Date: 2018-06-06
From: Jenny Knob Shelter

To: Woods Hole Hostel
Miles today: 21.7
Weather: broken clouds

Actually slept better than I thought I would, of course was first one up and actually out at 7:15 before anyone was out of their tents.The first few hours were pretty easy. After getting up and down the ridge, the trail followed Dismal Creek. Not sure how it got the name, but I took the side trail to Dismal Falls and it was definitely a misnomer. Although not huge, a pretty area with nice pools for swimming. It was still early and a bit chilly, so I just dipped my feet in and had first lunch. I know a bunch of others were going to hitch to a gas station at the road crossing before and grab beers and spend the day at the falls, but I wanted to get going and all my friends were ahead or behind.I stopped for second lunch at Wapiti Shelter. Not sure the exact story, but I think a couple was murdered here in the 90s. I guess they wanted to shed some of the negative feelings so actually moved the shelter but never changed the name. I will say it was a nice new privy!I may have mentioned this before, but each section of trail is managed by a different local club. I believe there are about a dozen total and most cover about 50-200 miles of trail. It is all volunteers, so for that section you basically get the infrastructure they provide (with nod to CCC and Forest Service). Anyway, I have been quite pleased with the Virginia Clubs (Mt. Rogers, Piedmont, Roanoke) shelters, especially compared to some other areas (cough cough Tennessee).After the shelter was a big climb back to the ridge. But it didn¢t seem as bad as Chestnut Knob or some of the others, maybe because I just took it slow and steady. There were a couple of good views from the top, which is always nice to get out of the green tunnel. Not huge mountains and ridges, but still nice.My plan had been to do 24 miles to Doc Knob Shelter, leaving about 8 Into Pearisburg for tomorrow morning. However, I kept reading great reviews about the Woods Hole hostel. They supposedly had awesome food and a cool atmosphere. I have been really caught up in logistics/planning/miles, so maybe I was blinded by hunger so figured why not. My main reason for hiking isn¢t some hippy dippy ¢finding myself¢ but more to challenge myself (hence the focus on miles), but I still want to explore and have adventures. Don¢t want to miss the forest for the trees (pun intended? I do see a lot of trees...).So I took the gravel road half mile to the hostel. It is actually an old farm from the 1800s that still has some livestock and crops. As I was walking in, I saw Tracks and Rogue Cartographer is knew that was good. A few seconds later I hear ¢Hey Half Full¢ and it was the Philly/Big Money Crew! I caught up to them!Since it was nice out, i didn¢t feel like staying in the bunkhouse so tented. It was a good decision because the sites overlook a beautiful valley! There was only one other tent, occupied by a nice younger couple. Ball Flap ended up coming later. It was right next to a pen with goats, but luckily they didn¢t smell.I had a cold but refreshing shower and hung out on the porch. Around 7 they rang the dinner bell, but first we all gathered and held hands and said what we were thankful for. The whole place is a bit hippy dippy, but still nice.Dinner was a delicious al fresco feast of bread, salad, rice/lentils, and ice cream. It was all homemade, they have great work for stays. Reminded me a bit of Elmer¢s. Definitely glad I came, think I made the right decision!