Date: 2005-04-04
From: Sarver Shelter

To: War Spur Shelter
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: clear sky

A 12 mile day with longer daylight means I¢m in no hurry to get up so I slept in until 6:30 just as the sky was starting to lighten. After an impressive sunrise, the sun began warming up the campsite rapidly. Although I had hiked yesterday and started today in spandex and two layers, I was grateful I had also brought shorts and a short-sleeved shirt as it looked like a warm day. Nothing like a steep uphill side trail to get you going in the morning. And these miles don¢t count! Nonetheless, the ridgetop walking was easy and afforded pleasant views. The winds of yesterday had only dissipated slightly so the 2 layers felt good in the morning. Today will be typical of this hike: one major ascent, 2 major descents, and lots of ridge walking in between. The first descent into Sinking Creek Valley wasn¢t bad and I took advantage of the nice bridge by the Creek¢s tributary to fill my water and change into shorts and short-sleeved shirt; the temperature was definitely warmer at this lower elevation. As it turned out, this was the outfit for the rest of the hike.Crossing Rt. 42 then leads through pastures necessitating climbing stiles. I find it enjoyable to walk in this variation from the woods. A portion of this elevation gain up Kelly Knob and Johns Creek Mountain was through these pastures. On a downhill portion, I couldn¢t help but notice how huge this tree stood besides a stile over the fence. My photo probably didn¢t do it justice. I wonder if the ATC has any records of the largest tree besides the AT? Then I read in Wingfoot¢s guide that this is the Keffer Oak ¢ an extremely rare 300-year old tree which somehow escaped the axman¢s clutches.Hoping to reach Laurel Creek Shelter for lunch, I tried to ignore my crying stomach. First I had to cross Laurel Creek. With the recent rains and previous snow, I¢m gratified that the ground has been dry and the stream crossings manageable. Not this time ¢ I resorted to hauling a long and throwing it across the creek to provide a stepping ¢stone¢ between the boulders since the other designated stepping points were well submerged.Lunch at the shelter was followed by a steep, steep ascent up Kelly Knob which I made without stopping. I lingered at the top¢s rocky outcropping to admire the views. Thus far, I was enjoying and reveling in today¢s hike but the rest of the day proved difficult and slow-going. The ridgeline featured Pennsylvania-style rocks upon which I stubbed my toes several times. Foolishly I had failed to trim my nails before this hike. Also this slope had evidently borne the brunt of the winds of the last 3 days because I had to dodge much of the detritus. The small branches I kicked away but the larger ones required detours. Part way down the descent from Johns Creek mountain ( much rougher than Sinking Creek descent), I came to a cooler on the other side of Rt. 601 in well-named Rocky Gap courtesy of Super Dave who had hiked the AT in 2 years, 2002 & 2003. Sodas, cookies ¢ thanks Dave!! His note said the contents were for thru and section hikers (emphasis added) but I only took one soda and one cookie. That helped because the rest of the descent was not fun ¢ tough on the knees and feet and nerve-racking with the rocks. Finally at the bottom and then a gentle ascent to War Spur Shelter. Halfway there I met my first NOBO thruhiker ¢ Just Mark, a middle aged mid-Westerner (judging from his accent) who started February 22. Thus far, he¢s experienced everything. He was slopping through the snow in the Smokies when I was facing my own snow adventures from Bland to Pearisburg 4 weeks ago. It¢s hard to conceive how conditions were then in the face of today¢s warm Spring weather. War Spur is another nice shelter ¢ good water source nearby. As of this writing at 6:20 PM. I¢m still in my shorts savoring the lingering warmth. The flying bugs are another (somewhat annoying but in a way gratifying) sign of Spring.