Date: 2008-04-15
From: Laurel Creek Shelter

To: Pickle Branch Shelter
Miles today: 22.3
Weather: few clouds

At 6:45a, we were all up and moving. Yeah, we have a 22-23 mile day planned and need to get on the trail ASAP. After dropping a 2-sie and eating my Pop-Tarts, we hit the trail at 7:45a. I'm not sure when, but we eventually reached the Keffer Oak--It's approximately 300 years old, 18 feet in girth, and the 2nd largest Oak on the AT. I took a picture of it from a distance to try and capture its "magesty," but unfortunately, it didn't give it justice. After picture time, we began the unnecessarily steep and rough climb up to the Sarver's Hollow Shelter. By 10:15a, however, we stopped at the shelter's sidetrail and decided to sit on the log to take a break. And guess who we see coming up the hill? That's right, we saw the Auburn Boys! I thought we would catch them today, but thought they would have been gone by this time. After some time catching up with them, we hiked on. The scenary was pretty nice today. We walked along some beautiful ridges and were shocked to see 2 pairs of buzzards relaxing at the peaks. When we go to the high point, we noticed a sign that said "EASTERN CONTINENTAL DIVIDE." I took a picture of this "landmark" and then we began our climb to the Niday Shelter. We enjoyed a 30 minute pack, shoes/socks, and shirt off lunch break before Roundhorse and Brandon rolled in. We stayed for another 15 minutes and then decided to press on. By the time we reached VA 621, we realized that we were out of water, but saw a water source nearby. When we got there, Yeti decided to dip his bottle in, but quickly stopped when he noticed a severed deer's leg in the water source. So, we decided to go a little further up, hoping that the water would be cleaner. Unfortunately, we discovered part of the deer's corpse there. Eventually, we found a spot where there were no severed parts of the deer and gathered water. When we crossed the road, we found something amazing...*TRAIL MAGIC*!!!!! Thankfully, a woman named "BARBARA" (AT '06) left a cooler with carrots, chocolates, pretzels, crystal light packets, etc. and offers shuttles into town for resupply and slackpacking. Thanks so much Barbara, your carrots and Crystal Light packets really hit the spot. So we continued on the trail and began our Monstrously long climb up Brushy Mnt. #6 so that we could visit the Audie Leon Murphy Memorial. The trail had a nice grade and was switchbacked well, but the sun made it harder than it should have been. Whe we finished the climb up, we saw some benches and enjoyed a shirt off break so that our clothes would dry. Yeti, however, reclined on his pack while T. Bear and I sat on the benches...good thinking Yeti!!! Then, we walked to the memorial. It was kind of neat to stand there and think of how hard Mr. Murphy fought for his country, but sad at the same time because he survived the onslaught launched by the Nazis but perished while flying over Brushy Mnt. #6...at least he died doing something he enjoyed!!! We took some pics of the memorial and I decided to leave one of my "Katahdin Bullets" atop the memorial. For those that don't know, I found some bullets while in GA and decided to carry those from GA-->ME instead of carrying a rock like everyone else does. I took some extras so that I could leave them at Historical markers along the way!!At 6p, we arrived at the shelter to find...*TRAIL MAGIC*!!!!!!!! Ya...some kind person left 4 packs of instant potato packets, oatmeal, 12 Ramen Noodles, a trowel and a pair of camp shoes!!! Thanks mysterious Trail Angel! We gathered water and I used my last bit of Aqua-Mira. Luckily, I still have my Iodine back up. 35 minutes later, Brandon rolls into camp. He was pretty thirsty but couldn't gather water because Roundhorse was carrying the water filter and had not yet arrived to the shelter. So, I offered him a litre of my water. He took it and I told him to feel free to take more if needed...I usuallly gather 5L when we're in camp anyways! At 7:45p, Roundhorse strolled into camp and was happy to see the trailmagic. I think VA is doing to the AU boys what it's been doing to us...it makes you feel alone, yet thankful when you encounter other hikers--That, in my opinion, is "The VA Blues."Well, I've learned some new things: 1) I don't mind carrying my 19oz MSR Water filter because I enjoy having water available whenever I'm thirsty, and don't like Aqua-Mira--it runs through me, 2) Iodine tablets need to be replaced regularly because mine are expired and not working very well, 3) In VA, Whenever a mountain is named Brushy Mnt, the climbs are gonna be very steep, rough, and make you curse the name "Brushy Mnt," and 4) I don't eat as much food when the temperature is hot as compared to when it's cold. I do, however, drink double the amount of water! We were initially going to press on to the Dragon's Tooth, but that would entail carrying 5-6L of water up an 1800ft climb and 4 miles up some rocky terrain. This was originally planned because Yeti heard that the sunrise from there was amazing, but the water situation and tarping when at 3,020 ft when the temperature is supposed to drop below freezing just did not seem like a good idea. Then, we planned to wake up early and watch the sunrise, but who wants to be up at 4:30a? So, the sunrise from atop the Dragon's Tooth, along with the Grayson Highlands, is now on my "re-do" list. So is the Homeplace restaurant in Catawba, VA because we're just a bit too early to eat there. Well, it's 9:30p and I'm tired...Night!