Date: 2013-10-21
From: Marble Spring Campsite

To: Bryant Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 17.1
Weather: clear sky

It didn't seem quite as cold last night as the night before. However, that may be partly because there was no wind overnight. It was clear and the big full moon shown bright all night, not setting until mid-morning. The stiff climb right out of the campsite up Highcock Knob had me quickly down to shorts and T-shirt despite the temp of 44 showing on my thermometer. At several breaks in the trees I could look down on the James River valley and see it was completely fogged in. Thick white marshmallow fluff filled the valleys and came about half way up the sides of the ridges. Above dense valley fog, it was clear and cold with little wind. The fog layer hung in the valleys until after 10 am. Finally I came to the Thunder Ridge Overlook along the BRP. It provides a 180 degree unobscured view to the west. Although much of the fog had burned off by then, it was still pretty neat.I ate an early quick lunch at Thunder Ridge Shelter then pushed on over Apple Orchard Mt with it's large Ping-Pong ball FAA towers on top. The views to the west from the mowed meadows along the summit ridge were excellent in the clear cool morning air. A bit further on, the view from Black Rock Overlook was also excellent. The many foggy and rainy days early in this hike have made the recent views that much more appreciated. While eating a snack at Cornelius Creek Shelter. A small flock of migrant birds came foraging through. I saw another Solitary Vireo and several very bright yellow warblers that I could never get a really good look at. They kept flitting through the thickest parts of small hemlock trees in front of the shelter, always staying just hidden from the clear view I needed to positively ID them. However, a family of White-breasted Nuthatches hung around the front of the shelter chasing each other noisily up and down the tree trunks and large branches. Finally, on my way up Floyd Mt I got good looks at two loud Pileated Woodpeckers working over a large dead snag near the trail. I've been hearing them almost every day and seen quite a few flying through the forest canopy, but these birds were by far the best looks I had gotten on the trip. By the time I arrived at Bryant Ridge Shelter I was ready for a break and decided to stay. The long and often steep downhill to the shelter off of Bryant Ridge had taken it's toll on my feet. Two new blisters had developed during the 5-mile downhill run, one on the outside of each heel. The two blisters remaining from several days ago on my toes have not improved much either, so I have some foot doctoring to do tonight. When I arrived at the shelter I remembered spending a hot afternoon break here, waiting for the temp to cool before starting up the long climb to the top of Bryant Ridge. This is a very large shelter with a unique split level design and post and beam construction. A unique shelter near a cool running stream and a great place to spend another bright moonlit night. Just after I went to bed a Barred Owl came calling around the steep hillside just across the creek from the shelter. A couple of coyotes yipped briefly along with them. From then on it remained a quiet night. Low temp I saw when I got up this morning was 37, with a high of 64. Clear skies and light winds all day. A fine day for hiking!