Date: October 23 2000
Trail Day: 145
Miles Today: 21
Location: Laurel Creek Shelter
Section Mile: AT 1457
ECT Mile: 2156
Started climbing to Audie Murphy monument. It went fairly quickly. The trail
then descended to a very good valley. Then a climb back to Sinking Creek
Mountain. The ridge walk was quite rugged in portions. You walk on the
portions covered with leaves or the rocks. The leaves slip and are quite
hard on the knees. The rocks are slanted every which way. To make things
interesting there are thorny bushes on either side. I saw 2 goats there.
They came up to me and started licking my legs. I think they are after the
salt. I gave them some salt I had. One of the goats started chewing on my
pack strap and left it covered with slime. I got a
shot
of the 2 goats.
Then came a descent and a nice walk along some pastures. It got quite
dark by the end and I thought I had missed the shelter. There were 2 section
hikers there.
Water is becoming quite a problem now. I have been without water for several
times in the past few days. It has also been very dry. We also need some
rain to start the leaf decomposition process. The trails are just covered
with them.
Looks like Firebreather, Fall Girl, George and Sweet Cicily are one day
ahead. I will try and catch up with them now. I dont think I will be
seeing the group behind again. They were fun.
Today
Saw fish in Trout Creek
Slipped on Brush Mountain Peak
Got licked by goats
Pleasant walk through meadows
Date: October 24 2000
Trail Day: 146
Miles Today: 23
Location: Dickinson Gap
Section Mile: AT 1480
ECT Mile: 2179
A climb, flat, down then another climb, down and another climb. That was
the profile today. The valleys are now very rich. They have several
streams in them and have vegetation with very thick leaves. Its very
beautiful.
There were sodas in Wav Spur shelter organized by Blue Skies whom I met
back in New York or so. Some of the thru hikers had gone to the ALDHA
meeting held about 2 weeks ago. We thus know who is how far behind.
Attending the meeting seemed to have no point for me. Why hear people
talk about the trail when you are actually doing it ? Besides, in public forums
like this there is always a positive spin on the trail. The sweat, dirt,
bites and weariness are never mentioned. Very unbalanced. Any way, I did
not hear any great things about it.
Today was also a day with bad map profiles. There is a section in Stony Creek
valley that the map shows as flat. It is however a mini roller coaster.
There was also another section that ran parallel to a Salt Sulphur
Turnpike. The road had taken up the ridge top which is fairly even. The trail
ran on the side of the mountain and was very rocky. Leaves covering rock
can be very dangerous. Slipped several times. Also had to go slow and
my patience was tested.
Met 4 section hikers. We are certainly in the Bible belt. I keep getting
"May the Lord Bless You" from these idiots. There are also numerous
Bibles in all of the shelter. How these religious wackos can assume we
need to be saved without knowing the first thing about us is beyond me.
Got a drizzle during the day. I am also eating Luncheon meat made by
Kroger's. It is extremely salty and I end up drinking all my water and
still end up with a parched throat at night. Will not be buying
them any more. Fish seems to be the way to go.
Tomorrow Pearisburg to pick up a mail drop.
Date: October 25 2000
Trail Day: 147
Miles Today: 17
Location: Angel's Rest
Section Mile: AT 1497
ECT Mile: 2196
Today was an overcast day. I was in high spirits. The trail ran the ridge
and then descended into Pearisburg. It was beautiful.
Morning Walk
A sweet melody on the lips,
Pack's snug on the hips,
Feel the early morning nip,
Far away a lonely farm.
Breathing in the mountain air,
A chipmunk chatters over there,
Bliss and beauty everywhere,
A little bird sings his song.
Feeling nature's harmony,
Wild apples are sweet honey,
Trees magestic so many,
Beauty shows in every form.
The trail entrances with her charm,
An overwhelming sense of calm,
Body, spirit, arm in arm,
Nature is soul's soothing balm.
Date: October 26 2000
Trail Day: 148
Miles Today: 22
Location: VA 606 Campground
Section Mile: AT 1519
ECT Mile: 2218
Today's profile looked quite easy, but I had a hard time completing it.
I am getting some minor knee pain because of all the slips on rocks.
I decided to go a little easy and rest more.
Looks like Firebreather and Fall Girl are ahead while Sweet Cicily and George
are behind because of a O in Pearisburg. Also Lil Debbie and Candyman.
two sobo's were in Pearisburg. So I have passed them without meeting. Met
a day hiker - Old Geezer, who I have met before in New Hampshire. I remembered him quite
well. We talked for a while. He was the only person I met on the trail today.
Also last night some animal was prowling near my tarp for food. It did not
take anything but tore up the sub wrappers.
