5/13/06 Saturday: Pearisburg, Va to Rice Field Shelter (6mi)

Well, I was still hoping to get a few blog entries in today so I got up early and cooked myself some breakfast with food purchased at the super Wal-mart the day before. I got enough food to share with the group, many on a really tight budget... So I scrambled 5 eggs and had some fruit and by 0845 I was on my way to the Public Library to do some blogging... I bid farewell to the group and met Skunk again at the Library checking her e-mail. She got booted off first and after about 1hour my turn came for the boot. They only had 3 computers connected to the internet and there was a line pretty early... I hung around and got back on to post another days blog before getting the boot again.. Tried one more time and by 1200 decided that I wasnt gonna get anything more done so Id best hit the road. I stopped at Hardees for a last Carb loading binge and was joined once again by skunk who had been taking care of other business before leaving town... We both ate our fill and headed out for a short day that included a 1700 foot ascent over about 2 miles. We were gonna push it too hard with an ascent like that.

PICTURES:
1. On my way to the Public Library I snapped this shot of the Catholic Church sign on the street side. There were some parishoners there weeding the church gardens on this very pleasant day.
2. I met these two gentlemen who were from West Virginia hiking south. They had originally intended to thru-hike the AT this year but personal and family medical issues caused a change in plans and resulted in some section hiking. There is certainly nothing wrong with enjoying this wonderful trail experience in sections...
3. The hike up to the ridge was difficult but we were rewarded with some pretty fantastic vistas
4. Views of West Virginia from these Virginia Appalachian Mtns
5. Sunset over West Virginia... Thats Aloha who just had her 19th birthday... shes thru-hiking from Portland,Me. She must have been a track star at school cause she moves... Calls herself Aloha which has a double meaning...Hello and Goodbye... very appropriate for her... LOL

5/12/06 Friday: Wapiti Shelter to Pearisburg, Va (16.6)

Well, I was up and out again by 0715 under chilly temps and partly cloudy skies but no rain... The terraine was relatively easy and by 1030 Skunk and I had covered 8miles and arrived at the next shelter for our late morning break... The cool and cloudy day continued, kinda nice if your hiking :), and we soon arrived at our destination; Pearisburg. I had not been able to get any cell phone reception the 3 days prior to our arrival but had intended to stay at the only hotel that advertised having internet conection. When we got into town we quickly found out that all the hotel rooms were sold for the weekend graduation of some Tech School and our only option was a Church hostel almost 3 miles away. We stopped at the Rendevous Motel, across the street from the AT and waited for the manager who also said she was booked. She offered to drive us to the Hostel and even stop at the Post Office so Skunk could pick up her resupply package. She was a God send and soon had us at the Hostel and her recommendation for dinner within walking distance. There was a Wal-Mart mall .25mi from the Hostel. I had a wonderful time at the Hostel that eventually filled up with 10 hikers that night.

PICTURES:
1. Had some nice views of Virginia throughout the day...
2. A view of Pearisburg from a point near Angels Rest
3. A beautiful location for this hiker hostel on a hill behind the Church with a Gazebo you see here on the right and hostel appearing as an old barn on the left.
4. The hostel had a beautiful balcony for viewing the valley shown on this pic.
5. The sleeping quarters upstairs in the loft slept 10 I think. Down stairs had a kitchen, dining, woodstove and lounge area, and toilet facilities. Very nicely done and apparently all done with donations from the hikers...

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%.

5/10/06 Wednesday: Chestnut Knob Shelter to Helveys Mill Shelter (24mi)

Brrrr. Got up and out by 0730 with the wind blowing and temps in the 30's... The first order of todays business was to get off the top of this mountain and get into one of the valleys, protected from the winds and maybe some of this cold air. This cold weather does help get you going faster though... It took me about 30 min to go 2mi to the valley below where I caught up with skunk, briefly with Steve off getting water somewhere. I continued North and stopped for lunch after 10mi at Jenkins Shelter. The weather had changed and the sun was out so I stripped down to my skivies and sunned myself for an hour while waiting for Steve. After snacking on an energy bar and getting more water, I decided to leave Steve a note in the Shelter log as to my where abouts and proceed. As I was leaving, Steve limped in. He had aggrivated his shin splint considerably and felt he had to stay at this shelter and get into town tomorrow. I understood and told him that we could probably hook back up again in Troutville if he got better since I would be taking a few days there with Jackie. We parted, knowing I had not seen the last of "Only Steve".... The day was a long mostly easy ridge walk but with little water along the way. We were lucky enough to be blessed twice on this day by the same individual with some Trail Majik. I passed Skunk, Sven, and Tailwind about 1500 and proceeded to a perch over the 21/52 Hwy's for dinner and a call home. I had great reception at this location and was joined for dinner a litter later by Skunk with the 2 guys heading into town to resupply. After dinner, Skunk and I headed to final destination for the day, the Helveys Mill Shelter which is up a 400ft rather steep climb. I really dont enjoy those, especially at the end of the day.... Well I really dont enjoy them at all...and often find myself humming Queens Another One Bites the Dust repeatedly... LOL

PICTURES:
1. Some nice views from Brushy Mtn
2. Pics from the ridgewalk on the way to Bland, Va
3. A bright red bird caught on film.
4. The Laurel Creek Bridge was out, been out for a couple years, so we were rerouted on another trail and used a road bridge to get across.
5. Just after getting back on the trail, I came across this trail majik, an ice chest full of apple juice and a card with the weekly weather report on one side and this info on the other. Well appreciated by all...:) This same gentleman provided more Trail Majik 7mi further down the trail in the form of water. There was no water on the ridge....If not for his water I couldnt have cooked supper... Thanks again...
6. Dinner on this secluded peak between a local road and Hwy's 21/52. With just a nice breeze and plenty of sun I was able to fire up my stove and cook supper while chatting with Jackie, and other members of my family. Skunk joined me a little later and she called her Mom who will be joining her in the Shenandoahs for a bit of hiking/bonding. Really kool....

