Date: 2016-05-31
From: Helvey Mill Shelter

To: Dude Fest and beyond 
Miles today: 24.0
Weather: scattered clouds

5/31What a way to end May...Dude Fest 2016. Let me explain. As you know I am attempting to raise some money for the Eastern Wild Turkey restoration efforts in East Texas. I am working with the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) who is supporting and promoting my efforts. The NWTF has members in all 50 states including Virginia and it just so happens Jimmy Miller (who owns Trent's Grocery) is a supporter of the NWTF and decided to throw a party in honor of my efforts. He was kind enough to supply all the food for what ended up being about 50 hikers at his campsite (right next to store). Some how or another Haiku called it the Dude Fest and the name stuck! Rumours of the shindig spread (as I "advertised it" in the shelter logs and as I already said... The turn out was epic!Jimmy even slacked packed about 15 hiker's packs for 10 miles ...I was one of the slackers and we were able to cruise right into Trent's without the weight of our packs. This was probabally a good thing as everyone in our bubble had been doing big miles and the break was welcomed. Additionally the 10 miles leading up to Trent's has zero places to fill water bottles and it was hot!!The party (Dude Fest) was held at the campsite and included pulled pork, hamburgers and hotdogs. Of course Trent's is well supplied with beer and several cases found their way into the mix. Many hikers I mention on here were there and several new friends showed up as well. I even met a hiker from Hillsboro, NJ (the town I lived in prior to moving to Texas).I can't say enough about Jimmy and the store. Trent's Grocery is about as cool as a store can be... I mean, here is a place the has everything from honey buns to steel traps (on the same aisle nonetheless). I was impressed with his fishing lure selection , hardware aisle and the breakfast sandwiches. Like many country stored there were a few tables inside and if you ever harvest a bear in Bland County you can check it in at Trent's as well. I think I could live out of that store and be fine.The night went late and we slowly did laundry and prepare to hike this morning. In addition to laundry I sorted out what clothes I will send home now that it is hot. By noon we were mobilizing to the next destination... Dismal Falls. Dismal Falls is anything, but dismal. It's very close to Trent's, but a 1.5 mile hike on the AT. All attendees of the Dude Fest found themselves swimming in the falls and lounging on the rocks.Several hikers decided to call 1.5 miles good for the day. I decided to hike another 6 to the first shelter. At 5:30 I left Dismal Falls and by 5:35 it was raining as hard as it has rained since I have been in the AT! It was torrential! I almost turned back, but I thought.. Hell I am already wet. Plus setting up my tent in that would have sucked!So I made is about 5 miles before it stopped. Parts of the AT were like a river. My boots are beyond soaked. Right before the shelter there was a big pond, some of the Dude Fest attendees were camping there ( Chunks, Navigator, Fury and Big Beard). I stopped to chat and noticed fish in the pond so I broke out my fly rod.... Literally, the tip is broken. Some how or another it snapped. So I duct taped it in the rod and it seemed to work. Chunks gave me a top water popper he found and I tied it to met leader and caught several very small Bluegills. After fishing for 15 minutes I packed up and walked the rest of the way to shelter just before dark. Alastair was there as well as Leslie who I met earlier at Dismal Falls. In addition a section girl named Joel, Tarzan and another couple (Red (he looks like Trey Anastasio) and Crash) were at the shelter. I quickly ate dinner and went to bed. I don't overpromote my fundraising campaign on this blog however due to the Dude Fest I'm going to take a time to share some information if you would like to help the Eastern Turkey restoration efforts in East Texas go to my website www.gofundme.com/turkeyhike and pledge a few dollars. For every one dollar you pledge you will be contributing five dollars to the effort as Texas Parks and wildlife will be matching four dollars for everyone that is raised. Thank you in advance