Date: 2017-05-17
From: Wise Shelter

To: Trimpi Shelter 
Miles today: 20.1
Weather: clear sky

5/17Wise Shelter to Trimpi Shelter20.1 miles Total miles:  522.6I slept pretty well and woke up at 6:00 feeling surprisingly unaffected by yesterday's hike. The ponies were around and about last night, but they left all of the tents alone. I packed up and was ready for the trail at 7:20. It takes me 80 minutes every morning from the time I decide to get up to the time I start on the trail.  I guess after over forty days of doing this, I have my routine established. The first part of today's hike was still in the Highlands, and I saw some more ponies and also some long horned cattle. The trail passed through The Scales, an old corral where farmers would bring their cattle to sell. After the land was logged, farmers came in to raise cattle, since the land wasn't suitable for crops. The farmers discovered that their cattle lost weight being driven down the mountain for sale, so a corral was built high up in the mountains.  Since the cattle were weighed here for sale, it was called The Scales. After the land was purchased as a park, wild ponies were introduced to keep the land from reverting back to forest. I'm not sure how the long horn cattle fit in. I'm just glad they weren't interested in me.  Several were right by the trail, and I had to walk right past them. After leaving the Highlands, the trail conditions took a marked turn for the better. In fact, except for the last few miles today, the trail was very conducive to hiking. While the trail was steep in several places, the rocks and stobs only appeared every now and then. The trail also reverted back to more of a green tunnel, with no long range views. There were a lot of rhododendron blooming, and I also saw a bush with beautiful orange flowers. I also saw two white tailed deer, the first I have seen. I crossed many streams, usually by way of stepping stones, but there were also several very nice walking bridges constructed over the larger ones. Comers Creek had a very impressive cascading waterfall with a footbridge right in front of it. I guess my "trail legs" are pretty well developed, as I ended up with my first official twenty mile day today. The weather was bright and sunny, although a bit warmer than yesterday.  I decided to push on to Trimpi Shelter and arrived there at 6:15, a full hour earlier than I got into camp yesterday. I saw Anvil at the shelter, and he told me that all four of the slackpackers from Boots Off made it the forty miles to Damascus before dark, despite hiking in heavy rain for three hours. That's quite an accomplishment, and one that I will never even try to replicate.  It is pretty warm tonight, and I left one of the vestibules open so I'll have a breeze. It looks like warmer weather is upon us. Tomorrow, I plan on getting to the Mount Rogers visitor center by early afternoon. Uncle Puck, a thru hiker I have gotten to know, wants to head back to Damascus for Trail Days, because he wants advice on footwear. I think I've decided to accompany him so I can attend Trail Days. We'll take the bus from the visitor center to Marion (it costs fifty cents a ride).  According to my guide book, you can also call and have a pizza delivered directly to the shelter located by the visitor center. We'll have to see if we have time, but pizza is always a good idea. Once in Marion, we can get a shuttle back to Damascus. I'll either stay back at the Hiker Inn or pitch my tent in Tent City. I've heard a lot about Trail Days and am excited about experiencing it first hand. There will be lots of vendors, speakers, musicians, and lots and lots of free food. There is a hiker parade Saturday morning, and I will get to march with the thru hiker class of 2017. Either Saturday night or Sunday, I'll catch a ride back to Marion and will continue my journey northward.