Cumberland Valley

The Cumberland Valley is part of the Great Valley going from PA all the way down to TN, used by settlers for expansion to the interior. The AT jumps from the eastern range (incl. the Blue Ridge) back to the main Appalachian range at Boiling Springs.
This makes for a nice 14 miles flat hiking through the lush valley. I had pictured it much differently--dryer, more austere, even urbanized. But what I saw were miles of verdant farmlands, full in their late-summer foliage. The AT manages to maintain a narrow but cloistered right of way through much of this corridor. Then it's up Blue Mtn. and back to the hills.

I have many great photos coming as soon as I can transfer them from my camera. Hike on!