Date: 2014-05-22
From: the priest shelter

To: laurel springs gap
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: mist

Like the last couple days we would again have one big climb. Todays was the biggest and rumor on the street is that its the biggest till vermont. I will of course see it when i believe it. From the campsite it was five miles down to start the day. Thats no problem if you dont have achey feet, i do have achey feet. Down is worse than up on sore feet. At the bottom we took a quick snack break to lighten our food bags for the torturous hill in front of us. The only thing i can say in the hills defense is that it climbs 1000' then has a short flat bit for you to regain normal breathing before it goes up another 2000'. The first thousand wasnt terrible, it was still cool enough that we were not drenched in sweat. As we were going over the short flat section an F-18 fighter flew over so low i think there was leaves getting stuck in his landing gear. That was pretty cool seeing it fly so low. Then came the heat and the sun and the next two thousand feet. I must say, it was grueling, steep and rocky. While climbing up one such rocky section wondering if i was going to completely melt i came face to face with a 5' snake with a shakey tail. This was the first rattlesnake of the trip! There is no mistake of a rattlesnakes rattle, its loud. So for the sexond time in two days i was about three feet from a poisonous snake. I knew exactly what to do, get out my camera and take a little step back. I got a couple pics and a short video of him rattling. He was in no hurry to get out of his sunning spot but i requested it and told him he could come back as soon as we had passed. He finally agreed and crawled off. A copperhead sticks out like sore feet, rattlesnakes blend in well, this concerned me. I hope they always rattle first. By the time we got to the top of three ridges mt i was spent, completely soaked with no more desire to go any further. It was hot and there was no breeze on one of the biggest hills in a long time, we took lunch. I literally wrung out my shirt to speed the drying process, gross but necesary. After a half an hour we got back on that pony, feet now aching and wanting no more. We got down to the maupin shelter for a water replen and a sit down, actually a lay down. About a half hour of lay down felt so good. We had planned to go another 8.5 miles but both decided to only go 7 and find a place to put up tents wether or not there was a tent site. The last three miles were brutaly rocky. You could go probly a quarter mile at a time without stepping on dirt, again, this is rough with sore feets. It was a grit my teeth, hold back the tears and bear it kind of hike. The longest miles ever in the history of mankind over endless rocks. We took a quick ponder at cedar cliffs and the wonderful views but both of us just wanted to be done walking so we moved on. I was so incredibly happy to cross the blue ridge pkwy, that meant our destination was only .3 miles. Praise the heavens. I gimped until we reached the spring we would camp near and took the slantyest tent spot ever just to get my tent up. I cared not about rolling thru the side of my tent in the middle of the night but only to get my house up and me in it with shoes off. I again cooked inside so i could lay down while my water boiled. Reluctantly i did have to climb out to hang my food bag so at the same time i took a sponge bath in the spring with my bandana. It feels nice to scrape off one layer of crud before bed. I had the brainstorm of taking 2 advil before bed, couldnt hurt, so thats what i did. I rarely take medicine so that it works when i do take it. It worked tonight. I slept like a peaceful baby dreaming about gummy worms. Maybe i shouldnt have left the bag so close to my clothes bag i use for a pillow. On second thought, i like dreaming about gummy worms, and waking up to a bag of them next to my face, mmmmmmm.