Saturday, May 16, 2009
Day 76
Weather:
Humid, partly cloudy. Light evening rain showers.
Today's Hike:
Daleville, VA to Wilson Creek Shelter - 11.2 miles
Tenting tonight at the shelter with Glowworm. We have a nice fire going on and the thunder is rolling in. It's gonna be a wet night.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Day 75
Friday, May 15, 2009
Weather:
Overcast, no rain.
Today’s Hike:
Lambert’s Meadow Shelter to Daleville, VA – 9.1 miles
We reached Daleville by noon, and I had never been so excited to be in a town. I was in desperate need of a shower and a recharge that only a town visit could provide. However, we were dealt a temporary blow when we arrived and found out that it was Virginia Tech’s graduating weekend and there wasn’t a single available hotel room in town. WTF?!!? I was almost in tears and temporarily contemplated getting a ride 60 miles up the trail to a hostel just so I could shower. Muster, Glowworm, and myself made our way over to the local Mexican restaurant for a food recharge and a group evaluation of our options. I was trying to accept that my shower would have to wait when Glowworm pulled out his trail book and began calling off all the hotel names in town. We had called all of them except for the truck stop hotel which hadn’t been listed in our book. We called and they had rooms available. Score! I don’t think I’d ever been so happy (or will ever be so happy) to know that I had a room at a truck stop hotel.
After a hot shower and a phone call home I felt like a new person. Tomorrow will be a new hiking day, and I’m ready for it ☺
Weather:
Overcast, no rain.
Today’s Hike:
Lambert’s Meadow Shelter to Daleville, VA – 9.1 miles
We reached Daleville by noon, and I had never been so excited to be in a town. I was in desperate need of a shower and a recharge that only a town visit could provide. However, we were dealt a temporary blow when we arrived and found out that it was Virginia Tech’s graduating weekend and there wasn’t a single available hotel room in town. WTF?!!? I was almost in tears and temporarily contemplated getting a ride 60 miles up the trail to a hostel just so I could shower. Muster, Glowworm, and myself made our way over to the local Mexican restaurant for a food recharge and a group evaluation of our options. I was trying to accept that my shower would have to wait when Glowworm pulled out his trail book and began calling off all the hotel names in town. We had called all of them except for the truck stop hotel which hadn’t been listed in our book. We called and they had rooms available. Score! I don’t think I’d ever been so happy (or will ever be so happy) to know that I had a room at a truck stop hotel.
After a hot shower and a phone call home I felt like a new person. Tomorrow will be a new hiking day, and I’m ready for it ☺
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Day 74
Weather:
Overcast. Evening rain.
Today's Hike:
Camping (695.8) to Lamberts Meadow Shelter - 13.2 miles
Today we hiked to McAffes Knob; the poster child of the AT, and the Tinker Cliffs. McAffe's Knob is a massive rock platform that juts out over Catabwa Valley. Muster and I relaxed on the rocks for about an hour then hiked the next 6 miles to the Tinker Cliffs. I mindlessly followed Muster as we neared the cliffs and neglected to pay attention to the blazes. Bad mistake. She left the trail and began trailblazing underneath the cliffs. It took aout 15 minutes of hiking in the wrong direction before I turned and went back. Needless to say I lead the way until we were on top of the cliffs. When we did get to the top, the cliffs were amazing! The hike across them was relatively flat and provided spectacular views of Catabwa Valley and a view back to McAffes Knob.
We are tenting tonight at Lamberts Meadow Shelter with Glowworm and a father/son section hiker team. Tomorrow we're going into Daleville for a resupply and our first shower in 9 days! I can smell crisp hotel sheets! Yippie!
Overcast. Evening rain.
Today's Hike:
Camping (695.8) to Lamberts Meadow Shelter - 13.2 miles
Today we hiked to McAffes Knob; the poster child of the AT, and the Tinker Cliffs. McAffe's Knob is a massive rock platform that juts out over Catabwa Valley. Muster and I relaxed on the rocks for about an hour then hiked the next 6 miles to the Tinker Cliffs. I mindlessly followed Muster as we neared the cliffs and neglected to pay attention to the blazes. Bad mistake. She left the trail and began trailblazing underneath the cliffs. It took aout 15 minutes of hiking in the wrong direction before I turned and went back. Needless to say I lead the way until we were on top of the cliffs. When we did get to the top, the cliffs were amazing! The hike across them was relatively flat and provided spectacular views of Catabwa Valley and a view back to McAffes Knob.
We are tenting tonight at Lamberts Meadow Shelter with Glowworm and a father/son section hiker team. Tomorrow we're going into Daleville for a resupply and our first shower in 9 days! I can smell crisp hotel sheets! Yippie!
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Day 73
Weather:
Sunny & clear skies. Low around 50 degrees. High around 70 degrees.
