Southwest/Central Virginia

imported
#1

Southwest/Central Virginia

I may be able to do my section hike again this year after all. I need to start at Partnership Shelter near Marion, around May 5, and will hike around 200 miles north (NOBO strongly perferred) and then head back to Birmingham, AL.

Trouble is, you can’t get there from here. I am unable to find a rental car drop off in the Marion or Atkins area. Last year I rented a car and dropped it off at the Tri-Cities airport near Erwin, TN, and a new friend picked me up and took me to Erwin. The one way car rental worked great.

Since I have limited time to hike, I’d hope to not spend a lot of time getting there. Does anyone know if it would take a long time to ride a bus from Birmingham AL to Atkins or Marion? Do you know of rental car places in the area. Any other ideas? Shuttles? Nothing seems to be working out so far.

I’ll have the same question on getting back to Birmingham after the hike. I may be near Roanoke then, or someplace in that general area, so a rental car may be possible from there.

Any advice appreciated. CBiscuit

CBiscuit

#2

hey! i am pretty sure there is a greyhound station very near, if not IN marion. just go to greyhound.com and it will tell you how long it will take. ahhh- the greyhound experience. :oh sometimes ya just gotta.:slight_smile:

roadie

#3

The gentleman who runs the Relax Inn in Atkins provides local shuttle service to the grocery store and post office. You might be able to schedule a shuttle from the bus station to Partnership Shelter. I don’t have the phone number, but it’s in the books. Since I don’t know where you’re ending up, I can’t advise about the other end of the hike. But you might read in the books about people/places that offer shuttles and give them a call. The genetleman who runs 4 Pines Hostel just after Dragon’s Tooth and before McAfee Knob might shuttle you also. And even though it’s not the favorite idea, you might consider hitching. Good luck.

Rainbow

#4

Try John Sparger in Marion, VA. He is on the ATC shuttle list. I used him last year for my section hike in that area. I left my car at his house for a little over a week. He was reliable and he was very reasonable.

Mr. Persistent

#5

Four Pines will not be open in 2005; I’m not sure if Mr. Mitchell will still be doing shuttles.

Bus info can indeed by found at the Greyhound website. They may go to Marion or Atkins; I don’t think they go to nearby Abingdon anymore, but the website will tell you one way or the other.

For complete shuttling info, I’d check out the very comprehensive state-by-state shuttler’s list at www.atconf.org

Also, Lone Wolf, a Damascus resident, does very reasonable shuttles in the area. You can contact him by going to www.whiteblaze.net If you tell him your travel plans from Birmingham, I’m sure he’ll be able to help you get where you need to go. Another thought; Johnson City, TN has regular bus service, and Miss Janet in Erwin frequently travels between there and Damascus. Therefore, if you can’t get close to Atkins for any reason, Janet could easily get you to Damascus and Wolf could easily get you anywhere you needed to go after that. Good luck!

B. Jack

#6

Actually, I had to go to the Greyhound site to check something else out. It appears that the closest place with service in that area is either Marion or Bristol, TN. The number for Marion is (276) 783-7114

Jack

#7

just saying hey B.Jack.:girl

roadie

#8

Mark and Janet Holmes of the Fox Hill Inn in Troutdale (just down the road from MRNRA HQ which is next to Partnership Shelter) do shuttles. There phone number is 276-677-3313. Their listing in the Companion says they do shuttles anywhere between Damascus and Pearisburg.

Skyline

#9

I also am shuttling in that region. If you need help, do not hesitate to call me at 276-677-0030. Usually, I am away from the phone or sometimes I’m online, but you can leave a message. I’ll return your call.

Kinnickinic

#10

Thanks for the replies. I should be able to work something out with information provided. CBiscuit

CBiscuit