Date: 2009-05-02
From: Bobblets Gap Shelter

To: Thunder Hill Shelter
Miles today: 23.6
Weather: light rain

Sat May 2, Day 53: Almost a marathon day!The word for the day is "muggy". The rain has held off but the spike in humidity is down right oppressive. I hit the trail at 0644 hrs and feel good after downing a couple honey buns and fig newtons.The AT is alive with wildlife once again. Saw a deer on the trail right out of the gate then the reptiles started making appearances. I counted three turtles, and one garter snake. An omen perhaps?I stroll into the Cove Mountain Shelter and have a quick snack then check the register for anyone I know. You can gleen so much information from the registers. Sure there;s lots of hiker humor but good thoughtful posts as well. Apparently the General is now somewhere behind me. He stopped off in Buchanan, VA where a friend was going to meet him and hike along for several days. I wonder what his mileage will be during this time? I start back and right before I get to the Bryants Ridge Shelter I hear three really loud shotgun blasts. Man, are they close by! Then two minutes later I hear someone yelling but I can't make out exactly what's being said. It's 1149 hrs when I arrive at Bryants Ridge Shelter and I'm glad to be here and away from any hunters out in the woods. Before long I see a turkey hunter approaching. He comes into the shelter and asks "Where the hell am I?" You're on the AT headed North, I reply. We talk for a few minutes and the hunter decides he should continue heading North to get back where he came from. I can't help him since I don't carry maps, only a narrative description of the trail in the form of a guidebook. Bummer.I eat lunch after he leaves and refill my water bottles before starting back. About an hour later I spot the hunter sitting on a rock next to the trail. He's concerned. The next shelter is about 3.5 miles away and he still doesn't know where exactly he should be going. I reach for my cell phone and have a signal. Time to call 911. I hand him the phone and he talks to the local dispatcher and reports himself missing. The Boteourt County, VA 911 center does an excellent job trying to help this fellow and then asks to speak to me. I identify myself as a NOBO thru hiker and suggest they notify the USFS Rangers of our situation. I also inform the dispatcher that I will stay with the hunter and deliver him to the next shelter (Cornelius Creek Shelter) no matter what. Hopefully the USFS Ranger will be there when we arrive. The hunter is a 62 year old male from Abington, VA. He was out on a hunting excursion with his brother and son when they became separated. That's when we met and this whole rescue operation began. The hunter is not in the best shape so we walk slowly all afternoon. He took so many breaks I got worried we may never make the shelter before dark. Besides he didn't have any rain gear or for that matter enough food to survive in an emergency. He was however full of trivia. We talked extensively about the flora and fauna and I got a good lesson in all the habits of a turkey. Interesting. I enjoyed our time together.About 1.5 miles away from the shelter Leadfoot meets up with us on the trail. I give him a run down of our situation and tell him to advise the USFS Ranger where we are. Leadfoot is a fasts hiker so word should get there pronto. That makes me feel better. We finally make it to the shelter at about 1700 hrs. Sure enough the Ranger Roy Powell is there with the lost persons other family members. It's a joyous reunion. I feel good doing this good deed and tell the hunter I'll always remember him whenever I see a turkey.Leadfoot decides he's pushing on to the next shelter and I do too. I was slowed down a little by the rescue so now my legs want to move! I water up and take off.........onward!After one last mountain climb of the day I arrive at the Thunder Hill Shelter at 1915 hrs. It's good to be here. There's room inside the shelter and a Boy Scout Troop tenting in every other available spot. I meet a flip flopper named Grizzley. Rain is begiining to come down but I'm not worried I'm under cover.The best part of tonight's stay was that Grizzley is carrying a small backpacking guitar and after dinner he pulls it out and begins to bang out some killer tunes. He's a really talented singer.Today has been an awesome day! Goodnight Click here for audio journal