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[at-l] Daniel's Journal - part 5
Friday, May 29
Got up this morning and talked some more. Called my folks at home.
Had Cheerios for breakfast. Bigfoot offered to take us kayaking. Hum…
That pulled. We decided to take a rain check and push on.
Bigfoot took us to his folk’s place, and showed us his father’s water
plants. They had a nice waterfall and little pond in their back yard.
There were water lilies and other water plants I don’t remember. He
even had a little swamp to help filter and aureate the water for his
pond. It was very nice.
We stopped at the hostel to see if Yo Yo and Truly were ready to hit the
trail. (The hostel is over 2 miles from the trail) Perfect timing!
They were packed and ready to go. To Obtuse was also ready. They rode
on the back of Bigfoot’s pickup. We dropped them off at the P.O. From
there they were planning to hit the all you can eat Chinese Buffet.
Bigfoot dropped us off at the AT. He got our picture again and we
said goodbye. Then we headed north!
If you ever stop in Pearisburg, be sure you visit the Texaco Subway.
They make good subs, and they have frozen coke
We climbed about 2,000 feet out of Pearisburg. It was good to be in
the woods again. Towns sure do suck you in. You stay longer and spend
more than you expect.
Four miles out of town, we met Salt. He had stopped for a rest at a
campsite. We stopped for a rest too. Our packs were so-o heavy! We
took a nap.
At Star Haven shelter we took another rest break. It was about 4:30
so I ate my foot long sub. It was very good. I was wishing for a
frozen coke. It was so warm.
We enjoyed a beautiful view into West VAA.
We heard voices and wondered who was coming. They soon came into
view. It was Seasons and Punster!
Farther up the trail we came to a spring. We filled up our water
bottles. Then hiked on to Symm’s meadow. It was a beautiful place to
camp with a good view of the sunset.
Salt was already camping there and so was Samson. Soon Punster and
Seasons came. We all had a good time getting to know each other.
For supper I ate my subway roll. I toasted it, added butter and
jelly, and enjoyed!
Didn’t look like rain so I did not set up my tent.
Saturday, May 30
Ate breakfast, packed our things, and hiked on.
We stopped at Pine Swamp Shelter for a break and to sign the
register. We walked through a valley and climbed another mountain. We
got to Bailey Gap shelter around 4:30. We took a break and thought
about staying. We could hear thunder in the distance. We decided to
stay.
We read in the register that someone had put some beer and one Pepsi
in the spring. Since Samson was getting water, we told him to check on
the Pepsi. He came up from the spring with a Pepsi! We passed it all
around. It was so good.
We met two-day hikers. They had come to get water, then were planing
to go to Wind Rock for the night. Mt. Roamer started talking with them
and found out that someone by the name of Wood elf was looking for two
hikers. He was carrying a cantaloupe, coke, and candy. Wow! Did that
ever give wings to Mt. Roamer’s tired feet! She came running up to the
shelter and excitedly told me to get my things packed, we’re going on!
Wood elf is at Wind Rock! The last thing I saw was the back of her pack
headed north. I got my things together and headed out. I soon caught
up with Mt. Roamer.
On the way, we saw two deer. They were really pretty. We also saw
some awesome rocks.
At 7:30 we got to Wind Rock. Wood elf was there. Mt. Roamer was so
glad to see him. And I got to meet him for the first time.
He offered us a coke. Sure. Then we all sat in a circle, and ate
cantaloupe. It was just right and very good. Salt joined us for the
cantaloupe eating. We sat on the rock and talked. We set up our tents,
because it looked like a thunderstorm might move in. Then we went back
to the rock and talked until 12:00. It was a pretty night, and the
thunderstorm never came.
Sunday, May 31
We slept in this morning. Then we got up and went out on the rock for
breakfast. The view was great. The morning was beautiful! Around 8 or
9 a.m. the others (Samson, Seasons, Yo Yo and Punster) stopped in to see
the view. We talked for a while and then they moved on.
Wood elf, Mt. Roamer, and I gathered for church. I shared from Isaiah
40:30, “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength:
they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be
weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” I thought that verse went
well with hiking.
We hiked to War Spur Shelter. Took a break and ate some chocolate.
Wrote in the register. Talked a lot.
.6 miles later we came to the parking lot where Wood elf had his car.
We stopped and talked for quite awhile. He showed me my journal as it
appeared on the Internet. Interesting. We gave him messages to give to
our families. He loaned us his hiking poles. Then we said goodbye! It
was so good to be with him and have him hike with us.
>From there we hiked to Kelly’s Knob. Another 2,000 foot climb. But a
beautiful view waited for us at the top! It was pretty!
Then down the hill to Laurel Creek Shelter. We got there around 7:30.
Samson was the first one to the shelter. He heard a little “woof.”
He stopped short in surprise and the watched a bear beat a hasty
retreat. We all hoped it kept running for quite awhile!?
The shelter was full for the night with Mt. Roamer, Outta Chocolate,
Punster, Seasons, and Yo Yo. Samson, To Obtuse, Woog, and Truly Blessed
tented by the shelter.
Monday, June 1
Another beautiful day to be hiking! The mountain laurel is in full
bloom! It is so pretty. Clusters of white all through the woods.
We hiked through a valley today. Crossed two roads. At the second
road crossing, we also crossed a stream. Under the bridge the water was
waist deep. Yo Yo, Mt. Roamer and I went for a swim! The water was
cold but it felt good!
We walked through a meadow where the grass was as high as my shoulders.
Would have been fun to play hide and seek in it.
We passed an oak tree that was about eighteen feet around. It was
humongus. We stopped for pictures. Standing beside the tree made us
feel like dwarfs. Hanging from one of its outstretched limbs was a
five-foot section of yellow braided rope with a loop in the end.
We climbed 1500 feet to the top of Sinking Creek Mt. From there we
could look back in the valley and see where we had come.
We stopped at Sarvers Cabin. I spread out my Tyvek to dry. Ate some
lunch, then walked down to the spring. The spring was about 300 to 400
yards down over the side of the mountain. The trail was very steep.
While at the spring, we took the time to look around. We found the
ruins of an old two-room log house. Must have been some early settler’s
homestead.
I lay on my back in the grass for a rest. I watched the fluffy white
clouds scurry across the big blue. They sure were in a hurry! Then I
stared in amazement! The cloud had disappeared. I watched another
cloud. When it came to a certain place in the sky, it just
disappeared. Not suddenly, but gradually. We watched several more.
They never made it past that point. They all disintegrated. Very
interesting!
After filling my water bottles, I hiked back up to the AT.
We had a good long ridge walk. On some of the rocks we could get a
terrific view of the valley. One place was so nice that we stopped for
supper. I made stovetop stuffing. It was so nice sitting there on the
rocks.
We descended into the valley for the night. We stayed at Niday
Shelter. Our friends were already there. Yo Yo, Truly Blessed,
Seasons, Punster, To Obtuse, Woog, and Rush. There was also a Mom and
Dad and their ten-year-old son. They were south bound.
The shelter was about full, so I decided to sleep out. I spread my
Tyvek as a ground cloth, laid out my therma rest, crawled into my
sleeping bag, and slept under the stars. Well, more like tossed under
the stars. The “no see’ms” and mosquitoes were very bad. They bit me
awake most of the night. If I sleep out again, I will make sure I am
totally covered, even my face.
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