Date: 2004-05-10
From: Old Orchard Shelter

To: Trimpi Shelter
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: scattered clouds

I made a tentative schedule before I set out on the trail, and I noticed today that I'm a week behind. That's what happens when you are chased out of the mountains by a few storms, hike with liesurely people, and count on going to Trail Days in Damascus. Oh well.This morning was hot and sunny. We hiked the ten miles to VA 16 in four hours and it was not all downhill. Although my average speed is getting a lot better, and my cardiovascular system can handle the long haul, my legs still feel the aching pain after ten miles. I feel great in the mornings and probably with an hour rest at lunch, I can handle another ten. But this remains to be seen after this weekend.My morning routine is also better. I manage to get ready within an hour, including breakfast. If I'm staying in the shelter, I can even braid my hair as well.Our plan was to hit Troutdale for lunch. We will take any opportunity to get cheeseburgers it seems. I think that was running through everyone's heads as we sped to the next road crossing. Catdog and I decided to slow down a bit and as we came closer to VA16 since there was a bridge crossing a heavy flowing stream, fed by a cascading waterfall.I thought to myself, "my first swimhole." It was hot and I was heading into town. Time to clean up. So I pulled off the boots and jumped in. The water wasn't cold like the ice water we have in NH. Very comfortable and refreshing.Catdog and I met Palmtree at the intersection. He told us that we had already procured a ride to Troutdale by a former thru-hiker named Sarge (1997).Sarge showed up shortly, piled our packs into his truck, and took us to the Troutdale Trading Post where Wizard, Cuppa Joe, and Hawk were waiting. Then, because he had to drive us back anyway, Sarge joined us for lunch.Sarge is from New Orleans and continues to hike 1200 miles of the trail each year if he can. He had a few trail stories and enjoys a good laugh.A few of us took advantage of the skimpy resupply in the convenience store. For some reason we all packed less food than we should. Either that or we are eating a lot more and don't realize it.After Sarge dropped us off at the trailhead after a fulfilling lunch, Ridge Runner Dave drove up in his red truck to tell us that he saw 100 hikers in the Mt Rogers NRA on Saturday. That's a lot of weekenders to get stuck in a storm.It started to rain lightly as we headed into the woods for Trimpi Shelter. As we hiked, we met up with more southbounders hoping to reach Damascus by Trail Days. I heard that Dingle is traveling south and was sleeping in the shelter this morning while Skirt is heading north like us.Trimpi Shelter is a well built stone structure with a fireplace and room for six. Many of us decided to tent and managed to erect our tarptents before another thunderstorm rolled in.It is still a bit damp outside and the rain is intermittent. My tent is so close to Cuppa Joe's and Hawk's that we can still converse. We heard Hoot/Barn Owls and I told them about the "Who cooks for you?" expression that resembles their hoot patterns (see guestbook). But then another owl started blurting some hoot jibberish. Cuppa Joe asked, "Now what is that?" and I said, "That 's the other owl saying, 'I'm sick of cooking for you. It is your turn to cook for me!" Hawk thought that was funny.I have to say that without the hum of traffic and city noise, the birdsongs in the south are crisp and clear. Like the flowers, I wish I could identify them.