More of the same today, doing what I've begun calling "The Virginia Thing," which is basically trail that climbs up 1,000-2,000 feet and then rides a flat ridgetop before making a steep descent of 1,000-2,000 feet. Repeat a few hundred times and that's my impression of a good deal of the trail in Virginia.
Archives for April 2004
Mile 640
Slept in and got a late start from the motel at around noon today after packing up my ever-growing food bag. Just cruised along taking my time since I decided to watch my shin splint and not go very far. So far, it hasn't acted up since the day coming into Pearisburg.
Pearisburg Zero Day
Decided to take a full zero today to rest and ice my shin splint rather than run my town errands and get back on the trail. Seems to be a bit better today.
Pearisburg
With cooler weather in the 50s and cloudy skies, the temperature had definitely turned my direction and miles were ripe for the picking. So, today was a perfect day to bang out some miles and get into my next town stop.
VA 606
You'd think that sometimes you have to lose your head before you start to see things in focus. Well, for me, that day was yesterday. In hot sunshine, with a body that just doesn't seem to work right in the heat, I couldn't seem to muster the mental strength to overcome the day--something I'm rarely if ever able to forgive myself for. But today, it pours, and I'm back in focus.
Jenny Knob
Not much to report today. Just a long and rather boring 20-miler along waterless ridgeline--oh yes, again in hot, humid weather. Enjoyed rock-hopping a bit this morning as the trail crossed a creek about 15 times in a couple of miles. Luckily, I didn't fall in at any point.
Jenkins
Beautiful ridge and grassy top on Chestnut Knob, but it was a long climb to get there. Neat shelter on the summit with steel cables to hold the roof on in severe wind--makes you wonder what the wind is like up there sometimes. I guess it's a good thing this shelter is fully enclosed!
Knot Maul Branch
Some more pastoral fields today--so green in the low-lying valleys that at times, I stopped to imagine that this might be what Ireland looks like. Walked through the rain for the afternoon and decided to stop here for a not short but not long day to relax, do some reading, and give my rain gear a chance to dry out a bit. Nice to be here enjoying a sunny evening now.
US 11
Date: 4/22/04 Starting Location: Partnership ShelterDestination: US 11Miles: 11.6Total Miles: 543.9
Partnership
Among all the days on the trail so far, this one was pretty unique. No great views or scenery, just a nice short walk surrounded by more and more signs of spring's awakening.
Trimpi
Now here's a state that has got it down. Virginia gets an A+ (as my sister Gretchie would say) for beautiful trail, easy terrain, nice shelters, and privies at every last one of them. Very comfortable day for walking through the last bit of the highlands and on through rolling hills all the way to the shelter.
Wise
Stunning scenery today. Long easy climb up to the bald area on Whitetop Mt. where Camel and I teamed up for most of the day. Incredible landscape that looked more like open highlands in Wyoming or Colorado--great expansive grassy areas today strewn with rocks. Perfect breeze also to cut the heat and sun a little bit.
Lost Mt.
Too hot for this Vermonter. Sunny today, and should be all week, but the temp was in the 80s with very little wind and no clouds. I've decided that heat is simply Kryptonite to this Mountain Man. Lucky for me, this pasty-white Superhero (Hi Sarah!) at least packed his sunscreen. Nice walk today, and spent some time just soaking my feet in a small cool stream that the trail crossed over.
Damascus Zero Day 2
Beautiful day for town R&R with the other thru-hikers, eating my face off, and catching up in my journal. Spent most of the day running errands around town and going back and forth to the outfitter across the street from Dave's Place Hostel where I'm staying.
Damascus Zero Day 1
Aaaahhh. My feet are loving this, and after the recent beating they took, they deserve it. Hanging around the town today and killing time at Dave's Hostel with Mo, Camel, Nails, Dances with Scarf, and Condor. The sky is clear, and the sun is shining--we're back to shorts and t-shirt weather.
Damascus
A night of shivering in the cold, added to 26+ miles today....no need to be a rocket scientist to guess that I'm sleepy and that my dogs hurt reeaaalll bad. All is redeemed though by Lead Dog's kindness in having me stay at his nearby house only 30 minutes away in Bristol, TN. It's amazing how a beer and a good long soak in the hot tub can erase the effects of three 25-mile days.
