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Grayson Highlands Mule Camp: Scenes from the Virginia Highlands Horse Trail

Published June 10, 2024

I, Bernie Harberts, did not use generative AI to write or illustrate this article. Spell check and grammar check, yes. AI, no.

I recently wrote of catching up with Badger, the Baron, Jimmy Dean and Sleeper at the Scales camp on the Virginia Highland Horse Trail. They taught me how to speak AT lingo. Here are some more photos from that gathering you’ll enjoy.

Long Rider Bernie Harberts with AT hikers Jimmy Dean and the Sage alongside mule Cracker at Scales camp, Virginia Highlands Horse Trail — Jimmy Dean and the Sage (their AT trail names) hanging with Cracker (aka Crab Man)

Mule Cracker enjoying a drop-in visit at Scales camp on the Virginia Highlands Horse Trail — Cracker enjoying a drop-in visit (Scales camp, Virginia Highlands Horse Trail)

AT section hiker Mile2Go at Scales camp, Virginia Highlands Horse Trail — hikes sections of the AT and works in tech in Raleigh, North Carolina — Mile2Go: He’s hiking sections of the AT and works in tech in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Long Rider Bernie Harberts and Sits a Lot with AT hiker Mile2Go at his Trail Magic tent, Scales camp, Virginia Highlands Horse Trail — Mile2Go with me and Sits a Lot. Mile2Go set up a Trail Magic tent to supply AT hikers with what they needed, from cold water and Band Aids to energy bars and charges for their phones. Mile2Go is originally from India and I was fascinated by his story of how he came to this country. I wish you all the best Mile2Go and look forward to hearing from up the road.

RJ and his group at Scales camp, Virginia Highlands Horse Trail, Grayson Highlands — RJ’s posse

RJ at Scales camp wearing a hat made of Pabst Blue Ribbon labels, Virginia Highlands Horse Trail — RJ said, “I sure as hell hope it doesn’t rain. I paid ten dollars for this hat. It’s made of Pabst Blue Ribbon labels and don’t want it to melt.”

Long Rider Bernie Harberts rambling gear packed and ready on the Virginia Highlands Horse Trail — My rambling gear

Mule Brick staked out on a high meadow in Grayson Highlands, Virginia Highlands Horse Trail — Brick staked out on one of the highest meadows in Virginia

Iris from Switzerland at Scales camp, Virginia Highlands Horse Trail, Grayson Highlands — Iris from Switzerland. A gruess vom wald, Iris!

AT hikers Bonnie and Clyde with Elizabeth, daughter of Kip Roten, at Scales camp on the Virginia Highlands Horse Trail — Two degrees of separation. Bonnie and Clyde (their trail names) came over to me and said, “There’s a gal over here that knows you.” I walked over to her and she said, “Hi! I’m Elizabeth. Kip Roten is my dad. He built a table out of that chestnut board you gave him.” It was true and I was thrilled. What a lovely surprise to meet up with you Elizabeth! Say howdy to Kip from the mules and me.

Read more posts from this ramble: Virginia Highlands Horse Trail — A Mule Ramble.

A few years earlier, my wife Julia and I rode a good stretch of the Virginia Highlands Horse Trail together. That became its own adventure. Julia documented that ramble on her blog Saddle Under the Stars and you can read those posts here:

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