5/6/06 Saturday: Damascus, VA to Thomas Knob Shelter... 28mi

I really felt great when I woke this morning... I had a pretty long day planned which included a climb to the tallest mountain in Virginia (Mt. Rogers). My day began early with 40oz of caffenated beverages and a king sized snickers... 28mi would be my longest yet and I would need all the carbs and calories I could get... I was off at 0730 with a mile walk on streets until I would pick up the trail again at the N end of town. The route was not quite as flat as I had presumed but the ups and downs werer not too severe and by 1125 and 10mi, I was ready for my first break just N of the Sounders Shelter on a Sunny Mtn peak... I always remove my boots to let my feet, socks, and shoes air a bit when I break... I snacked for about 40 min and continued on my way... I had a chance to walk on the Virginia Creeper Trail for a bit and was really amazed at the numbers of people out enjoying the spring scenes... I reached the Lost Mtn shelter next at 1330, another 5mi, and decided to take a short break of 20min... I had an accident with the camera on Buzzard Rock, the wind blew it off a rock as I was posing for a pic, and I thought my picture taking was over... The lens refused to retract for a bit...it finally bagan working...what a relief... Ive not often walked throught the woods in Maine in the spring...due mainly to the black fly menace... but the spring here is full of all kinds of birds singing and bees buzzing... all sorts of wild flowers... Its quite amazing... As I made my way up to the Thomas Knob shelte the weather began to change with cool air and wind replacing the warmth of the day... A front was moving in...and rain would soon follow... more reason to get to a shelter for the night... I arrived at 2000, tired from covering the 28mi but content that I had a most productive day... I had the entire second floor of the shelter to myself... very nice..
PICTURES:
1. The Virginia Creeper Bike/Hike Trail on the outskirts of Damascus
2. Just reaching "Buzzards Rock" point of my hike and just before dropping the camera about 4ft onto some rocks
3. Spring water "gushing" from the ground about a mile from Buzzards Rock near where I had dinner...
4. I finished dinner here and sat enjoying the view before pushing on... I has been a lovely day
5. I finally make it to the Mt Rogers area and although I have climbed a few peaks today...this would be the tallest...
6. Thats me stopping for a pic...
7. One of the many nice views to be had while ascending Mt Rodgers...
8. There were 4 hikers, and this dog, on the first floor of the Thomas Knob Shelter. This was one of only a few 2 story shelters on the AT...I decided to take the 2nd floor and had it to myself.