5/11/06 Thursday: Helveys Mill Shelter to Wapiti Shelter (24mi)

Well I dodged the rain yesterday, getting into the shelter just before it started. That always makes me feel good... Today I was first up and out by 0715... Problem today would be I turned left out of the shelter instead of rt. This took me the 1.8mi back down to the road I had just climbed the previous evening. I can't tell you how upset I was when I finally was convinced I was heading south. I had a 24mi day already planned and this would increase that by 3.6mi. Anyway I soon headed North again but with my friends now ahead of me instead of slowly catching up to me. The day would prove long, cold, and wet with rain starting late morning and not letting up until about 1800. I caught Skunk 10mi later at the Jenny Knob Shelter taking a break just before the rain started at 1100. She was just leaving, I stayed another 15min to rest a bit before heading back out. I had decided to walk .8mi down VA606 that was coming up in 2mi, to get a hot pizza to help break up the day. When I got to the road it was pouring and I didnt have any luck hitching so I decided to forgoe the pizza and push on. It continued to rain all afternoon and the temps dropped to the 40's...It was quite miserable... I finally arrived at the Wapiti Shelter at 1800 just about time the rain stopped...LOL...

PICTURES:
1. Lovely wildflowers early in the day...
2. Again, I made good time throughtout the day because much of the trail was quite nice like this...
3. The shelter was full with me taking the last spot... you notice all the clothing and gear hung in the hope of it drying by morning. LOL fat chance with the humidity level staying around 90%.