Date: 2021-10-04
From: Middle Creek Campground 

To: Thunder Hill Shelter 
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: light rain

October 4 - Middle Creek Campground to Thunder Hill Shelter - 12.5 miles (40.7 trip miles) - 27170 steps It rained for about 2 hours last night after the sun went down. It sounded torrential in the tent but I think it was just a steady shower. I slept ok, not great but probably got 5 hours in. I get a bit antsy getting into the tent early so I read for awhile and checked the guide. Started packing up just after 630, in the dark. Skipped breakfast and had a protein bar, and headed up the road at 710. The road went up about a mile then went left for .7 to the blue blaze trail to get back on the AT. This 2.5 miles is less than the 4 miles if i had gone back to where I left off yesterday. Plus, I would have had to walk back to that spot. Maybe if I am in this area in the future I will cover that short section. The trail today was predominantly up. Maybe 80% of the time I was climbing. Some of it was steep in places but overall it wasn¢t unbearable. The immediate goal was to get to Apple Orchard Mountain. This would be a climb of about 3000 feet while on the trail and probably close to 3500 from the campground I stayed at last night. Water would be an issue today as well. The first 4.5 miles were all up. Nothing to see as the trail was always in the woods. Just below that first summit I stopped in to Cornelius Creek Shelter. The water was low but flowing nicely. I topped off my bottles and added another liter in my water scoop bag just in case. Next up was Black Rock Overlook. Nice views, likely to the north. 2 more miles of rolling hills with some rocky stretches brought me to the base of the climb to Apple Orchard Mountain. After the first short rocky section of the climb, the grade got a little gentler but still up. I eventually reached the cleared summit with the giant golf ball. Actually, it¢s an FAA communications site. I found a rock to relax on and eat some lunch. Just when I finished a day hiker came by. Nice guy, and a talker. After lunch and a chat, I pressed on the short distance to the Thunder Hill Shelter. On the way I went through ¢The Guillotine¢, a famous AT landmark. I arrived at the shelter at 2. I was undecided about staying since it was so early. However, tomorrow I am going in to Glasgow, VA and stay at a hostel. They have a resupply box I sent before leaving home. If I keep going today I¢ll get to the road too early and have to hitch or wait for the hostel shuttle at 5. Timing and distance work out better if I just stay here. Plus, there is water, a privy and picnic table. I am right on with my initial schedule. And then at about 6, the rains came. There¢s about 10 hikers in and around the shelter. Some cooking dinner when the rain hit. One advantage of getting to your destination early. There were many more SOBO thru hikers today. I usually step aside and let them pass. I also noticed the incredible volume of acorns on the ground and how many are constantly falling off the trees. Squirrel paradise yet there¢s very few. And, when they hit the shelter roof, it¢s loud!Tomorrow it¢s about 15 miles to where I hope to get a ride and get cleaned up and do laundry. Luckily, it¢s almost all down hill. Until tomorrow.