Date: 2011-04-30
From:  Day 51 Lost Mountain Shelter

To: Day 52 ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ Thomas Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: clear sky

I no longer need my alarm clock to wake up, I wake up when the birds start singing and that is between 5:45 and 6:15 just what I want. This gives me plenty of time to go slow packing back up and have time to chat with the others before I hit the trail. Where I am headed each day isn't planned far in advance except to say I'm heading North. Mostly where I might stop for the night is planned the night before and even that is subject to change at any moment during the day based on a wide variety of events. I left camp at 8:45, Tramp left camp after I did but caught up to me during a photo op break I was taking, so we decided to hike together. Right out of camp we hiked down 200' in the first mile, oh down for a change, but that was just to set us up for the big climb of the day. The trail then climbed 2020' over 4 miles and this time all uphill meant  all uphill. But the climb was worth it. I have been very lucky and have been on top of many mountains when the weather has been extraordinary and the views are awesome, today was no exception. Getting to the top of Whitetop Mountain was well worth the effort. Looking out over the mountains I really felt I could see forever. I could see mountain behind mountain behind mountain everywhere I looked. The air was clear and the sun was full out, I had to linger.  It was here Tramp and I took our lunch break, an extra long lunch break.  Then the trail dropped back down 725' over the next 1-1/2 miles. Then back up 981' over another 4-1/2 miles to the summit of Mt Rogers, Virginia's highest peak at 5729' and to the Thomas Knob shelter and our home for the night arriving at 5:00. But the climb up to Mt Rogers was hard and rocky, perfect for a hiker from NJ, we love rocks we got lots of them on the trail in NJ.  But on this climb there were ponies to see.  They were in a fenced off area so I didn't  go in to see them up close. Ponies: In the late 1960's the forest service started buying up land for the Mount Rogers Recreation Area. Land managers found that, left unattended the open high country soon reseeded and began to fill with trees and shrubs. Ponies were introduced to graze the high country and keep the land open for both scenic and recreational uses.  The ponies are hardy enough to survive the harsh winters. I heard from other hikers that did go in that 2 women were kicked, on separate occasions but by the same horse.  It seems the ponies like to lick a hikers shirt for the salt. When this one certain pony was licking a male hikers shirt and the hikers female companion came to close to him, the pony would intervene and kick her. No one was seriously injured. Since this is Saturday night, beautiful weather and it's Mt. Rogers, the trail and surrounding tenting areas are very crowded with weekend hikers & day campers.  Around the shelter tonight are many groups and individuals in tents in addition to all the thru-hikers. But Tramp and I have found a good spot for our tents on a small hill with a clear view of the sky. It is still very clear without a cloud in the sky, we will be able to see bazillions of stars and a very small moon will be out later. Tramp & I went back and ate dinner down at the shelter with Night Hawk who is staying in the shelter. Of course all we talk about is today's fantastic hike. The shelter is very empty, only 3 sleeping inside because everyone wants to be out under the stars.  It's certainly a beautiful night on the Appalachian Trail.  A clear night on the highest mountain around, I think it might get chilly tonight  Total AT miles hiked today 12.2.  Nite all