Weather:
Sunny, windy, & cool. Some light rain.
Today's Hike:
Angel's Rest to Rice Creek Shelter - 9.8 miles
Last night's evening thunderstorm continued till morning. Muster and I both woke up early and managed to get packed up in between rain spells. By 7:30am we were headed into Pearisburg for breakfast. We arrived at Hardee's by 9:30am where I promptly guzzled down some “real” fresh brewed coffee. After eating and talking with some of the locals who were enquiring about our journey, we made our way down to the Post Office where we picked up our mail drops and an unexpected belated Easter present from a friend :) It took us 2 hours to go through everything, get organized, and prepare a grocery list. Around noon we headed down to the Chinese buffet (which really wasn't that great), and then went next store to buy a few needed perishables. By 3:00pm we were headed back for the trail.
The climb out of Pearisburg was ridiculously steep (a definite rival to the climb out of NOC) and seemed to last forever! About four miles into our return to the trail we forged our first creek. Normally, the pass would probably have been a simple cross over the rocks, but the previous nine days of rain had turned the creek into a small raging river. We both took our shoes/socks off and successfully made it across without incident. Little did we know we would be crossing water five more times over the next few miles. Still, we managed to make it to camp with dry feet and get the tent set up before a light evening rain.
At the shelter we met a new group of guys: O. G., Hellbender, Leon & his dog.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Friday, May 8, 2009
Day 68
Weather:
Scary thunderstorms.
Today's Hike:
Wapiti Shelter to Angel's Rest - 13.6 miles
I am becoming a firm believer that blisters are a result of a bad shoe/sock combination. Since the beginning of the hike, I have worn smartwool socks and Keen hiking shoes and have zero feet problems. Today I wore some synthetic, bamboo, antifungal things and by mile 11 the bottoms of all my toes were rubbed raw. Ugh!
Muster and I are camping alone about .5 miles short on Angels rest. There's a scary thunderstorm outside.......I think I might die. God help me......at least don't throw a lightening bolt on me. I write this as I lay here counting the seconds between the bright red flashes of lightening and thunder crashes. Two seconds has been the shortest span. So far, I’m dry and I will continue to hope that it stays that way.
Tomorrow morning we are making a run into Pearisburg, VA to resupply. Looking forward to a real cup of coffee.
Scary thunderstorms.
Today's Hike:
Wapiti Shelter to Angel's Rest - 13.6 miles
I am becoming a firm believer that blisters are a result of a bad shoe/sock combination. Since the beginning of the hike, I have worn smartwool socks and Keen hiking shoes and have zero feet problems. Today I wore some synthetic, bamboo, antifungal things and by mile 11 the bottoms of all my toes were rubbed raw. Ugh!
Muster and I are camping alone about .5 miles short on Angels rest. There's a scary thunderstorm outside.......I think I might die. God help me......at least don't throw a lightening bolt on me. I write this as I lay here counting the seconds between the bright red flashes of lightening and thunder crashes. Two seconds has been the shortest span. So far, I’m dry and I will continue to hope that it stays that way.
Tomorrow morning we are making a run into Pearisburg, VA to resupply. Looking forward to a real cup of coffee.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Day 67
Weather:
Rain on/off all day. Low around 55/60 degrees. High around 79 degrees.
Today's Hike:
Jenny's knob Shelter to Wapiti Shelter - 15.0 miles
Today was much easier then yesterday, at least for the first 10 or 11 miles, after which my feet hurt and I got crabby. The last 4 miles were a struggle, but I made it and got the tent up in between rain showers. Muster made us a wonderful dinner of grilled burritos and I finished mine off with a mint 3 musketeers bar which is becoming a new favorite. Now I have a date with a book (The Day After Tomorrow by Alan Folson).
Rain on/off all day. Low around 55/60 degrees. High around 79 degrees.
Today's Hike:
Jenny's knob Shelter to Wapiti Shelter - 15.0 miles
Today was much easier then yesterday, at least for the first 10 or 11 miles, after which my feet hurt and I got crabby. The last 4 miles were a struggle, but I made it and got the tent up in between rain showers. Muster made us a wonderful dinner of grilled burritos and I finished mine off with a mint 3 musketeers bar which is becoming a new favorite. Now I have a date with a book (The Day After Tomorrow by Alan Folson).
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Day 66
Weather:
Rain. High around 70 degrees.