Today's Hike:
Audie Murphy Monument to Camping (695.8). - 14.2 miles
Today was the start of hiking over one of three great scenic views along this section of trail; Dragons Tooth. Dragons Tooth is a lone rock monolith that stands 35-40 feet at it highest point. The hike to dragons tooth was fairly easy, however; the climb down from dragon's tooth required some rock climbing/mountaineering skills. There were sheer rock walls with rebar handles/stairs for the first mile down. Very cool.
After leaving Dragon's Tooth we headed to Catawba Grocery for a short-term resupply and some pizza. After a filling meal and a full pack we hiked a few miles north and found a camping site along the trail. About an hour later Glowworm joined us and we ended the evening with a cold beer and good conversation. Tomorrow is Mcaffe’s knob, the icon of the AT. I can’t wait!
Sunny & clear skies. Low around 50 degrees. High around 70 degrees.
Today's Hike:
Audie Murphy Monument to Camping (695.8). - 14.2 miles
Today was the start of hiking over one of three great scenic views along this section of trail; Dragons Tooth. Dragons Tooth is a lone rock monolith that stands 35-40 feet at it highest point. The hike to dragons tooth was fairly easy, however; the climb down from dragon's tooth required some rock climbing/mountaineering skills. There were sheer rock walls with rebar handles/stairs for the first mile down. Very cool.
After leaving Dragon's Tooth we headed to Catawba Grocery for a short-term resupply and some pizza. After a filling meal and a full pack we hiked a few miles north and found a camping site along the trail. About an hour later Glowworm joined us and we ended the evening with a cold beer and good conversation. Tomorrow is Mcaffe’s knob, the icon of the AT. I can’t wait!
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Day 72
Weather:
Sunny. Low around 5 degrees, high around 70 degrees.
Today's Hike:
Laurel Creek Shelter to Audie Murphy Monument – 18.0 miles
Ah, there's nothing like getting your shoes wet first thing on a chilly morning :) When we forged our first large creek coming out of Pearisburg Saturday, I should havetaken that as a foreshadow of what was to come. Although that particular crossing remains the widest, we have since crossed at least 20 creeks and streams. I’m pretty sure they're all higher then normal due to the nine days of rain. Needless to say I haven’t had a single day of dry feet. Despite this, today was rather fabulous since it was sunny all day long! Not a cloud in the sky :)
Tonight we're tenting alone about a half a mile past Audie Murphy Monument. Someone is camping up next to the monument and my feet are done for the day so I didn’t hike up to see it. Guess I’ll save that for my next thru-hike ☺ I’m currently being held captive in my tent by the noseeums and other aggravating biting bugs outside. Guess that gives me a good excuse for an early lights out.
Sunny. Low around 5 degrees, high around 70 degrees.
Today's Hike:
Laurel Creek Shelter to Audie Murphy Monument – 18.0 miles
Ah, there's nothing like getting your shoes wet first thing on a chilly morning :) When we forged our first large creek coming out of Pearisburg Saturday, I should havetaken that as a foreshadow of what was to come. Although that particular crossing remains the widest, we have since crossed at least 20 creeks and streams. I’m pretty sure they're all higher then normal due to the nine days of rain. Needless to say I haven’t had a single day of dry feet. Despite this, today was rather fabulous since it was sunny all day long! Not a cloud in the sky :)
Tonight we're tenting alone about a half a mile past Audie Murphy Monument. Someone is camping up next to the monument and my feet are done for the day so I didn’t hike up to see it. Guess I’ll save that for my next thru-hike ☺ I’m currently being held captive in my tent by the noseeums and other aggravating biting bugs outside. Guess that gives me a good excuse for an early lights out.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Day 71
Weather:
Rain in the morning
Today's Hike:
Bailey's Gap Shelter to Laurel Creek Shelter - 14.6 miles
I understand that weather forecasters gave a hard job; they are literally trying to predict the future. However, if you have no psychic abilities then predicting what's going to happen 24 hours from now and televising it to a large population of people should be illegal. It's like false advertising. What the weather person should do is stand next to a live radar picture with their mouth shut and just let the audience stare at it. We have just as much chance of understanding what the day will be like as they do. Needless to say our "clear skies for the next four days" forecast is wrong as of day 2 starting at 6am when I awoke to the pitter patter of tiny rain drops on the fly of the tent. This also means that I began my morning by bolting out of the tent like a racehorse to gather the clothes that had been hanging to dry. Although I have reached a point of being OK with whatever the weather does. What gets aggravating is hearing all the predictions (which of course tend to be better then reality) and never having any of them turn out right. I’d rather not be told anything and just deals with whatever comes. Its better to not have expectations.
