28-April-2009
Hurricane Mtn Shelter to Lost Mtn Shelter
28.2 AT Miles
20.1 Miles Hiked on the AT and on blue blazed shortcuts
Even with the shortcuts, this was a lot of miles. I did have a terrific day with blue skies and a nice breeze. High UV was the only real problem. The very high elevations on Mt. Rogers and the wind make the temps tolerable.
I stopped at Old Orchard for my first break. It’s 5 miles along, and I ate breakfast (well, I ate a dinner, but a meal anyway) and met Trekker, another lady hiker, this time, in a dress. Shortly thereafter, a large group of guys showed up, and I got lost in the sea of names. When I first arrived, two SOBO sectioners from Morgantown were there, and they were nice guys. There’s a beautiful and large tenting area here, and they were just packing up their gear out there when I arrived at 9:30.
I took the Pine Mountain Trail (old AT) which cut off mileage, but was still quite scenic. I saw a wild mare and a very small foal along there.
I took a break at Thomas Knob, mostly from the sun. It was actually cool in the shade there and I dug out my wind jacket. A few fighter jets flew over, which was a little surreal, frankly. I met five or six hikers there, but I can only come up with three names: Newt, Ninja and Tax Dollar.
I hiked up to Whitetop Mountain, which I remembered as being very scenic and open. I arrived about 5:30pm, and since I had a phone signal, I called home. I met a few hikers there, but we all decided to go on. They NOBO and me SOBO. I had energy, the weather was good and there was a road *very* nearby, and I knew I’d never get a good night’s sleep if anyone was using that road. Areas like that also tend to attract locals for drinking purposes, and since I’m on my own out there, I avoid camping near them.
So, after a short break and a water up (GREAT water source up there), I hiked the 5.5 miles to Lost Mountain Shelter arriving at 8:10. This left me barely enough time to get ready for bed before it got completely dark. I was the last to roll in, and I managed to get things done. I chatted with the hiker to stayed in the shelter, Cy. All the others had already gone to bed — there were tents all over the place and one other hammock, but I still found a pretty decent place to hang the hammock with no trouble.
In the morning I met Red Leg, Papa Doc, Papa and Ma Kasson (Ma & Pa K), and I eventually met Midget Mom, the other hammocker. The rest of the crowd did not come up to the picnic table. Tents were spread out all over.
*comments on phones and hiker registers*
29-April-2009
Lost Mountain to Damascus, VA
15.8 A.T. Miles
12.9 Miles hiked on the A.T. and the Virginia Creeper Trail
Since I did this section before and was determined to actually find a place to stay in Damascus this year (3rd time’s the charm!), I decided to take the Virginia Creeper Trail part of the way. It’s a little shorter, but it is completely flat. I crossed 20 bridges over Whitetop Laurel Creek, and it was a very pretty walk. The Taylor Valley, which includes a little mountain town, was quite scenic. There are two snack bars there, but neither were open when I went through around 10am. I did run into several NOBOS coming up that trail instead of going over Cuckoo Knob and Feathercamp Ridge. I saw less than 10 bicycles — it’s a biking, horse and hiking trail, officially.
It was cloudier and cooler today, which was nice. The VCT was also shadier, so I did not get more sunburned. At least I don’t think I did.
I stayed at the Montgomery Homestead B&B. Susie is a very nice lady, and breakfast was tasty. Hooray for bacon! I got up early (as I have every day on this trip), and I hiked up to Mocha Jo’s for coffee and to use their WiFi. I met Lone Wolf from Whiteblaze, saw Pirate again, and met another character who was with Pirate but did not introduce himself.
Tino could not come and get me in the plane because I could not get a decent weather window to make the trip down and back in one day. Rain was moving in on his end, and later, it would be down south where I was. I could not get one-way car rental from Abingdon, and I ultimately had to get a shuttle to Tri-Cities Airport near Bristol, TN. I was shuttled by a super guy named Gecko, so that was a pleasant trip. That airport was very, very quiet, and I got a nicer car than I had reserved on Priceline, a Pontiac G6. It was one of the easiest drives up I-81 I’ve ever done, and I’ve done quite a few.
I did look in to taking a bus, but the people at the outfitter said that would be a very bad idea, and the bus also did not go up the valley or anywhere near Front Royal. The car return was to Dulles, but that was much easier and closer than anywhere the bus went.
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