Date: 2006-04-19
From: Jenny Knob Shelter

To: Doc's Knob Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I feel a rant coming on, so you may want to prepare yourself. I'll save it for later in the entry.We knocked out the first 7 miles in no time. Usually, the switchbacks here in VA do the trick, although they sometimes take you on curious routes. We walked 0.8 miles to a local convenience store for some pizza and Coke. It's nice to be able to do that, and it's only going to get more convenient as we move north. Back on the trail, the next 6 miles were perectly flat and ran beside a roaring stream. I started lagging behind a bit due to a newly acquired blister, but all in all, it was still nice hiking. We planned a long break at the Wapiti Shelter, where we read a peculiar entry in the register. This is where today's rant begins. A hiker a few days ahead wrote of his plans to stay at the Woodshole Hostel. The hostel is run by an Atlanta resident who summers in a cabin here in VA. She provides solar showers, a bunkhouse, an a privy for free. Also, you can get breakfast and sodas for pretty cheap. Sounds wonderful doesn't it? Only according to our info, it wasn't supposed to be open until next month. Still we got our hopes up. In the next few miles, we were harshly punished for the flatness we had earlier received. It was steep and rocky. We eventually arrived at the USFS road atop the mountain, where what should we find but a flyer for the Woodshole Hostel. It claims to be open as of April 1 and requests hikers call ahead for reservations. Casino tried to use his cell, but alas, no service. We tripped and tubled our way down the rockiest 1.6 miles of VA to the gravel road that would take us to the hostel. We then walked 0.5 miles out of our way downhill, fantastically grateful that our day was done. And then the fiendish wand of Trail BlackMagic swept over us. The gate was locked. The bunkhouse was padlocked. The refridgerator was empty. I don't know who exactly to direct my anger at. I don't know if it was an April Fool's joke or if the proprietor mistakenly left up the sign from last year, or what. But I am angry at someone. If you put up a sign that causes an AT thruhiker to walk out of his/her way a single inch, you had better come through with your offer. otherwise, there is a special place reserved for you in hiker hell. Again, i don't know who exactly to point the finger at, but if I find out, with let's just say it wouldn't be pleasant.We hobbled back up for the 2.2 miles to the next shelter. Upon arrival, we found DragonSlayer and chRONic sprawled out for the night. They happily made room for us and befriended Freckles. Casino chilled a Coke in the spring, one he had packed out from the store. I had already drank mine at Wapiti, so could only covet his. He did offer me a swig, being the generous man that he is. I, however, felt that it would somehow upset the cosmic balance if i were to drink some of his hard earned soda, thus i declined.It turned out that DragonSlayer was section hiking, having completed a thruhike in '04. She had a car parked in Pearisburg, and offered to give us all rides around town. I resolved to take advantage of that, as there was a Pizza Hut buffet with my name on it.