Date: 2005-04-21
From: Campsite

To: Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 20.8
Weather: broken clouds

Campsite to Partnership Shelter"Well, that wasn't railbed grade"Camping by the creek just before Hurricane Shelter was wonderful.  All was quiet except for the steady rush of the creek.  I slept so well without the rustle and rattle of the shelter.  I enjoy the special aspect of the shelters, but I just haven't been sleeping so well in them with the cacophony of snores and tossing and turning.  So, I especially enjoy the sleep afforded by the quiet seclusion of tenting.We were up a little earlier than normal, and on the trail just past 7:30.  The 6.3 mi to Dickey Gap went extrememly fast in just two hours.  Took a long break in some grass, then on to Trimpi shelter.  There was a good group there hanging around talking and laughing.  Most of them had pushed on yesterday to Dickey Gap in order to go into Troutdale this morning.  All were planning to walk the ten more miles to Partnership, the "Pizza shelter."  We'd planned to camp around mile 14 from the last campsite. The terrain from Trimpi to the originally planned site was forgiving and went fast.  We found ourselves there at 3PM with plenty of energy.  We remembered smooth graded old railroad bed trail all the way to Partnership.  So, we decided to go for our first 20 mile day.  The terrain stayed agreeable for a couple of miles.  Then it started winding up, and up and up.  At first I thought it was putting us up on a nice smooth ridge.  As we climbed I realized that there was nothing even remotely smooth about this ridge.  It was a series of sharp ups and downs for at least six miles.  As we walked along the top of the narrow ridge, the sky became increasingly dark and rumbly.  We'd been pushing hard and were in need of a break, but it seemed risky exposed on top of that ridge like that.  So we pushed on.  Although the sky continued threatening, there was no action so we decided to take a quick break. We ate some energy bars, drank some water and pushed on to cover the last four miles.Having expected smooth graded railroad bed trail but given roller coaster, we were getting pretty tired.  But, we were committed and determined, so we pushed even harder.  Finally, the lines of the log shelter appeared and we knew we'd made it.We were tired, salty and hungry, but it was worth the haul.  This shelter is the only one on the trail with a hot shower and a phone from which hungry hikers can order pizza.  While we waited for the pizza to arrive, Gravity and I each took showers.  It felt so good to get all that salt and grime off!  We walked over to the Mt. Rogers National Park Headquarters building (where the phone is) to keep Red Rover company and wait for the pizza guy.  Everyone feasted and enjoyed the lively company.  It never did rain on us as we were hiking, but now as we lay full and dry in our sleeping bags there is a light pitter patter beginning to fall.It felt great to do our first 20, and was well worth it!  I feel content and happy, ready to embrace sleep for the night.A short 11 to the Relax Inn tomorrow for a hotel stay, resupply, real showers and laundry.  It's good to be on the trail.Danger