Date: 2015-05-31
From: Trout Creek campsite

To: Catawba
Miles today: 13.9

I got up and out early today-first one out! Everything was still damp (socks and clothes) from the day before, but putting wet clothes on is becoming my new normal. I don't mind anything except the socks. Walking in wet socks makes blisters. I had left my second pair of hiking socks on a guard rail the day before- so now I only have one pair. I was heading to Catawba today, and had to make it before 6pm when the famous Homeplace Restaurant closed. Homeplace is a family style restaurant famous for good home cooking and all you can eat refills on everything. Plus-bonus- my friend Pam was going to meet me and take me to her house for laundry, shower, bed, and resupply! I was very excited. I have not had internet or phone service for about 5 days, so our plans were sketchy. I needed a high peak to grab some cell service, and my sights were set on Dragons Tooth. Before I could get to Catawba, I had to get up and over Cove Mountain, which Dragons Tooth is a part of, on a side trail. I only had about 14 miles, so plenty of time, but I knew that the terrain would be tough and there was no water for 10 miles. I was loaded up with 3 liters, so my pack was heavy.Started out with a little climb, past the shelter I had wanted to stay at last night. It was a pretty hike, not too tough. Then the trail became tougher and more rocky as I got closer to Cove Mountain. There was a jagged 700 foot elevation gain over about 4 miles. I was pretty pooped when I finally got to the side trail to Dragons Tooth. I dropped my pack, took my phone, and literally rock climbed on top of the immense rock formation. I got to the top and viola-4 bars! I texted pam and she called me right back. We made our plans. After that, I enjoyed the view for a bit. Cooter showed up on top of the rocks too, and one of her friends whose name I cant remember. Some day hikers were up there eating mangos. That made me hungry. I only had a single tuna pack left. Not appetizing. After climbing the Dragons tooth, I had an extremely steep descent down the mountain. There was climbing that required me to throw my poles down and climb using both hands. Some spots were so steep that rungs had been installed. At one point, I had to scale down a completely vertical rock wall about 20 feet high. There was a little ridge in the middle about as wide as my foot, sometimes narrower. I had to hug the rock wall and take tiny steps, careful not to let the weight of my pack throw my balance off. I got stuck about halfway down, not sure what to do next. I was still about 10 feet from the bottom. Two young twenty something guys who were day hiking up the trail came out of the woods and saw me. "Ma'am, can we help you?" one of them asked me. In my mind I said Ma'am? I have walked 700 miles and you are going to ma'am me? Plus I said some swear words...in my head, of course. To the polite young men I just said no thank you. I'll just be a minute. I shimmied a little more and finally figured out how to get off that ledge with a pulse. That was the end of the real rock climbing. I have to say, I was surprised. It was pretty difficult. I know I have read about it but somehow it didn't register.The trail was pretty, buy not easy today. As if the trail knew I had a deadline, it threw lots of little inclines and descents all day, never letting up. I sweated like Steve Carrel in that Jim Carey movie- sweat coming out of me in torrents. Because I was meeting Pam and had not a had a shower in many days of sweating, I washed my hair with creek water about 4 miles before town. I leapfrogged with Life and Wayward all day, and we finally made it to the parking area of Catawba. Luckily, the hostel shuttle was there and the driver offered to drop us at Homeplace. The Homeplace is located in a beautiful classic Virginia Farmhouse. The views are beautiful. Pam and her son Mike finally arrived and we hugged. She was so polite to pretend I didn't smell really bad. We enjoyed a phenomenal meal- future hikers, this is a must eat place!We drove to Pams house, I showered and did laundry, then she took me to the grocery store. Her home is beautiful and she is the most fantastic hostess. She made me feel really special when I had felt dirty and stinky and like an imposition. Her son Mikey and boyfriend Billy also made me feel welcome. It was a great day. I have been taught how to be a trail angel by Sue, Terry, and Pam.