Day 38 – Pearisburg
Zero Day
Played around with 3 different pair of shoes. The Oslos that Deb sent me. No good sent back. A pair of KTec Low hikers, too narrow and the winner is? A mid height Carolina work boot! In a EE width. Who’d a thunk it? But there it is. What a bunch of Crap.
Day 39 – Pearisburg – Wapiti Shelter
Critter Count: 4 Deer
10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
50 – 70 degrees
After a long night of thunder storms (I was in a motel) the morning brought more showers . after a hearty breakfast I set off to climb out of the valley. 2 hours and 3400 ft of climb later I was on the ridge. A pretty easy 17 mile, but one that just went on and on. The heavy backpack syndrome – just sawing my shoulders. Am tenting tonight, the shelter is full of NOBO’s and its already raining!
Day 40 – Wapiti Shelter – Jenny Knob Shelter
14 Miles
45 – 70 degrees
Nice and Sunny!
Beautiful day to complete my 400th mile on the trail. Easy walk. Dismal falls was pretty. Met up with 10 NOBO’s (north bounders) and they are a motley crew. Mostly young – 20’s one lady older than 65. She is looking limpy , hard to get everyone into the shelter and in a tent. Not much flat ground around here. I am in a tent, There seems to be little threat of rain tonight. First time in 10 days. Hopefully that trend will continue!
Day 41 – Jenny’s Nob Shelter – Helvey’s Mill
10 Mile
10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
40 – 50 degrees, rainy
Rain started at 4 a.m. and rained steadily. Slowed around 8 a.m. so I packed up and got into the shelter for breakfast. Walked slowly all day. Just didn’t have it today, was rainy and cool all day. Misty and foggy. Am sheltered with 8 people right now and its early, have eaten and its 5 p.m. Rumor has it tomorrow will be nice.
Day 42 – Helvey’s Shelter – Davis Farm CS
9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
50 – 70 degrees, sunny!
Perfect Day
I did not sleep well last night as there was a continued threat of rain everyone gravitated towards the shelters. Since I was the first one in, I got the preferred end spot, so it only had one person close to me. At least 15 people showed up and only 6 could get inside. As it turned out it didn’t rain. Had a great hike today. Was cool and the air seemed dry, hardly broke a sweat even though I had some good long 2 hour climbs. I found the perfect secluded camp site tonight ½ mile down off the ridge and will be alone tonight! Should get some excellent sleep. Looks like a clear night to do some star gazing as well.
Day 43 – Davis Farm Camp – Knot Maul Brach
16 Mile
2 Good Steep Climbs
8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Pretty good day. Cool and breezy to start, good hiking weather! Warmed in the afternoon. I’m camped next to a brook and love the serenity. The sound of falling water will lull me to sleep tonight. No one else here yet the shelter is about ¼ (.25) mile up the hill from here. I’m giving the spot another hour before the late northbound crew shows up. Not suppose to rain but we’ll see. Will hike 14 miles into Atkins for a motel and resupply before pushing on to the Mt Rogers Area, supposed to be wild pones there to pet!
Day 44 – Knot Maul Branch – Highway 81 near Atkins, VA
14 Miles
8:30 – 3 p.m.
50 – 70 degrees, partly sunny
Critter Count – 1 snake, 1 deer
2 good climbs
Had a great hike today. Dreaming of a shower, soft bed and hot food. Had a couple of steep ups of 500 feet or more but plowed up and had no problems. Feet ankles and knees are all good. Shoulders could use a massage though. Supposed to rain next 2 days so I’m going to be in shelters. Everyone is going to be in Damascus for trail days, so I should be ok.
Day 45 – Highway 81 Atkins – Partnership Shelter
12 Miles
9:45 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Critter Count: 1 snake
Some good climbs
Woke early in the motel and headed to breakfast of French toast, eggs and bacon. Went to the Exxon station for some internet work. Hiked out with bright sun and high humidity. Climbed for an hour or so and followed a nice stream. I am at the partnership shelter and will order a pizza delivered. One of the few shelters where it is possible. Heading for the Mount Rogers and Grayson Highlands where the wild ponies roam.
Day 46 – Partnership Shelter – Hurricane Campground
17 Miles
8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
50 – 70 degrees
Critter Count: 1 Deer
1 climb
Had an ok nights sleep. I was in the tent outside the shelter. Had pizza delivered from pizza hut! Went to bed with a full tummy. About 10 people at the hut several camping. Someone got up at 3 a.m. to head out! Knuckleheads! Woke me up. Slept good after they left and was up at 6 a.m. Now I hope the weather holds for a while. Nice and warm. Saw and heard several thunderstorms pass through. Still looks like it may stay dry. Am camped in a forest service campground, had a hot shower and washed out my hiking clothes. Nice site right by a stream. Hardly anyone here. Everything looks good. Am at mile 494 for the trip so far. Passing the halfway mark tomorrow of this half.
