Date: 2008-05-28
From: Half mile north of Bryant Ridge Shelter, VA

To: North Sulphur Spring Trailhead Jct with the AT, VA
Miles today: 19.5

Before I get started with today's journal entry, I have to explain why I had Mrs Gorp put that picture of me on today's page.I got a private message from my ol' buddy Chief.He said and I quote (as best as I can remember his exact words); ¢Lookie hair Stumpy, why don't ya post more pictures of you rather than all those other hikers. I preeciate your efforts and all, but I would really like to look at a picture of you while I'm reading your journal. Loooook, you are my hero...but don't tell anyone I said that cause I pretend like I'm the real hiker. I even bought a backpack just like the one you carry. I know that if you like it, then it must be good! Someday, maybe if I read your journal long enough, I might become a better hiker. Look, if I could just be half as good as you are at backpacking, I could die a happy man....my life would be complete.¢End quote (or as near as I can remember what Chief wrote to me) So....that's why a picture of me is on today's page of the journal. :-)I slept really well last night. I woke up once around midnight when a deer came close to my tent and started blowing at me.I woke up at 5am and decided to go ahead and eat breakfast. I had a couple apple danish, some nuts and water.I was packed and walking at 6:05am. It was still very humid out, but a little breeze would stir up every once in a while.I finished climbing 2,000 feet to the summit of Floyd Mtn.I kept thinking about how glad I was that I didn't climb it yesterday...I would have been soaked with sweat from the heat and humidity.It took me 1 hour and 45 minutes to make that climb this morning.I stopped at Cornelius Creek Shelter and ate a snack, signed the register and used a smiley face sticker, then got more water.Whisper, Stubs and Mr Bones were leaving just as I got there.It started raining just after 9am. It was actually welcome! It cooled things down....and cooled me down.It also got very foggy out along with the rain.I made the 1,000 foot climb up to Apple Orchard Mtn. It was still raining and very foggy out.The wind was blowing up there....blowing the thick fog through. I could only see about 10 to 15 yards.I love weather like that! I think it really adds a lot of beauty to the forest.A cold front must have worked through with the rain because I checked my thermometer and it read 50 degrees.I walked through a rocky area with a boulder suspended above the Trail. It's called The Guillotine.I stopped at Thunder Ridge Shelter and ate lunch. Mike came walking up and joined me.It was nice to have the shelter to eat in, but when I sat there for a while, I started chilling down.I got water from the spring and walked on.I saw a little wood pecker hopping around. He was about 1/3rd grown. He looked healthy and I figured the mother was watching, so I walked on.I stopped at Thunder Ridge Overlook and got rid of my garbage in the container provided by the parkway.It was so foggy that I don't think anyone could drive. There were a few cars parked in the lot....probably waiting for the fog to lift.I walked down to Petites Gap....about a 1,200 foot descent, then started the 600 foot climb up to High Cock Knob.I walked down about 600 feet from High Cock Knob to Marble Spring where I sat down for an early dinner.It wasn't raining anymore, but was still foggy and cool out.I had chicken breast with cheese and Fritos, nuts, cookies and a Rice Krispy Treat.I walked down to the spring when I was done and filled both water bottles up for the night, then walked on.I got to South Sulphur Spring Trail shortly and it seemed like the weather was trying to clear.It was still in the low 50's, but at 4:23pm, the sun made a short showing!I walked on to North Sulphur Spring Trail and saw a flat spot.It was only 4:45pm, but I'm heading into Glasgow in the morning and this will leave a 5 mile walk.I'll get a sit-down breakfast in town when I get there tomorrow! :-)I'm all set up in my tent for the night....and now it's not raining! :-)Another great day on the Appalachian Trail. :-)