Date: 2008-05-06
From: Tenting 1/2 mile n of Thomas Knob Shelter, VA

To: South Fork Holston River, VA
Miles today: 27.4

I woke up at 6am and just laid in my sleeping bag and watched the distant mountains waking up to a beautiful, cool morning.I finally stuck my stove outside the tent at 6:45am and brewed 19.6 ounces of coffee. I really am making an effort to cut back on coffee. :-)The temperature here at about 5,500 ft high was in the low 30's with clear skies and the sun rising in this gorgeous area.I ate two strawberry Poptarts and some nuts for breakfast.I was packed up and walking north on the Appalachian Trail at 8:15am.I came up to where Recurve, Blues Traveler, Poptop and Hammer were camped. I stopped and talked to them for a few minutes. They said they had frost on their tents this morning.I was camped out in the open and the wind stayed up all night, so my tent was dry....and I had some awesome views!I started seeing more feral ponies within a mile.You couldn't walk through Grayson Highlands on any better day than this....about 40 degrees with sunny skies and a light 10mph breeze.I came to Fatman's Squeeze....a section of trail that goes between some narrow rocks. I thought about that, and then decided to go ahead and try. I made it through without even having to suck in my stomach! ;-)I know some of my hiking friends would have to walk around the rocks....and they KNOW who they are! Ha! :-)I had looked for Chief at Whitetop yesterday....thinking that maybe, just maybe, he would surprise me with some fried chicken.He wasn't there. :-(I walked by Massie Gap this morning, thinking that surely, my ol' buddy would be waiting there to lavish me with that culinary delight, but there were only more feral ponies in that area.I walked on, my ribs really showing signs of malnourishment.I caught up to Walrus and Retread about half a mile later. We talked a while before I walked on.I met HiLo about half a mile before Wise Shelter and spooked up two whitetail deer just after I passed her.I stopped at Wise Shelter and signed the register and used up another smiley face sticker.I had a Rice Krispy Treat while I was there....because I DESERVE IT! :-) I also had some Fritos.I've been walking some each day without my hat on to try and get rid of my bicycle helmet tan. My hands are slowly changing over from the bicycle glove tan to the Leki pole strap tan.I'm slowly starting to look more and more like a backpacker again. :-)I stopped at The Scales, a place where they used to weigh cattle. There's a nice spring there, so I sat down and ate lunch.HiLo came up and got water and joined me for lunch.I had some Vienna sausages, diced peaches, the last of my Fritos and a Milky Way for lunch.I walked on when I was done eating.I was walking on Pine Mtn and a brown thrush started singing to me.....that really makes me calm. It takes a calm person and makes me calmer. :-)I stopped by Old Orchard Shelter to sign the register, but it was full.I met Sunbeam, Bananas, Sunkist, Jackaroo and one other guy.I was going down the next hill past the shelter and Sunbeam came whizzing by me. She made me feel like I was moving soooo slow. I do walk slow going downhill because that's rougher on the body than walking flat or climbing.....but she still went by WAY too fast.I crossed the road at Fox Gap. I went by this area last year on my bicycle because it's a part of the Trans Am Bicycle Route.I started climbing up out of Fox Gap. I saw Sunbeam in about half a mile of climbing. I just smiled as I blew by her like she was standing still. Ha! :-)I got to the top of Iron Mtn and saw Sunkist again, her boyfriend Kyonite, Aggie, Busdriver, Forecaster and Jackaroo. I said hello, but kept walking because it was only another mile or so to Hurricane Mtn Shelter where I planned on a short break.I got to Hurricane Mtn Shelter, signed the register and met Stubbs and Mr Bones.I was sitting there and a couple of Air Force jets came by fast and low....and very loud!They probably went farther in one minute than I walk in a whole day!Those whiny '03 nobos who called their '03 hikes; "The Wet Year", would probably even find something to whine about on a gorgeous day like today, but this has been one awesome day for a walk! :-)I passed by Comers Creek and the waterfall was flowing nicely.I got to Dickey Gap...and didn't see any sign of my ol' buddy Chief....or the fried chicken I would have made sure he had if it had been him out here walking. I guess he's abandoned me. :-(I stopped and ate dinner....a six ounce summer sausage, a small pack of Cheetos, some cheese, diced peaches and Fig Newtons.I had to stop be Trimpi Shelter to get water for tonight and tomorrow morning.I met Brier and Fish. The group of hikers that were on Iron Mtn came walking in just as I was walking out, so it was going to be a busy place tonight.I walked through a cow pasture where an old school bus has been sitting for years.I crossed a gravel road and walked another 1 1/2 miles to where I found a flat spot near the South Fork Holston River. I set up my tent and crawled in to end a spectacular day!Another great day on the Appalachian Trail. :-)