Day 47- – Hurricane Creek Camp – Wise Shelter
14 Miles
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
40 – 50 Rain – Misty overcast
Slept good and woke to a steady rain. Gathered everything up and headed to the bathroom to pack and make breakfast. Stopped raining soon as I hit the trail and was soon in shorts and T-shirt for my first climb. Temps never rose much above 50 degrees. Went across a bald and temp fell into the 40’s with a strong north wind. Will be wearing most of my clothes to bed tonight. Two more days to Damascus and a major resupply. Will be shopping for boots (again), food (as always). I need to seam seal the rain fly on the tent and water proof it. Maybe a night in a motel. I passed the 500 mile mark today! That’s ¼ of the whole trail and the ½ – way mark for the south half of the Harpers to Springer leg. .
Day 48 – Wise Shelter – Virginia Creeper Trail
18.3 Miles
8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
33 – 65 Degrees, Sunny Beautiful
Critter Count: 1 Deer
Nearly froze last night. Temps were way down. To top it off the other guy in the shelter snored! What are the odds! Besides the fact he wouldn’t stop talking. Today’s hike was the best. Although it started cold I had on every piece of clothing I had and just about was warm enough to sleep. As soon as I did, his snoring woke me! The day warmed quickly and after an hour of hiking I was down to shorts and a T-shirt. I walked through several “Bald’s”, open areas with expansive views. All around Grayson Highlands State Park and Mount Rogers had an easy day with loads of NOBO’s heading back to the trail from Damascus, which is where I’ll be tomorrow night!
Day 49 – Virginia Creeper Trail – Damascus
12 Miles
35 – 65 Degrees
KATY trail conditions
9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Pretty Easy hike today. Almost boring. A rails-to-trails biking trail the whole way. Nice stream alongside treating me to nice views of a very scenic trout stream. Makes me wish I had a fishing pole! Was another cold one last night. Had my pants and rain coat on and 2 pair of socks! But had a camping spot all to myself and I don’t snore. I walked into Damascus and proceeded to find a place to sleep. Dave’s place Hostel has acceptable accommodations for $21 per night. I found the grocery store and restored my grub for the next week. Got laundry done and filled up on cheeseburgers, fries and milk shakes. Found a quart of fresh strawberries and some blue berries. No cell service, so I ‘m going to find a pay phone to call home.
Day 50 – Damascus – Two Springs Shelter
18 Miles
9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
50 – 70 degrees and sunny
Had a very full pack to tote up that first mountain, but today’s hike was fairly easy. With exception of that last hill into Camp! That one is always steep. Have 4- 5 folks nearby and everyone is spread out tenting as the bugs are bad in the late afternoon… especially GNATS. The new boots are talking to me so far had some tenderness in both the high tops to start but after a couple of good downhill runs they started to loosen up. No blisters or black toe nails. All looks good. Hope this good weather holds and it doesn’t go down below freezing again tonight.
Day 51 – Two Springs Shelter – Watauga Lake Shelter
21 Miles
9 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
50 – 75 degrees and sunny
Pretty easy hike today mostly down hill. Some up and downs, but short. The shelters were spaced exactly 7 miles apart and I landed on one at 4 p.m. since it was mostly down hill I decided to go for the next giving me my biggest day yet at 21 miles.
Day 52 – Watauga Lake Shelter – Moreland Gap Shelter
16.7 Miles
9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
50 – 75 degrees Sunny
Good steep climbs
Had a good day today. Saw some excellent scenery. Big waterfall at a shelter with one gent. Section Hiker. Don’t expect to climb roan mtn till day after tomorrow. Hopefully this nice weather will continue.
Day 53 – Moreland Gap Shelter – Doll Flats
21 miles
55 – 75 degrees sun
8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Pretty easy day with the exception of the last 2.5 miles all uphill. 1500 feet of climb in 2.5 miles. I didn’t want to stay in the Apple House Shelter there was a homeless guy living in it. So I plowed uphill for 2 hours to get to a high meadow to camp. There are 6 other tenter’s here. So I have company. Will finish the Roan Mountain Climb tomorrow hopefully, it will clear. I see nothing but clouds right now at 8 p.m.
