Mountains Under Foot

From Hazard’s notes:
Day 47: June 25, 2009
Travel:
From: Punchbowl Shelter, VA
To: Seeley-Woodworth Shelter, VA
Beginning: 8:20am
Ending: 7:15pm
Number of miles hiked:
a) Trail – 25.3
b) other – .2 out of Punchbowl to AT
c) AT Mile Marker – 811.1 cumulative
Weather:
AM: Sunny and nice like everyday this week.
PM: Some clouds rolled in later and the sky grew overcast. Scared us a bit, but produced nothing. Heard there was 30% chance of rain tonight.
People: Knees and Curio went into Buena Vista for resupply. An old couple with their grand kids gave us and a SOBOer some magic. A couple of older guys, Pacer and one other…
Animals: A really green snake across the trail. Too quick for me to get a picture. Usual deer too.
Money: $0, $799 cumulative. My total spent is finally lower than my total miles! Yay!
Notes of the day:
AM: I awoke and the frogs were still croaking. Don’t they ever take a break? Broke camp quickly and started moving down the trail. The first 10 miles to the next shelter were super easy and it felt good to have that much done before noon. The creek, for about a mile leading up to the next shelter, was home to a freed slaves community up until about 1920 when the land was sold to the forest service. Rock formations and rubble were scattered along the banks and it was interesting to imagine what life would have been like in such a place along the creek. When we got to the shelter we decided, after pulling the book out, that we better stay and eat lunch and fill water because it was our last chance to fill water for the next 10 miles.

PM: Two miles uphill to US 60 and some magic! A car pulled up as we were about to re-enter the woods and an older couple and their grand kids came out of the car. The walked toward us with genuine interest for thru-hikers. They asked us the standard questions of when did you start and where. Then they offered us some Gatorade that we happily accepted and then some peaches that we munched down. As soon as the peach was gone the lady came back with some salami and Swiss cheese for us to snack on as well. I love salami! A SOBOer had come down the mountain and was joining in the magic and telling us about all the perils that lay ahead to the north past Harpers Ferry. We thanked the couple for the magic and thrust ourselves uphill; 3.8 miles of climbing that didn’t feel too bad, it only took 90 minutes or so. In between that climb up Bald Mountain (there was no bald) and the next one up Cold Mountain we took a candy break and recorded a video. Then from the top of Cold Mountain we pretty much didn’t talk or stop until we reached the shelter. Two old guys were there (Pacer & the other guy was named after a town in Puerto Rico) and had made a fire. Standard end of day routine and straight to bed. Well, I had to stay up and write this of course. Gotta make tomorrow really count. Only about 40 miles to Waynesboro, VA.

From Hazard’s notes:
Day 46: June 24, 2009
Travel:
From: Marble Spring, VA
To: Punchbowl Shelter, VA
Beginning: 8:30am
Ending: 6:30pm
Number of miles hiked:
a) Trail – 18.2
b) other – .2 down to shelter
c) AT Mile Marker – 785.8 cumulative
Weather:
AM & PM: Sunny with blue skies and white puffy clouds. Wooo!
People: Same crowd from last night plus Slackass, Croc (impostor), Sarah, Shannon, and Kelly.
Animals: The usual.
Money: $7 for lunch, $2 for resupply, $7 for shuttle back to trail. $799 cumulative.
Notes of the day:
AM: Not the best night sleep under Spoon’s hammock. He kept sagging lower and lower so I shuffled to the side. Once we woke up and got some food going we finished off the last of the leftover cereal. Spoon was concerned we’d go hungry without it supporting our breakfasts. So he suggested a quick resupply in Big Island or Glasgow and have lunch there as well. Really quick 5 miles to Matt’s Creek then another 2 miles to the James River foot bridge. We crossed over the James shortly after 11am and the tried to hitch into town for almost an hour before asking the guys fishing under the bridge if they were heading into town anytime soon. Thankfully they were and we finally got to town after noon.

PM: The local gas station on the edge of town was outfitted with made to order foods and a deli. I had a ham & cheese sub because I can’t remember the last time I had cold cuts for lunch, it was certainly before the hike. Spoon had some monster bacon cheeseburger per usual. This is where we met the three girls who are hiking together. Over at the Dollar General we picked up two things, a bag of sugary cereal and mini Oreo bites. Then we spent 30-40 minutes trying to find a ride without luck before we had to call a shuttle service. The three girls walked across the street and within 5 minutes had roped a guy into taking them back to the trail. To be honest I’m pretty sure he was headed the opposite direction before he stopped. Anyway we took our silent ride with Turtleback back to the trail and we each handed Leon the driver our $7. The whole trip down to town seemed so pointless at this moment but it made Spoon happy so whatever. Just 10 miles and 3 really nasty uphills to the next shelter and we were done with the day. We got to where we had planned but I felt like we could have done much more today. I’d really like to make Harpers Ferry on schedule so we might have to blaze through the Shenandoah’s. The frogs from the pond were croaking the whole night making quite a loud symphony of noise. It kinda reminded me of when I went down to Fort Bragg with Cat for work. Around 1:30am I woke up and felt my foot in searing pain like it had been poked with an ember. Some spider or other insect bit or stung the bottom of my toe. It left this bubble of skin that I poked with the tweezers until clear fluid came out. That made it feel somewhat better, but that spot and actually other spots on my foot remained puffy and painful. Good times…