Today's Hike:
I-77 (Bland) to Jenny's Knob Shelter-12.1 miles
After a good breakfast it was time to load up the van and head back to the trail. After a detour at the post office, we were at the trailhead where we left off by noon. As soon as we hopped out of the van the rain started. Oh well; such is trail life. At least it wasn't thundering and lightening. We said our final good-byes to Timmy and headed down the road.
After a mile we started climbing and I could totally feel the effects of taking four days off the trail. Although my body had recouped, finding my rhythm again was difficult. I was struggling to get back into it. All I could think about was being dry, well fed, and in good company back at Mary's. Still, I knew I had to push forward, and that the more I hiked, the easier it would become.
What helped make the hike refreshing was the sight of all the green on trees and on the ground. What a difference four days makes! On Friday when Muster and I hiked out there were a few leaves coming in on some of the trees, and green patches of ground cover were sparse and sporadic. Today it appeared as if all of the trees had at least some foliage (enough to help block the rain), and the ground cover was a sea of green. It was official, our hike through a sleeping forest was over and our hike through the "green tunnel" was beginning.
I struggled into camp around 7pm and set up my tent in between rain showers. After eating a big bowl of warm pasta it was time to crawl out of the rain, into my tent, into my warm sleeping bag. Tomorrow will be easier after a good night sleep.
Rain. High around 70 degrees.
Today's Hike:
I-77 (Bland) to Jenny's Knob Shelter-12.1 miles
After a good breakfast it was time to load up the van and head back to the trail. After a detour at the post office, we were at the trailhead where we left off by noon. As soon as we hopped out of the van the rain started. Oh well; such is trail life. At least it wasn't thundering and lightening. We said our final good-byes to Timmy and headed down the road.
After a mile we started climbing and I could totally feel the effects of taking four days off the trail. Although my body had recouped, finding my rhythm again was difficult. I was struggling to get back into it. All I could think about was being dry, well fed, and in good company back at Mary's. Still, I knew I had to push forward, and that the more I hiked, the easier it would become.
What helped make the hike refreshing was the sight of all the green on trees and on the ground. What a difference four days makes! On Friday when Muster and I hiked out there were a few leaves coming in on some of the trees, and green patches of ground cover were sparse and sporadic. Today it appeared as if all of the trees had at least some foliage (enough to help block the rain), and the ground cover was a sea of green. It was official, our hike through a sleeping forest was over and our hike through the "green tunnel" was beginning.
I struggled into camp around 7pm and set up my tent in between rain showers. After eating a big bowl of warm pasta it was time to crawl out of the rain, into my tent, into my warm sleeping bag. Tomorrow will be easier after a good night sleep.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Day 62 - Day 65
Weather:
Rain, everyday
I have just spent 4 wonderful, relaxing days with Muster's family in West Virginia doing almost absolutely nothing but eating wonderful home cooked meals, fresh fruit, and fresh veggies, and spent time with Timmy, Bev, Mary, Doug, and Sheena.
On Monday we did take a field trip outside of the house when Timmy took us to the Coal Mining Exhibition in Beckley. It's one of the only places that you can take an interpreted ride under ground in an old coal mine; very interesting. The exhibition also houses old homes and a school house so we could see how coal miners and their families use to live.
We spent most of Tuesday getting ready to get back on the trail: getting food organized, getting a schedule together for the next two weeks, showering....over and over :), and mentally preparing to be hiking in rain for the next several days. It's been raining here and on the trail since Friday, and the forecast is predicting rain for another five days... Ugh! At least we missed four days of it.
Rain, everyday
I have just spent 4 wonderful, relaxing days with Muster's family in West Virginia doing almost absolutely nothing but eating wonderful home cooked meals, fresh fruit, and fresh veggies, and spent time with Timmy, Bev, Mary, Doug, and Sheena.
On Monday we did take a field trip outside of the house when Timmy took us to the Coal Mining Exhibition in Beckley. It's one of the only places that you can take an interpreted ride under ground in an old coal mine; very interesting. The exhibition also houses old homes and a school house so we could see how coal miners and their families use to live.
We spent most of Tuesday getting ready to get back on the trail: getting food organized, getting a schedule together for the next two weeks, showering....over and over :), and mentally preparing to be hiking in rain for the next several days. It's been raining here and on the trail since Friday, and the forecast is predicting rain for another five days... Ugh! At least we missed four days of it.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Comment Option Fixed
Hi all ~
I've had a few of you let me know that the comment option for the blog wasn't working. It should be fixed now so comment away!