Day 54 – Doll Flats Campsite – Roan High Knob Shelter
13 Miles
9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
50 – 60 degrees Misty rain
Had a great nights sleep and lazed around camp. I knew it was going to be a short but steep day so I was going to take my time. The misty foggy rain obscured all the big views I was suppose to have from the balds! Phooey! So I got to camp early and had a banquet with all the left over food I have. Only a day and half till re-supply in Erwin, TN and I have at least 3 days worth of food.
Day 55 – Roan High Knob Shelter – Cherry gap
16 Miles
50 – 65 degrees rainy / sun
Some good climbs
Had a lazy morning chatting with “you” and His pal “Bear bait”. Walked in and out of several rain storms. Had a couple of good climbs and tenting with 4 others! So far its 7 p.m. and some NOBO’s may still appear. Warm in the 60’s still. Tomorrow Ewing and the Holiday Inn. Day 8 from Damascus, I need to get resupplied and shower! Time for another haircut and the girls are coming to visit.
Day 56 – Cherry Gap – RT 395 Erwin, TN (Indian Grave Gap)
15 Miles
Walked 5 miles on the road before getting picked up from a ride to the Holiday Inn.
Day 57 – Erwin, TN
Zero day, with Hilary, Lindsey and Debbie.
Started out at the Med-Stop with Hilary having Bronchitis
Then on to the Smokey Mountain Park, were we drove to the top of the highest peak I will climb on the south half of the trail. We also took a small walk to see a waterfall.
Day 58 – Hartford, TN
Zero day, Best Western
Woke up and went White Water Rafting on the Pigeon River, Class II and III,
Finished up at 1:30 and drove to Knoxville, TN
Finding the Hotel we found the “Lord Lindsey” and had to take pictures with Lindsey in front of it.
Dinner in the Park with Music
Day 59 – Knoxville, TN
Zero Day, Hampton Inn
Walked around and went to see the movie “Angels and Demons”
Walked some more, through the worlds fair grounds
Took the girls (Hilary and Lindsey) to the Greyhound Bus Stop and sent them back to St. Louis. Stayed at Uncle Johnnie’s on a hard bed.
Day 60 – Indian Grave Gap – No Business Knob Shelter
60 – 75 Degrees and Sunny
We (Deb and I) got dropped off by Uncle Johnnie’s for a “Slack-Pack” 8 miles back to the Hostel. Slack Packing is carry your packs with almost nothing in them, except your water. Deb is joining me for a few, so we lightened our packs for a quick catch up from where I got off the trail. After lunch we climbed for an hour or so and finished off our 14 mile day. Nice camping here. Should be a quiet and dry night.
Day 61 – No Business knob – Bald Mountain Camp
11 Miles
60 – 75 degrees two big climbs
9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Had some pretty good climbs today. I’d summit, drop my pack and haul ass back down to Deb. Get her pack and go back to the top. These mountains are not for the untrained. Since I have nearly 700 miles on these skinny legs there isn’t a mountain I can’t crawl right up. Maybe in Maine and New Hampshire when the real tough climbs start?
Day 62 – Bald Mountain Campsite – Hogback Ridge shelter
10 Miles
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Easy no big ups
60 – 80 degrees
Pretty easy hike with a stop in big bald – 360 degree views. Went merrily along. Some ridge backs and a couple of knobs but nothing long and or steep. Couldn’t continue due to a lack of water within the next 5 miles and Debs feet are blistering.
Day 63 – Hog Back Ridge – Jerry’s Cabin Shelter
14 Miles
60 – 80 Degrees Sun
1 Good Climb
8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Wanted to note there was a great camp site just 1 miles south that no one could tells us about with water that would have been a great camp site, we stopped there for breakfast.
Got an early start and forgot my bear bag rope. So tonight I am stuck with cloths line rope for a bear bag, hope it holds. Saw one Thunderstorm going north.
Day 64 – Jerry’s Cabin Shelter to Allan Gap
11.8 Miles
60 – 70 Degrees, Rain and overcast
1 climb
9:00 a.m. – 5 p.m.
We got to the Gap were Uncle Johnnie’s was to pick us up and found a note saying they had been there the day before. We had no cell service and finally found some other guys who were being picked up and they said they would call when they got cell service. Thank you for the good Samaritans, Uncle Johnnie’s called a Hostel close to the Gap who came and got us and took us back to the Holiday Inn in Erwin, TN were Deb’s car was. We arrived at 7 p.m. and still needed to resupply, shower, wash clothes and pack. Deb ordered Pizza, washed clothes and I went to get a new bear rope. Deb returns to St. Louis tomorrow and Uncle Johnnie’s takes me back to Allan Gap to get back on the trail.
