Date: 2007-06-04
From: Lick Creek VA

To: Jenkins Shelter VA
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: light rain

Wow, what a tough tough day. The rain did stop at some point in the nite. I finally got warm too, but I woke wide up at freakin 4:00 a.m. and I don't think I ever fell back asleep till my alarm went off. Of course, once that goes off, then I felt tired. Never fails huh? LOLThe rain and wet gear is just something to deal with, so I knew it would take me a bit longer to pack up. Also, putting on freezing cold still soaked clothes and shoes from yesterday was not a fun thing either. It was 54 when I got up, so chilly. I finally got moving a bit after 8:00 a.m. Not sure why, but I thought today would be a bit easier than it was. The word for yesterday was rain, the word for today was ROCKS! I had a steep long climb first thing up 4409 ft. Chestnut Knob. I didn't have to stop very often at all, seems my legs and cardio are playing together nicely now.When I did get to the top, it was socked in by clouds and fog. All the way up, I was thinking about how I was going to be able to get some gear issues resolved. My Spenco insoles are already trashed. The plastic "support" part is cracked and one piece chipped off. As I found out yesterday, my rain jacket is toast, because I've had to cut it a few times, my bearbag rope is WAY too short, etc., etc. Just crap like this.So, I decided to see if I had cell service on top of Chestnut Knob, and I did (for a change). I called Bluff Mt. Outfitters in Hot Springs, who sold me the insoles. They didn't have any in my size, so now I'm trying a Montrail insole blind...kind of sucks. They did have everything else I needed, so they're mailing it all to me to Pearisburg, where I should be in 4-5 days if I'm lucky.So that was taken care of, and by this time, the sun was trying to peek out (PLEASE PLEASE..I'm thinking in my head).I got to Chestnut Knob Shelter, and it is an actual concrete building with plexiglass windows so it isn't so dark. Kind of cool.I headed on and met Blue and Caboosey, and I ran into Huckleberry and Bonnie and Clyde as well.I hiked down into Walker Gap, hoping to find water. A car drove up (this is a service forest road too..so pretty rough) and it was 2 day hikers looking for some bog. Blue and Caboosey showed up, and the section hikers heard us looking for water, and they had a huge jug, so they let the 3 of us fill up! Thanks Charma!It was up to a ridge that goes around a valley for 8 miles. I thought this would be smooth sailing, but man was I wrong. It was rocky and slopey and everything. Hiking it jarred my brain I swear. About 2 miles into the ridge, I heard something running down the hill to my right. I looked down, and about 300 yds away was a BLACK BEAR!! COOL! I finally saw a big bear! It was horrified of me and ran so fast I couldn't get a pic. Darn. I had hoped to do 18 miles today, but I swear this shelter was moving away from me. I dragged myself in @ 6:00 p.m. I quickly did camp chores and now I lay here @ 8:30 p.m. listening to the birds and thunder rumbling. God I hope it doesn't rain again.My feet from having hiked 2 days in wet conditions, look HORRIBLE! It's like I've got trench foot. I took a pic (of course) LOL. Gross I know, but skin is just peeling off..really horrible.I've deided to hitch into Bland tomorrow and try to get my footwear (and feet) dried out. I'll pick up a few supplies and then head to Pearisburg, VA! Today was also tough because 2 hikers are trying to help a starving dog that started following them. They are trying to hike with it to Pearisburg, but I' wondering if she'll make it. REALLY depresses me. She's blind in 1 eye, and she's nothing but bones. Horrific in every way. If fate ever allowed me to cross paths with the SOB that dumped her off, they would have wished they'd never met me! I gave Bonnie and Clyde (who are helping the dog) my bag of beef jerkey to feed her. I hope she makes it, I really do. She's so hungry, that when I was cooking my dinner, she ran over and took off with the lid to my pot cozy. I about didn't get it back. I started crying for her. Animals aren't "things", they aren't objects that can be thrown away or dumped off on the side of a road when you're tired of them. My heart breaks for this little dog.Oh wow...this huge storm is hitting RIGHT now! Crazy strong winds, torrential downpour, lightning, and LOUD thunder overhead! Shit, hope the trees I'm tied off to don't blow over, it's CRAZY right now!! My hammock is swaying a bit!! Definitely glad I'm going in to town to dry out tomorow. Hiking wet day in and day out can put you in a sour mood. Also I tried calling my mom and Rachael a few times today, and all I got was voicemails. Total bummer. I really needed to talk to someone and get a bit of encouragement, but no such luck. It's 63 degrees, storming like mad, and 8:50 p.m. Come on MacCat Deluxe Tarp don't fail me tonight!~Certain