We are still hangin' in Beckley, WV with Cindi's family, but should be back on the trail Wednesday.
Pictures have been added to the Virginia (Southwest) album, check then out when you get a chance!
I've had a few of you let me know that the comment option for the blog wasn't working. It should be fixed now so comment away!
We are still hangin' in Beckley, WV with Cindi's family, but should be back on the trail Wednesday.
Pictures have been added to the Virginia (Southwest) album, check then out when you get a chance!
Friday, May 1, 2009
Day 61
Weather:
Warm and drizzly, high around 75 degrees.
Today's Hike:
Jenkins Shelter to I-77 - 11.9 miles
I woke up this morning at 7am and made a beeline for the privy before anyone else woke up. As I stood up the privy seat flew off and made a loud crash onto the forest floor. So much for being quite. All I could think about was that I actually had to touch that seat to put it back on; crap. On the upside I had a 360 degree view of a field of deer. Who gets that in the morning?
It's another milestone today. Today is the start of the third month on the trail. It's so hard to believe that I've been out here for 60 whole days! Springer feels like forever ago!!!! More so, the thought that I still have a least 3 full months to go is exciting and a little home sickening. I’m loving the adventure and making new friends, but I miss my pets (Jasmine and Grey-Grey) and I miss my friends back home dearly. I think of everyone often.
It's a town day for us. Muster's family lives in Beckley, WV which is 45 minutes from Bland. So, her uncle Timmy met us at the road crossing to pick us up. As usual, Muster reached the road crossing before me, and right as she stepped out into view, Timmy pulled up in his van. Talk about perfect timing! Instead of waiting for me, Timmy took Muster and Billy Hoot into town to grab some soda's and some chips. When they got back, they dropped the goodies off and were off again to pick up some pizza's for everyone making Timmy an official Trail Angel :) By 1pm we were drinking cokes, eating chips, fresh salad and pizza from Pizza Plus. It was delicious! As we sat around talking and waiting for Lil' Dipper and the Packadivas to come down, Timmy told us about the family home he wanted to build for all his brothers and sisters to retire at. As a result, Nutmeg tagged him as Homestead. So within 2 hours of being on the trail Timmy had become a Trail Angel and had received a trail name. We think is next step should be to strap on a pack and get on the trail!
So I’m off to spend a few days with Muster's family. I am currently not sure how long we'll be there. Muster's saying three days......I'll have to post an update when we come up with a plan.
Warm and drizzly, high around 75 degrees.
Today's Hike:
Jenkins Shelter to I-77 - 11.9 miles
I woke up this morning at 7am and made a beeline for the privy before anyone else woke up. As I stood up the privy seat flew off and made a loud crash onto the forest floor. So much for being quite. All I could think about was that I actually had to touch that seat to put it back on; crap. On the upside I had a 360 degree view of a field of deer. Who gets that in the morning?
It's another milestone today. Today is the start of the third month on the trail. It's so hard to believe that I've been out here for 60 whole days! Springer feels like forever ago!!!! More so, the thought that I still have a least 3 full months to go is exciting and a little home sickening. I’m loving the adventure and making new friends, but I miss my pets (Jasmine and Grey-Grey) and I miss my friends back home dearly. I think of everyone often.
It's a town day for us. Muster's family lives in Beckley, WV which is 45 minutes from Bland. So, her uncle Timmy met us at the road crossing to pick us up. As usual, Muster reached the road crossing before me, and right as she stepped out into view, Timmy pulled up in his van. Talk about perfect timing! Instead of waiting for me, Timmy took Muster and Billy Hoot into town to grab some soda's and some chips. When they got back, they dropped the goodies off and were off again to pick up some pizza's for everyone making Timmy an official Trail Angel :) By 1pm we were drinking cokes, eating chips, fresh salad and pizza from Pizza Plus. It was delicious! As we sat around talking and waiting for Lil' Dipper and the Packadivas to come down, Timmy told us about the family home he wanted to build for all his brothers and sisters to retire at. As a result, Nutmeg tagged him as Homestead. So within 2 hours of being on the trail Timmy had become a Trail Angel and had received a trail name. We think is next step should be to strap on a pack and get on the trail!
So I’m off to spend a few days with Muster's family. I am currently not sure how long we'll be there. Muster's saying three days......I'll have to post an update when we come up with a plan.
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