Date: 2011-04-26
From: Chestnut Knob Shelter

To: Helveys Mill Shelter
Miles today: 24.0
Weather: scattered clouds

5/11/2011 ¢ I am again adding 5 days to the journal today (4/24 ¢ 4/28)MaryWhat a strange and tiring day. I started the day from high up (4,400 feet) at the Chestnut Knob Shelter. I walked all by myself in my own little world today, hardly seeing anyone. There was a long ridge walk that seemed just flat on the map, yet was very rocky and had a lot of little ups and downs. I called my wife (Mary) from up on the ridge and was very happy to find out she will be visiting me for a couple days in Waynesboro. Unfortunately, by the time I completed the 10 miles to Jenkins Shelter my mood had changed. I had no energy, and I was drinking and eating constantly to keep going. During lunch at the shelter I took an inventory of my food and realized I didn¢t have enough to make it to the next re-supply. This meant I would either need to go into Bland at 22 miles plus a 2 12 mile hitch, or I could do two 20 mile days and go to Trent¢s Grocery. The problem was I was exhausted after only 10 miles and it was very warm. I did what any good thru-hiker would do; I lay down in the shelter to take a nap. About an hour later Rambo came in for a rest and lunch. She concurred, as did most of the log book entries, that the 10 miles seemed kind of long. She also was having a rough day and was low on food, but her boyfriend ¢Badger¢ was coming back on the trail to hike with her for a while more which she was excited about. As I left she asked me to keep an eye out for Badger. I was determined to push as far as I could but both thighs and my right shin hurt, so I rested often. About 5:30, tired and aching I sat down on the trail and cooked up my dinner. While I was cooking I took some Ibuprofen. This seemed to give me the energy (and pain control) I needed to make it to the Bland Intersection at 22 miles around 7:30. It was decision time, go to Bland for re-supply, or continue on. If I re-supplied I needed to hitch the 2 12 miles in, do re-supply and get back out (or get a room for $53). If I could have split a room I probably would have gone for it, but I was too cheap, so I pushed on to the shelter 2.2 miles away. When I arrived I didn¢t know the shelter was .3 miles off trail, plus the water is down a steep grade another .3 miles. At this point I had no choice, I was exhausted and out of water. When I arrived Haiku was already in his bag and it was dark. I donned my headlamp and started down the trail for water. Of course my filter had needed to be cleaned for a while now, so it took forever to fill my bottles. When I arrived back at the top of the hill ¢Animal¢, a southbound hiker arrived with ¢Grandpa¢ shortly after. I instantly arranged my stuff and climbed into bed. My body was so clammy and salty, and my legs hurt so bad that I didn¢t sleep hardly at all. I tossed and turned but was too exhausted to get up and take more Ibuprofen. It was a lousy day, and night, but I had limited choices because I needed a re-supply. So far Virginia hasn¢t impressed me the last couple day¢s because the shelters are placed oddly; so one shelter is too close, but two shelters are too far for me to make. Normally this wouldn¢t be a problem, I would just camp, but water is scarce, and it has been threatening strong Thunder showers again. I¢ve run out of water the last 2 days. Hopefully tomorrow will bring a better day and a good meal.