Iron Mt.
My first thought was: snowday. I think Mickey-One-Sock said it best when he walked out the door this morning before quickly returning to proclaim: "Did you look outside yet?" Sure enough, our second week of April snowstorm was here with snow already on the ground, and Lead Dog and I were lacing up to hit the snowy slopes for a 10-mile day that simply continued to morph by the hour.
Dennis Cove Road
This day began about as well as the last one did, as Rumbler, Footloose, and I set off from the road in a driving rainstorm towards the nearest shelter almost 18 miles north. The stretch of trail was easy, and mostly rolling, with the exception of the spectacular Jones Falls which had an abnormally high volume of water due to the recent rains.
Roan Mountain
Good. Scottish. Weather. Should be self-explanatory, but I woke up in the middle of the night to see that a cloud had been blowing into the windward-facing shelter all night, scattering my clothes from the clothes lines and soaking my down sleeping bag in the process (not a good thing). Left this morning and climbed onto the grassy ridge for some rise-and-shine miles through driving rain and 40-50 mph wind.
Overmountain
Not much excitement today other than a big climb up and over Roan High Knob, the last big mountain between Erwin, TN and Damascus, VA. Feels good to have it out of the way, especially since it was the toughest climb I've seen on the trail so far, and it's the last time I'll be above 6000' all the way until New Hampshire on Mt. Washington.
Cherry Gap
Late start today, but was not going to miss the shuttle back to the trail 2 days in a row. Easy walking today, but it's the first time I've felt kinda down after leaving a town stop. I miss the friends I've made, and I hope they catch up after slackpacking from Miss Janet's today and spending Easter there tomorrow.
Erwin Zero Day 2
Well, so much for that plan. Loaded my pack in Miss Janet's shuttle to head back to the trail this morning, but the shuttle left without me. So, I'm stuck here for another day off in sunshine while pack rides around in the "Banana Boat" van for the day. Disappointed about missing the shuttle but it was very serendipitous in the end.
Erwin Zero Day 1
Thought I'd move on today, but after doing so many miles and getting so little sleep in the last 2 days, I'm here to stay and relax a bit before hitting the trail tomorrow. Slept on the couch at Miss Janet's Hostel last night, but not before being sucked into watching movies til 2am.
Erwin
Only a few hours of sleep last night before Leki-less and I woke up to night hike under a nearly full moon down the trail to Erwin, hoping to beat the rush of thru-hikers who'd be looking for a spot at the much acclaimed Miss Janet's Hostel.
Bald Mt.
Started out the day with not much going right. Slept very little in my tent as coyotes pranced around it and animals from nearby farms made noise all through the night. Add to that some swollen glands in my neck from some bug I must've caught, and tired legs for some reason, and it was tough to get going.
Rector Laurel Road
After saying goodbye to Emily this morning and getting a late 9am start, I hiked all day today until just a few minutes after sunset. Tenting out next to the trail for just the second time so far, this time without a shelter in sight. Blue sky all day with lots of sun and snow covering the trail above 4000'.
Spring Mt.
Great day to get back on the trail with Emily B. along for the day. It's been great to see her, though actually seeing a familiar face seems to be the only thing that makes me homesick for some reason.
Hot Springs Zero Day 2
Another zero day today as I wait for my friend Emily to come into town this afternoon for an overnight with me on the trail when I head back out tomorrow. Ate most of the day and ended up back at the Paddler's Pub for some beers with Emily and my thru-hiker pals. I'm still mourning the loss by my Duke Blue Devils to UConn in the Final Four.
Hot Springs Zero Day 1
Taking my first "zero" day today, after rolling into Hot Springs a day ahead of schedule with Professor T on our last day of hiking together. We've had a great time hiking together with gorgeous weather and scenery for 2 weeks across the Smokies and then some.
Hot Springs
Knowing a warm town was only 15 miles away made it pretty easy for everyone to get in gear early this morning and boogie on down the trail to Hot Springs. A wintry stretch of trail this morning up and over Bluff Mt. through 3-6" of fresh snow in some places, but it was all downhill for the most part after that down into town.