From Hazard’s notes:
Day 45: June 23, 2009
Travel:
From: Middle Creek Picnic Area, VA (Va. 614, Jennings Creek)
To: Marble Spring, VA
Beginning: 9:15am
Ending: 7:30pm
Number if miles hiked:
a) Trail – 20.9
b) other – .3 to trail from campground.
c) AT Mile Marker – 767.6 cumulative
Weather:
AM & PM: Beautiful weather again, same as yesterday. I could get used to this!
People: Hardee (and Bruce the dog) joined us during lunch. Alex gave us some magic on the BRP. Turtleback, Knees & his hiking partner (her name is Curio) at the campground tonight.
Animals: The usual number of tamer than normal deer.
Money: $0, $783 cumulative.
Notes of the day:
AM: Day began with the sun shining brightly in my face. Breakfast, then filled our water at the creek per the usual routine then cruised down the road to the trailhead. First thing in the morning we climb 1100 vertical feet to the top of fork mountain and then back down to Bryant Ridge Shelter. This shelter was the king of all other shelters in terms of size. It was a massive tri-level mansion that made us wish we weren’t on a schedule. We reluctantly left because ahead of us was Floyd Mountain, a 2300 vertical foot climb. This mountain is a textbook example of what we lovingly call a “kick-in-the-pants mountain”. It starts with a long and well graded climb that gets you into the mindset that “Hey, this isn’t so bad”, but just when your muscles are getting really tired the trail flattens out or even goes downhill. This is where the fun begins because the trail makes a turn and proceeds straight up the next mountain. This pattern of turning and going straight up the next hill continues, each time the trail flattening and appearing to be on top of everything, but of course it wasn’t. This ascent took us a good two hours and we were ready for lunch coming off its view less summit.

PM: Lunch was had at Cornelius Creek Shelter with a guy named Hardee. We had passed him on the way up Floyd and he stopped for a bite to eat as well. He had fallen on some rough times and was getting off the trail on Friday. This meant he had lots of time to take it slow and check out side trails like the Apple Orchard Falls. He left and we wished him good fortune. We pumped some water and continued along our way. Next big hurdle of the day was Apple Orchard Mountain, which was once an Air Force radar base and is the highest point on the AT from Chestnut Knob and Mt. Moosilauke in NH. We stopped on top to take in the view and for me to eat a Snickers. Down the trail, a short way, is the Guillotine which is a big rock stuck between two other big rocks. The rest of the afternoon seemed like it was going to be pretty easy, or so we thought. We got to an overlook and met a guy named Alex who took our picture and our trash. He even offered up some water he had in his car. We graciously accepted and then Spoon went so-far as to ask if he had any food. He had some bananas. Jackpot! It has been since Kincora that I’ve had a banana and it was delicious. We thanked him and moved on. The final great feat of the day was High Cock Knob (bring on the jokes) and it really lived up to its name; 700 vertical feet over about a mile with a false peak. It was super steep coming both up and down. Not the best way to end the day. Good thing we planned on this day being tough so we rolled into camp at a reasonable time today and had dinner before it was dark. We also built a fire and had time to relax. Feels good.

From Hazard’s notes:
Day 43: June 21, 2009
Travel:
From: US 220 Daleville, VA
To: ‘Zero’ day
Weather:
AM & PM: Sunny and hot. Blue skies and fluffy clouds.
People: Our caretakers, the Leonards. Mama Ava’s sister and her husband.
Animals: Dogs and cats abound.
Money: $22 for resupply, $783 cumulative.
Notes of the day:
AM: Woke up generally at the same time as Spoon and immediately turned on the TV in Charlene’s room. We laid there for awhile surfing the channels but mainly stuck with the Discovery channel. Ava called us down to breakfast which was eggs with biscuits & gravy. Yum. Afterwards we went back upstairs to get back into bed for more relaxing and figuring out what we needed for our next resupply. Then it was time to hit the store.

PM: Ava, Zeke (her son), Spoon, and I jumped in the car and drove to the grocery store where we split up. Us to the grocery and them to the Verizon store. We loaded up on 6 days of food, the most we’ve carried so far, because our next stop is in Waynesboro. Then headed back to the house to drop off groceries and then back into the car to go down the street to Ava’s sister’s house where we could use their Internet. Down in the basement we stayed for hours writing up blog posts and uploading pictures and video. Ava’s sister was amazing, directing us to the garage fridge with cold drinks and even going so far as to bring us a plate of nachos and salsa. Also in the garage was a fully restored 1960 Ford Starliner. This car was restored with almost all original parts and done all in that very garage. It was an absolute beauty of a car and we got the full show by the owner himself. Apparently, the Starliner was only made in 60′ and 61′ and this was honestly the first I had ever heard of such a car. But with its 400+ horsepower engine I’d be hearing it a lot on the road! He also had an 85′? Honda Goldwing and a much newer Valkyrie (motorcycles). Quite the impressive collection. We didn’t leave until almost 6pm and we were getting hungry. Back at the Leonard’s a pot roast was already in the works and the meat was so tender it just melted in your mouth. Along with potatoes, carrots, and rolls it was the perfect meal. Then back upstairs to digest and veg out in front of the TV until we got tired and fell asleep.