Date: 2015-05-28
From: Harper's Creek Shelter

To: Paul C. Wolfe Shelter
Miles today: 22.0
Weather: broken clouds

Well, CLEARLY I got my memos switched around, because the big climb this morning was the obvious one to dread. But there was no procrastinating this time...no road to get off or hostel for respite. The only thing to do was climb up and over it. The mountain was named Three Ridges, and it was rugged, boulder-rock, steep trail for much of the way. It never cooled off overnight, and the air was warm, thick, and nearly breeze-less when I started at 7:45. A couple of "silver linings" in it were: 1. There were a few good views once on top, if you searched for them, and 2. Most of the camp was up and hiking before me. The second being a boon because it also meant that most of the "invisible " spiderwebs crossing the path had already been cleared for me. I say most, because it's uncanny, really, how you can hike on Trail that you KNOW someone has passed just minutes prior to you and still walk into a spiderweb yourself. These aren't intricate, round webs we're talking about, mind you, but simply single strands of silk just at the right height to catch you across the face, or arms. Hence, about 87 times a day you are wiping them away (bandana use #12, cobweb dust-away), maybe more. I will have to count someday when I have nothing else to think about. Anyhow, I climbed, I conquered, I admired views, I hiked back down. Then I hiked a ridge for awhile. Then past a field. Then crossed the BRP and hiked what was called a trail for 3 or 4 miles, but was really just rocks strewn along a linear segment of ground following, but just below the BRP, to get us from point A to point B without actually letting us walk on or next to the BRP. (refresher, that's the Blue Ridge Parkway). No hiker enjoys that kind of trail, I'm fairly certain...but perhaps I should take a poll. During that stretch, I came across Count and Lavender taking a rest/lunch break (and a break from that awful, rocky "trail", says Lavender...hmm no poll necessary, methinks) so I stopped to talk and exchange information with them about our upcoming town stay. I moved on, it started to rain for a bit, some other hikers found and pointed out trail magic (a cooler with a few sodas left, some mini packages of goldfish crackers, and one apple when I arrived...thank you trail angel who left these goodies!!!). Not long after that, Count and Lavender caught up and we ended up hiking together the rest of the way to our stopping point, a shelter with a very nice stream, including "swimming hole". You can't actually swim in it, but it's wonderful for a good washing and cool-off. Totally "de-stinkified" and "de-stickyified" (I think I made up that word, but take my word for it, it's valid). Nevertheless, everyone is looking forward to town tomorrow, and all the luxuries associated with that, mainly food. For the first time on this trip I will enter town with no food left in my bag, just a few tea bags and honey packets. I've had to "ration" myself these past couple of days in order to just get by, which has meant being a bit hungry, especially with the high mileages. Dreaming of food chains tonight.