Date: 2017-04-23
From: Wise Shelter

To: Dickey Gap - Virginia Highway 16 and 650
Miles today: 16.0

The plan today was to hike 20+ miles to Trimpi Shelter - everyone at Wise Shelter was up early to get started. The rain and wind held steady overnight. Everything was a sloppy wet mess. All creeks and small streams virtually at flood stage. The trail went through ponds of water. No effort was made to keep my feet dry. All clothing I was wearing was wet through. The pack itself and all the contents was completely soaked. The first landmark is a place called The Scales - literally a place where cattle were weighed in bygone days. It is a pretty area and I had seen it in the past in nice weather. Today I could not see across the corral from gate to gate to pass through because of thick fog and very heavy rain. The trail was confusing and very difficult to follow across many regular streams and wet- weather creeks. The Old Orchard Shelter finally came into view and I took a break to eat and rest briefly. A little further on I came to Hurricane Mountain Shelter. In 2004 when I came through I saw the shelter site prepared and when I came to the road ahead I saw a truck loaded with lumber and the driver said it was for the new shelter. I decided to go there and see it. Several hikers were there hunkered down in sleeping bags to fight off hypothermia. There were strong winds and driving cold rain. I could tell the temperature was dropping. I had a snack and loaded up to leave. Five miles ahead is a beautiful Creek called Comers Creek with a footbridge and multiple high cascading waterfalls.  I had also seen this in 2004 but it was just a trickle. Today it was a wild aggressive stream of runoff water blasting loudly through the streambed from the draw in the mountain above, bubbling and foaming over the car-sized builders. It could be heard from way off. I had been passing, and being passed by Scotty, a 50-ish hiker from England that I have been hiking around for some time now. Shortly after Comers Creek I passed him again. About a half mile ahead the trail crosses the intersection of Virginia highways 16 and 650. Conditions could not have been more miserable. Scotty remarked as I passed that if someone offered a ride at the road he'd take them up on it and go into town to dry out.  When I got to the road there was some traffic so I thought it over. When Scotty came up we decided to give it a try. A couple of minutes later two more hikers came up onto the road and I have never seen two more miserable looking hikers. We four decided to hitch into town. There were a few vehicles that slowed down but kept going. Finally a lady and man from Pennsylvania who are hikers themselves pulled over in a pickup truck. No room inside but we could ride in back. The bed was level full with tires and storage boxes but we four, plus our packs and trekking poles got into the exposed bed and hung on for dear life as they drove the curvy mountain road for about 20 - 25 miles. We were completely inundated with driving rain and the wind chill of 55 miles per hour. Finally we pulled up to the Econo Lodge in Marion, Virginia. There was no warmth left in any if us. Scotty and I got a room together. Even after hot showers we were both still shivering. Turns out that many hikers were coming down from the mountains and those who kept going to the shelter describe miserable conditions setting up tents in puddles of water and the harsh driving rain. My plan had been to hike one more day ahead and then hitchike to Marion Virginia. So I am taking my day off one day early and will go back out and hike ahead from there - same plan but just traded days. The rivers and creeks in and around Marion are at flood stage. The forecast is for more of the same, but you can't hold up forever and make it to Maine. I am resupplied and have a shuttle scheduled for tomorrow morning.  I have updated Marlene on what happened and the new plan. So good to make contact and let her know I'm alright. Goodnight Sweetheart.