5/09/06 Tuesday: Relax Inn, Atkins, Va. to Chestnut Knob Shelter (23mi)

I was happy to have my earplugs for last nights stay with old Steve...LOL... Grinz no hard feelings there Steve... We were on our way about 0730, up to the restauraunt where we had a nice dinner the night before. After a nice big omlette, we headed out for the trail at about 0900. The morning was pretty uneventfull and by 1115 and 7 miles, Steve and I stopped for a snack in the Crawfish Valley area of the trail... After a 30 min break, we continued our trek north... About 3mi further north, I came across a herd of cattle in the trail, in the woods... Not sure about what I should do next, I decided to push on and crossed my trekking poles in front of me and yelled MMMOOOVVVEEE... Well that got their attention and they soon scattered. A few moments later a heard a voice calling is someone there... LOL... It was skunk and she had taken a wrong turn off the trail and the cattle wouldn't let "move" to let her get back on. Well, I moved those cows too and she soon joined Steve who had just caught up and I and another hiker called Indiana. We all continued North to the Knot Maul Branch Shelter for our late afternoon break and dinner arriving at about 1500. We took about an hour and finally headed for our final stop of the day...the Chestnut Knob Shelter. I arrived at about 2000 while Steve got in closer to 2100. The 2 x-army guys and skunk arrived at about 1900. It was clear upon our arrival but storms were forming and the night would prove cold and stormy.

PICTURES:
1. Caught one of those nasty Virginia cows... This one is faking pacivity...LOL
2. Walking through an easement purchased by the Gvt for this National Scenic Trail.. This easement was between two cattle ranches.
3. Walking through a meadow, not sure if its owned by the Park service or the owner is just letting the trail pass through. Beautiful none the less.
4. Much of these lands are barbed wired in so youmust climb over the fences on these ladders. Lots of ladders around here...
5. Heres a pic of Skunk, taking a break at the Knot Maul Shelter recounting her cow story. No lives were lost on this harrowing ordeal.
6&7 Making it to the top of Chestnut Knob with a pleasant gradual inclined walk and wonderful vistas in every direction.
8. Getting in late and setting up my tent near dusk on the top of Chestnut Knob. Was to be a cold and rainy night.
9. Grabbed a pic of the Chestnut Knob Shelter as I was leaving in the morning. A completely enclosed type, rare on the AT but for this location a necessity. Steve had some snoring competition in there with Minnasota Smith...LOL... Im not sure who won...

5/08/06 Monday: Baptist Hostel, Troutdale, Va to Relax Inn, Atkins, VA (25.6mi)

Greetings from the Comfort Inn, Troutville, VA... Just got in this afternoon after completing a 15mi day under sunny skies. I am really looking forward to my wifes visit tomorrow and will try to complete as many of these blog entries today... The support and encouragement of Jackie, Sara and Peter(my daughter and son), and countless other family and friends has proven to be invaluable. Thanks again for your support

PICTURES:
1. My trip today included crossing some meadows and former homesteads purchased by the Federal Gvt for inclusion into the National Park system.
2. I walked past this working farm in an idylic setting.
3. The Partnership Shelter... quite an upgrade from all the other shelters with lots of room in the loft too.. It come equipped with a shower with hot water...sorry you need to bring your own towels...LOL... And you can order pizza for delivery from a phone on the NRA Headquarters building just around the corner... You simply cant do that at any other shelter...
4. Here is a pic of Sven on the rt and Tailwind on the lt. These two gentlemen just completed their commissions with the Army... Tailwind is still on terminal leave... nice...
5. The NRA welcome sign...
6. Ferns covering the ground on this mountain top, a different and sight I found picture worthy...
7. Walking by an historic school house in very rural Virginia...
8. I was quite taken with this tree...there are lots of odd shapes out here...can you guess what this looks like???


Half the group rose early for breakfast at the local diner. I joined the early risers and by 0830 we all had finished and were ready to head out. Some local men, including the owner of the restauraunt were having coffee and as we all filed out the door I turned and complimented him on a wonderful breakfast and let them know if they were headed west and saw any of us still walking the 2mi to the trail head they should feel free to give us a ride... Well, the owner got right up and said that if everyone was ready to go he would get his pickup and we could all jump in the back. Well needless to say we were all ecstatic, 7 people hitching at once leaves little chance for a ride. In a few minutes we were all back to the trail head and on our way... The ride in 40 degree weather left us all a bit chilled but once out of the truck we all started moving and created our own internal combustion...if ya know what I mean... The day started out Foggy, and ended that way too with occational light showers to boot. I stopped with steve at the Chatfield shelter at about 1515 that afternoon for dinner and we decided to continue on to Atkins and stay in a Motel room for the night. He needed to resupply and we both craved extra carbs from the local diner. I'm still down about 15lbs... I havent been this light since high school...LOL...We got into Atkins at 1730 and got the last room at the Relax Inn, right off the trail. We were grateful since more bad weather was forcasted for that night...