Date: 2011-05-17
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: Daleville, VA
Miles today: 92.5
Weather: moderate rain

5/14: Pancakes and a shake at the DQ kicked off the hiking day. Steep up leaving town, but easy to handle on the first day out. Not much to say about the day. Highlight of the day was the little orange salamanders with black spots. Poured like the dickens during the late afternoon yesterday (my day off), forecast is for more of the same today, so concerned about being in a tent before it happens. Considered staying at shelter (would have been a first) 19 miles along, but it was only mid-afternoon, so pushed my luck and kept going, started up another steep ascent, fortunately found a grassy area next to the gravel road that was crossed on the way up. Luckily seems to be no traffic. In the tent before rains came. 22+ miles for the day.5/15: Rain stopped just in time to pack up, hiking at 0645. Knee strain is less of a problem now, but ball of right foot remains touchy, with a blister. This is worrisome, as that area for some reason is excessively sensitive. Amsuing that I walked by another hiker yesterday who complained of blisters, he was wearing the same shoes as mine, Montrail AT Plus. Problem is that thes e shoes don't breathe at all, so your feet stay wet longer. Anyway, fog, fog rain, and real rain. More rocky ridge walking with no views. Stopped at a shelter to dry my feet, then first creek ford of the hike a fraction of mile later. A rather tricky one too, plus another crossing that was dry but not so safe. Could only manage 21 miles today, just too wet and tired. Found rare ridge top tentsite.5/16: Hoping to get to Catawba Store by the end of the day for some comfort food. Discoved my camera was dead at Audie Murphy Monument. Seems not to be the rain, but rather the bite valve came off my hydration tube and sprayed the camera in the process. Camera has been through a lot on multiple hikes, but didn't survive this one. Getting up Cove Mountain another hard work ridge walk, and had a view that was worth photographing :-(, but getting down from Dragon's Tooth was another story altogether. I have been thinking of this last while of the AT as 'injury-oriented' as the AT provides you a many chances for serious injury. This descent as rock scramble was the crowning glory for such an environment. Once a good way down, missed another photo op where the only full-force rhododendren bloom I have seen was going on. Tons of pink flowers. (I wonder what the yellow/cream blooms came from earlier on the trail.) Before Dragon's Tooth descent, I thought I might get to the store by 1730, but didn't get there until 1900, couple of hot dogs and couple of Little Debbie pies and and a bit more snacks to get me to Daleville. Back to the trail before 2000, went up the next hill north and made a campsite far enough away from the barking dogs and the traffic to allow sleep.5/17: Need 25+ miles to get to Daleville today. No way to know what the trail tread will be like, so not sure how long it will take, but for sure I want to end the day there. First big effort of the day was climb up to McAfee Knob, glad that the trail was foot-friendly. Rain and fog, no views. Next big up was climb to Tinker Cliffs, heavy downpour, 50 foot visibility, wahoo, just another great AT hiking day. Can't remember which climb it was on, but saw something very entertaining. Two large black birds with some white on leading wingtips, vultures or buzzards?, sitting next to each other on viewpoint rock, with wings extended, like a cartoon,'look, I'm flying', 'yeah, me too, haw, haw, haw'. Watched them from maybe 20 feet away for 5 minutes, very amusing. Anyway final ridge walk before Dalevill was not too demanding, but then another strange event. Both toes went to magnitude 9 on the Richter scale pain, at the same time. Had taken big dose of vitamin I earlier for this, tried another dose, but felt nauseous. Toes still hurting. Very muddy sloppy walk into Daleville, but relieved to pop out and see 'civilization'. HoJo right near trail. Lots of junk food, eventually laundry and shower. Zero tomorrow, but no relaxing, need to deal with camera replacement. And what can I do about my feet?