After a drizzly, wet, and cold day the sun finally poked it's head out around 4pm. We stopped at War Spur Shelter to dry out the tent for about an hour the hiked 5.8 miles to Laurel Creek Shelter where we are tenting for the night. Following suit with the start of the day, a thunderstorm rolled in just as Muster finished cooking us a wonderful dinner of grilled bean burritos. Man, those weather reports are spot on aren't they!?!
Rain in the morning
Today's Hike:
Bailey's Gap Shelter to Laurel Creek Shelter - 14.6 miles
I understand that weather forecasters gave a hard job; they are literally trying to predict the future. However, if you have no psychic abilities then predicting what's going to happen 24 hours from now and televising it to a large population of people should be illegal. It's like false advertising. What the weather person should do is stand next to a live radar picture with their mouth shut and just let the audience stare at it. We have just as much chance of understanding what the day will be like as they do. Needless to say our "clear skies for the next four days" forecast is wrong as of day 2 starting at 6am when I awoke to the pitter patter of tiny rain drops on the fly of the tent. This also means that I began my morning by bolting out of the tent like a racehorse to gather the clothes that had been hanging to dry. Although I have reached a point of being OK with whatever the weather does. What gets aggravating is hearing all the predictions (which of course tend to be better then reality) and never having any of them turn out right. I’d rather not be told anything and just deals with whatever comes. Its better to not have expectations.
After a drizzly, wet, and cold day the sun finally poked it's head out around 4pm. We stopped at War Spur Shelter to dry out the tent for about an hour the hiked 5.8 miles to Laurel Creek Shelter where we are tenting for the night. Following suit with the start of the day, a thunderstorm rolled in just as Muster finished cooking us a wonderful dinner of grilled bean burritos. Man, those weather reports are spot on aren't they!?!
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Day 70
Weather:
Sunny. Low around 45, and high around 60 degrees.
Today's Hike:
Rice Field Shelter to Bailey's Gap Shelter-16.4 miles
It was chilly last night, the coldest night in several weeks. I believe it's somehow tied to Muster's karma. Every time she has sent a piece of winter gear home it's snowed. In Gatlinburg, TN she sent her down jacket home and then it snowed the next day. Then she sent half of her winter clothes home in Hot Springs, NC and it snowed. Yesterday in Pearisburg, VA Muster sent her winter sleeping bag home, and is now using her summer bag. Although it didn't snow (yet) it was really cold last night and this morning in comparison to the 60 degree muggy nights we've been having. I even wore my long johns until noon today.
Despite the cooler temperatures, today was absolutely beautiful - no rain! The forecast is predicting good weather for the next three days which is exciting. Hopefully we can get through to Dalesville, VA on Saturday without getting to wet (or cold)!
Tonight we're tenting at Bailey's Gap Shelter (which by the way I'd no where near a gap) with O.G., Hellbender, Leon and Halifax. We've been hiking with them for the past two days and I’m really enjoying new company, but at the same time I’m desperately missing all the girls (Packadiva's & Georgia's Girls).
I got a message from Tagless saying his surgery was a success. They both (Tagless & Tag Along) plan to be back on the trail on Monday, May 12th. I’m happy to hear the great news. Although we'll probably never cross paths out here again I’m wishing them both a safe, fun and successful journey to Katadhin and I’m missing them heaps!
Sunny. Low around 45, and high around 60 degrees.
Today's Hike:
Rice Field Shelter to Bailey's Gap Shelter-16.4 miles
It was chilly last night, the coldest night in several weeks. I believe it's somehow tied to Muster's karma. Every time she has sent a piece of winter gear home it's snowed. In Gatlinburg, TN she sent her down jacket home and then it snowed the next day. Then she sent half of her winter clothes home in Hot Springs, NC and it snowed. Yesterday in Pearisburg, VA Muster sent her winter sleeping bag home, and is now using her summer bag. Although it didn't snow (yet) it was really cold last night and this morning in comparison to the 60 degree muggy nights we've been having. I even wore my long johns until noon today.
Despite the cooler temperatures, today was absolutely beautiful - no rain! The forecast is predicting good weather for the next three days which is exciting. Hopefully we can get through to Dalesville, VA on Saturday without getting to wet (or cold)!
Tonight we're tenting at Bailey's Gap Shelter (which by the way I'd no where near a gap) with O.G., Hellbender, Leon and Halifax. We've been hiking with them for the past two days and I’m really enjoying new company, but at the same time I’m desperately missing all the girls (Packadiva's & Georgia's Girls).
I got a message from Tagless saying his surgery was a success. They both (Tagless & Tag Along) plan to be back on the trail on Monday, May 12th. I’m happy to hear the great news. Although we'll probably never cross paths out here again I’m wishing them both a safe, fun and successful journey to Katadhin and I’m missing them heaps!
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