The leaves are now almost all off of the trees. It looks quite barren and gray.
But on the up side, we get more sun.
Decided to stop at the store on VA 606 and get groceries and call Vivek.
They let you camp and take a hot shower for 2 $ ! It's funny - I have to
take a shower and get back into the same dirty clothes. Its been at least
10 days since I have done my laundry. The store has pizza, beer, ice cream
etc - a hiker's paradise. I finished off a medium loaded pizza and a pint of
ice cream.
The local people now have a distinct southern twang.
Looking forward to a deep sleep tonight.
Date: October 27 2000
Trail Day: 149
Miles Today: 17
Location: Kimberling Creek
Section Mile: AT 1536
ECT Mile: 2235
Had a good sleep last night. Also dreamt that someone was walking by while I was asleep and
was trying to surprise me. I decided to surprise him/her instead by
shouting, but found I could not move or speak. It was odd. It was as though
my body was paralyzed. I also tried to will myself to wake up but could not.
I realized that the states of consciousness during sleep and otherwise are
extremely different and one does not gradually go from one to the other.
As a corollary I think that deep personal changes can be made best
suddenly - almost a shock.
Had breakfast at the store. This is a very convenient place. There was a lot
of fog. My knees were hurting all night. I think the heavier pack (due to
winter clothes) and longer climbs are taking their toll. I decided to
use sticks. The result was amazing. They made a big difference. I will have
to ask Vivek to send me my Leki poles.
Today's profile also looked easy but turned out quite rough. Here the climbs
are never over 500 ft but they are climbing or dropping all the time.
Decided to do a slightly shorter day as there was no water for 6-7 miles
up the trail. I was also quite tired.
Slept early. I have to do 2, 23 mile sections to get into Atkins day after
tomorrow night. If not I will be out of food. The terrain looks rougher
now, so it may not be possible. Let's see.
Date: October 28 2000
Trail Day: 150
Miles Today: 24
Location: Chestnut Knob Shelter
Section Mile: AT 1560
ECT Mile: 2259
4-5 of today's miles were along Wolf creek. The trail has not followed
creeks since Maine. It was a good change. I have now passed Firebreather
and Fall Girl. They had gone into Bland to meet Fall Girl's parents. I had
passed Sweet Cicily and George in Pearisburg.
The mountains are now getting bigger as we move towards the Smokies.
I think doing more than 20 miles is not a good idea anymore. The body may
hold for a couple of days but then collapses. Yesterday was quite bad for
me. I am also reading other sobo's going thru a similar experience now.
I think its better to do a slightly lower mileage but consistently. 20 may
be a good target, although I will have to do a 23 or so today to get into
Atkins as I am out of food.
I barely made it into the shelter in time. Ate rice and sardines with chilli.
It was excellent. Also met 2 guys from Kentucky. One of them is a
transportation planner for Lexington. He knows of The Coradino Group (where I used to work)
and Ken Kaltenback and Dave Ripple. Small world !
Water continues to be a problem. I picked up another plastic soda bottle
on a street to use as a water bottle. Thank God for road side trash !
Date: October 29 2000
Trail Day: 151
Miles Today: 23
Location: Village Motel, Atkins
Section Mile: AT 1583
ECT Mile: 2282
Another long day into Atkins. Last night was cold - perhaps 30 F. The
morning was beautiful with clear skies. There was a good view from the
shelter - took a
shot.
It's a very nice shelter built on top of Chestnut
Knob, although it doesn't have any water. Some of the trail ran through
pretty valleys and meadows.
The register entries show that there are about 5 sobo's within 3 days
ahead of me. I think I will see them in Damascus if they take a O.
I was extremely worn out when I got to Atkins. Did my laundry, showered and
ate 1, 3 piece chicken dinner with 2 sides, 1 liver with onion dinner
with 2 sides, 1 BLT with chips, 2 hot dogs with chilli and 2 milk shakes.
Called Vivek asking him to send me my Leki poles. The walking sticks make
a big difference. Hopefully I will have to do very few 20+ days till I
clear the Pinhoti Trail in Alabama (another 1000 miles). Now I have
another 4 day, 75 miles to get into Damascus. It is considered the
friendliest trail town on the AT. Also a very important point as it marks
the completion of 75 % of the AT as well as the near completion (3 miles short)
of Virginia - a monster of a state.
Virginia is a state where a good number of thru-hikers drop out. Its called
the Virginia blues. I have read of several sobo's who have dropped out. Marlin
in particular was note worthy. I had been seeing his entries for almost
half the AT. He draws a shooting star like symbol with his entries and is
hence easy to remember. I draw a little spider web with a spider in mine
-similar to the one on the web site (Removed since).
