlands Virginia - April 2017

I returned to the Appalachian Trail in April 2017 for what is fast becoming an annual Spring trek. This year I hiked the famous Grayson Highlands section of southern Virginia with my friend Bob (from the 2015 Colorado Four Pass Loop video). The Grayson Highlands section is just north of the Roan Highlands section that I hiked in April 2016. It is an area famous for it's wild ponies, incredible views, and rapidly changing weather. We not only experienced all that, but also found ourselves right in the middle of the 2017 AT thruhiker 'bubble'. I also wanted to experience Damascus, Virginia, 'The Friendliest Town on the AT', which sits at the southern end of the Grayson Highlands, so logistically a southbound hike made more sense. We ended up doing a 50-mile, 4-day hike starting at Dickey Gap and going south back to Damascus. The Grayson Highlands aren't packed with the concentration of famous AT landmarks like the Roan Highlands, but the views are just as spectacular, the climbs are just as steep and long (longer actually!), the weather is even more dynamic, and it has those ponies! I feel that we were able to capture a sense of the Grayson Highland's unique 'character' in this video. For those who have watched my other videos this one is done in the same style - a little over an hour in length total, intended to bring the audience along for the ride, and with a 10 minute still picture slide show with music at the end. If you just have a few minutes just skip to the end and enjoy the pictures. Equipment / Gear List: Still Camera: Nikon D810 with Nikkor 20mm f1.8 lens Video Camera: Canon Vixia G30 with Rode Stereo Videomic Pro Video Editing Software: Sony Vegas Pro 13 HDR Software: Aurora HDR 2017 Pack: ZPacks Arc Blast 52l Shelter: ZPacks Hexamid Solo Plus Music: "Learn to Fly" by Josh Woodward. Free download: http://joshwoodward.com/ "These Moments" by Nicolai Heidlas