Date: 2015-05-04
From: Damascus VA

To: Elk Garden
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Saturday 5/2/2015 This day was a 17 miler for the Iceman and it started at Summit Cut on US58. It was also a flip flop day, he was a SOBO today, and time to see his pals going in the opposite direction. He hiked over two mountains, both at about 3500 feet, and the vertical climbs were about 1000 feet each. The day warmed up as he hiked and the sun was shining. The temp rose to the mid 60's and it was a wonderful change from the bitter cold and rain of the past weeks, although there was nothing outstanding on the way he did see a perfect little pond of about a 1/4 acre in the higher elevations (see the photo in the photo section). It was great to see 3D, the Australians (mother and two daughters)- they read Bill Bryson's book "A Walk in The Woods" also - and a dozen other through hikers whose names he just can't recall. Sunday 5/3/2015 - A nero today of 7 miles give or take a mile from Elk Garden on Mt. Rogers back to the Summit Cut on US58. Sounds like an easy day BUT it required a strenuous hike over Whitetop Mountain, 5525', and a 1500' vertical climb and then descent. It was a passage back to winter (see the photo of brown leafless trees). As one climbs higher in elevation the flora remains a number of climate zones behind that in the valley which was now in early summer with leaves on all of the trees and flowers blooming along the roads and in the gardens. Passing through several farmers fields with cows and one noisy bull he came to a new type of stile, a labyrinth design. The Sherpa had a somewhat normal day on Saturday. It consisted of returning the broken Leki pole to the Mt. Rogers Outfitters in Damascus, where the Iceman had purchased it in November and when she got there who should she see both the Brothers from Ohio and Zorco from Montreal. The Brothers were buying all sorts of clothing and boots. One had been very ill but now was in good shape to keep on trucking. The hiker from Montreal was so happy, his wife and nephew were about to arrive in Damascus, he hadn't seen either one since March when he left home to start his hike. His nephew was going to hike with him for a while. After the store owner repaired the Leki pole it was off to Abingdon, VA for a much needed pedicure. Dinner was at the Damascus Old Mill Inn and then it was back to our room to relax before retiring early to bed. Sunday the Iceman was up extra early so that he could do his hike for the day and get back to the room to change and head to Bristol to the "Birthplace of Country Music" for lunch and a concert. 620 State Street is a restaurant in the Historic District of Bristol that serves a nice variety of Thai, Chinese and American food. The program today, at the Music Center, was called "Jayme Stone's Lomax Project Featuring Tim O'Brien" and it was great. If you love true country/folk music played on Banjo, Fiddle, Bass and Guitar including a woman with a haunting voice, you'd love this group. In the early 1900's Alan Lomax decided to go into the Appalachian mountains and record, with the equipment of the day, as much music as he could. He had heard that the people living in that area of the country had a music of their own not heard by many others in our country so he spent months recording as many musicians as he could and this is called the Lomax Project. Artists like Bob Dylan and Joan Baez, Muddy Waters and Dolly Parton, Pete Seeger and many, many more have sung these songs and written their own versions of country music following the music recorded in those sessions in 1927 and a few years after that. There's one song that is very well known, Shenandoah, and when you hear Margaret Glaspy sing this song tears will surely come to your eyes. If you are curious go to the internet and you'll find it there. Cocktail time arrived and off to The Martha Washington Hotel in Abingdon for a glass of wine on their enormous front porch in the bright sunshine. This is another historic place that shouldn't be missed on any trip to Virginia. It was built for General Preston and his family and has an interesting history. A note here about Mt. Rogers that I'll bet few people know - Mt. Rogers was named after William Barton Rogers, the founder of MIT, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was the first Virginia state geologist.