Date: 2013-05-17
From: Jenny Knob Shelter

To: Woods Hole Hostel
Miles today: 21.4

I threw breakfast in my back pocket and hit the trail early today in hopes of grabbing some food at Trent's Grocery for lunch. I had a good climb up from a road early this morning to a ridge line where there were chipmunks everywhere. Every ten feet or so I would startle one, he would chirp, bark, or whatever they do, and would scurry off into a convenient hiding spot. This went on consistently for miles. If there were snakes or owls up there they would be having a field day. Alviiiiin!!! That's all I kept thinking. I crossed over an awesome suspension bridge before reaching the road where Trent's was. The only other suspension bridge of this magnitude that I have crossed was on the Benton Mackaye trail in Georgia, where it crosses over the Toccoa River. I walked the half mile down to Trent's Grocery, a small town general store, and spent over an hour there. They have everything from onions to nails. I ordered a bacon and Swiss burger, Cajun fries, and a hot dog. This was at ten in the morning, an early lunch I guess. I have found that I eat like a hobbit out here. Two or three breakfasts, three lunches, a late afternoon snack, and two dinners with dessert is a normal day. I bought one day's worth of food and continued on. A guy at the store told me to watch out for snakes because they are out. I said "yeah I know." Maybe two miles later was Dismal Falls, a sweet little waterfall with a nice swimming hole. It is still a little too early to be hopping in a cold mountain stream so I took some photos and made my way down the trail. I had a long way to go yet. There were several miles of nice level trail after the falls which was nice. I made great time through that section. Good thing too because it came to an abrupt end with a steep climb up to a ridge line. It was around 1200 feet up, which takes some effort. A couple of pop up showers cruised by, but nothing more than a sprinkle. It only served to cool me off. There were a couple of nice views from the top, where I could see showers rolling by in the distance. The weather always adds the perfect touch to a vista. I kept cruising and the rain kept falling, but it would eventually let up. There was over a mile of trail towards the end of my day where a recent fire had torched all of the undergrowth and downed trees. It was hard to tell if it was a wild fire or just the forest service maintaining the land. The smell of ash was strong though as I pushed through. I ended my day at Woods Hole Hostel, a half mile off the trail down a dirt road in the middle of nowhere. I am still about ten trail miles from Pearisburg, VA. This place is, as my guide describes it, a "slice of Heaven, not to be missed." (www.woodsholehostel.com) Check it out. The place has an awesome backstory and is just perfect. The owners have organic gardens, free range chickens, pigs, and practice sustainable living. I could totally see myself living like this. Unfortunately, the bunkhouse was full so I set up my hammock up the hill from the cabin, which was built in the 1880's. Whippoorwill camping is the name of the designated campground, which is suitable considering whippoorwills have been going strong for the past couple of nights, well past ten o'clock. They do communal meals for dinner which was a real treat. A delicious organic salad with greens and apples which I doused in homemade ranch, homemade bread smeared with recently churned butter, spaghetti with an awesome pesto sauce, and huge calzones with tons of different veggies and meats within. That was the best meal I have had in a long time. I helped clean up after dinner, drying dishes and putting them away. I really felt like I was back at home as Neville, the owner, told me where they went. Once we cleaned up the kitchen, she pulled out a huge tub of homemade peach ice cream, stood on a step ladder, and started stuffing ice cream cones. She handed me the first one and told me to walk outside. I walked out to the porch where everyone saw me and went inside. Announcing dessert was the best job she told me. I agreed. I sat on a swing on the front porch for an hour digesting dinner before I retired for the night. Tidbits: I passed the 600 mile mark this morning. Today was the third day in a row that I have seen a deer. I saw another rabbit today, but still not until it jumped into thick brush. They are so well camouflaged! Trail days is going on this weekend in Damascus and I hadn't really planned on going, but they are loading up a couple of cars and heading down there for the day tomorrow and I was lucky enough to get a seat, a tight squeeze they told me. But, I get a ride back! I think I might stay here for a day or two, what an incredible place.