Date: 2005-05-08
From: Damascus, VA

To: route 58
Miles today: 16.0

Leaving Damascus this first time was hard, I had a headache and was drained from town. Last night they had their kick-off dance for trail days. If it wasn't for kids and hikers, nobody would have been dancing.Anyway, hiking today, I am out to get to 16 miles to a road in which to meet Jeff (JP), he is my best friend from college and partner in the big Chili World. We won our first cookoff together in '96 and have watched each other win many more titles as well as many many many titles as Showmanship Champs with our wacky themes done by our Chili Team...The Sleepless Knights...but this is a whole 'nother story.And, the AT, at times (more than I wish), should be called the "Not So Scenic Trail." Take in point today, the AT leaves town on the Creeper Trail then does its own thing for about 4 miles at which time it comes back to the Creeper then decides to do it's own thing again. The problem is this, at this time, The Creeper follows this beautiful river through the mountains while the AT does "its thing" about 200 to 500 yards above it, WITH NO VIEW AT ALL. Sure, through the trees you can barely see a glimpse of the river and the occassional flash of a bike rider or runner; but only a flash, their characteristics as well as the scene is virtually undistinguishable. Then, wooo, the AT does something that is O' so familiar, MINDLESS SWITCHBACKS!!!!. The AT decides "hey, forget this scenic river, we're the AT...you are lucky we let you listen to it for 5 miles, we're going up over a Mtn that is meaningless to everyone except, well the AT God's of the mIndless Switchback!" You see, at the top, all there is is a Shelter that you still yet have to hike off the AT a half a mile at which point you are only a little over 8 miles out of town. Now, I know I have a few beers in town and don't exactly totally Rest when there, but I didn't need a shelter this soon and sure enough would not want to forgo a chance to walk a SCENIC Trail at this point. But, hey...the Spring was appreciated (note: the river IS water too). Anyway, the AT then pops down on the other side back on the Creeper for a VERY short teaser and back into the unscenic lost once again.I made decent time as was set to meet JP at 6:45PM at the road crossing. I was there, he was not. I waited an hour and a half and debated my options. Was he even here? Did he have trouble? Was his ride happening? Was he at a different road? I pulled out a bandana that I knew he would recognize, grabbed a ziplock and some paper, wrote him a note, found a big stick and put it all on it for him to see, if he should be so lucky. The sun had long faded and I needed to get to a camp site. I went 1.5 and found this road that the AT crossed by this mysterious house that was abandoned. After a brief encounter with a gizzly adams looking (Deliverence) guy that was doing something at his truck right where the AT crossed the road(probably burying a body or something)- I cautiousy set up camp, built a fire so that JP could see it and began watching and listening for him. At about 11:15PM, I gave in to sleep and hit the tent. At 12:21 I heard my name being called...guess who? JP! There he was, carrying his black and decker (borrowed) flashlight (you know, the kinds that work on a Drill battery 5 pounds or something), no tent, no ground cloth, no PAD, only the second Jansport pack I have seen on the trail (mine is the other except mine is for thruhiking, his is for carrying school books) and a 20 pound bag of food...a true beginner, I might add. I was happy to see him and amazed once again at how the trail seems to just work out. He cowboy camped on some semi-soft grass and his emergency Blanket, I stayed in my tent. Next Journal please.