Date: 2018-04-20
From: The Lazy Fox Inn

To: Saunders Shelter
Miles today: 9.5
Weather: clear sky

The day started with another delicious breakfast compliments of Jinny and Joe. Today she added Peach Cobbler to the smorgasbord, just in case we didn¢t feel like we were getting enough variety?!?! After breakfast we packed up our gear and then bid farewell to Ms. Jinny. As I gave her a goodbye hug I said,¢All good things must come to an end.¢ She replied, ¢You will be back.¢ I think she is right on that point. Heartburn and Butter Knife would be staying at the Lazy Fox another night (or two). As for us, there was still some business to take care of before leaving Damascus. Our last stop was at Mojos, which is located on the north edge of town. It was there that we waited for an important phone call that never came. We found Spirit Man sitting out front sipping on coffee and basking in the warm sunshine. The Los Jalape±os Gang also dropped by. Although we are a day ahead of our band of hiking friends, we still get to see them often in town. Other times we pass them going south on the trail. Another young hiker named Beans was sitting on the patio. Yes, he was carrying a can of Bush¢s Baked Beans in the side pocket of his pack. At 12:30 we decided we had better hit the trail if we were going to get any hiking done. Our original plan was to take two days to hike the 32 miles to Grayson Highlands State Park. Since we had to linger in town to take care of business, we decided to break that into three days. This would also give the rest of our Tramily a chance to catch up with us. The AT shares the path with the Creeper Trail for about a half mile. Beans was out in front of us a bit. He would be the only NOBO we would see all day.  The Creeper Trail continued along a stream as the AT turned north to make its first of two ascents of the day. The trail for the next three miles was about as unremarkable as we have been on. But, after we crossed US 58, we were surrounded by Rhododendron, Mountain Laurel, and Holly Bushes. For the next three miles the AT paralleled the Creeper Trail, as they both hugged the swift running Whitetop Laurel Creek. We came to a small footbridge crossing a cascading stream, rushing to meet the Creek below. From there the AT climbed up and away from the Creeper Trail, with its steady stream of bike riders. There was a respectable climb for the final three miles of the hike. In no hurry, we took it nice and easy on this perfect hiking day. The temperature was in the mid-50s, the skies were blue, and a slight breeze gently cut through the air. It doesn¢t get any better than this. As we climbed, we could see a cute little community called Taylors Valley through the brown trees. It was just a little after 5PM when we arrived at Saunders Shelter. It was here that we stopped to set up camp. Two section hikers (another husband and wife team) occupied the neat little shelter and two weekend hikers tented in the wooded area behind the shelter. It was nice to roll in and not be completely exhausted. We pitched our tent in an open field just beyond the shelter, where we would benefit from the evening and morning sun. Easy does it.- Next StepElevation Data:               Weather:Ascent ~ 2,650                  Day ¢ 56 degrees / SunnyDescent ~ 1,270                Night ¢ 34 degrees / ClearGrade ~ 7.8Over the Horizon: Mount Rogers