Date: 2012-05-10
From: Brown Mountain Creek Shelter - Tented

To: Spy Rock Road - Fish Hatchery Road - Montebello VA
Miles today: 18.1

Day 46 - Thursday, May 10thHiking Days 34 / Nero Days 9 /  Zero Days 3Start Location: Brown Mountain Creek Shelter - TentedMile Marker: 799.3Ending Location: Spy Rock Road - Fish Hatchery Road - Montebello VA - Dutch HausMile Marker: 817.8Time: 6h 50min Miles: 18.1Weather: colder.  45-50 morning.  58 as a high.  Colder wind.  Partly sunny.  No rain.  Clear skies in the late afternoon. Got all tucked in early.  Rain stopped.  Could feel it became colder.  Woke up around midnight.  As long as I was up I emptied the bladder.  Had to put on my windshirt.  It's the only warmth layer I haven't sent back.  While I was at it I also put on my blacave although that was certainly an overkill.   Woke up by the birds again this morning around 5:50.  I waited for my alarm and still just laid there for a bit.  I got up when I heard the large youth group starting to stir.  Figured that once those girls get lining up at the privy, the wait will fall into the hours.  So I packed, up, privy and out.  On the trail right at 7:00.  Not bad since it was hard to leave my nice warm bag.  The day started with a 3000 foot climb then a few more bumps along the way.  Day definitely has a much cooler feel to it then the last few mornings.  Coupled with the dampness of the rain for two days is making it feel colder then it really is.  Although the windshirt came off pretty early into the climb.  In just over a mile, I ran into a small trail magic.  For me it was great because it had bottled water.  I dumped my crap stream water and filled my water bottle with fresh water.  Took nearly two bottles.  Finished the extra of bottle number 2 and then drank bottle 3.  If the weather remains cooler, that water should hold me for most of the day.  As it turns out the weather did hold out.  Until I hit "that" spot.  The spot where during my 2010 hike, I entered a period where I almost got myself in very big trouble with hypothermia.  And going over that peak again where I could see more than 10 feet in front of me, I understand how, why and what happened.  In-fact, with the cold temps now, and the wind coming up over the peaks, the conditions are exactly the same minus the rain.  I also knew it was coming and this time I put on my windshirt.  It was still pushing the max but I was comfy enough.  This time I enjoyed the views and the experience of being up there.  The rest of the day went well.  For some reason I have really felt happy and upbeat the last several days.  I'm hiking relatively well, even with the rain over the last two days.  I find myself consciously in a good mood.  Today is a relatively short day of just over 18.  With an ok start and good tread, I reached  Dutch Haus around 2:00.  The weather was also great to hike in.  Always better cooler the warmer.  Although you can call for a ride in, the 2.5 mile road walk only takes about 45 minutes.  I also want to stop at the market on the way in to pick up a few snacks for the off time.  And I did.  Chips, Gatorade, candy and an ice cream bar.  $12.  Again, prices are just plain out of control.   As I started walking to Dutch Haus, I car stopped and asked if I wanted a ride.  It was a hiker staying at the Dutch Haus.  He slacks 100% of his miles with 2 cars.  He drops himself off and picks himself up.  At times he will get a shuttle and use only one car.  Imagine that.  A 2 car slacking method.  I know of the two car and two hiker in opposite directions method but one hiker and two car method is unique but seems to work for him.  It allows him to do 12-15 mile hikes.  Interesting.  As I was talking to the owner, he indicated that an Aussie was coming in.  Wondering if it was Dundee.  But he was going to stay in Glasgow and he doesn't have a phone.  But sure enough it was him.  He decided he wanted to do the miles instead of stopping at Glasgow.  Also he borrowed a phone from a couple who was stopping here.  8:15.  Dinner is done and was great.  Even a big plate was not enough.  You get to the desert plate and when it is empty, you just stare at it like it is going to magically refill itself. Or better yet if we don't leave the table a second belong of everything is going to begin again.  But it doesn't and one-by-one we leave the table.  The two section hikers left first.  It took the thru hikers a bit longer for the realization that the food part of the evening really was over.  How depressing.  But still a great day.  Scheduled to do my first slack tomorrow.  I need to do something with my right foot.  Two bad areas that were manageable When I was hiking but are now throbbing to a point of extreme pain.  I'll work it out.  A zero day after tomorrow will also help. It's strange how while walking you can manage through the all sorts of pain.  But when in rest mode, the pain seems to take over.  Also on my left foot the callus under my two larger toes has become so large that it now is pushing on everything around it.  I need to cut it but I can't see it all that well.  I figure I have 10 more days until Harpers.  How cool is that gonna be.  Will head back to the chi town for a week or so.  Gonna see my puppy.  I miss her so much.  She's my baby.  Well, actually she is a 90 pound 4 1/2 year old Rottweiler, but to me, she's my puppy.