Date: 2017-08-23
From: Trimpi Shelter

To: Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: clear sky

I waited until the Ibuprofen kicked in before heading out. Today¢s destination, the Partnership Shelter, was a new shelter with amenities that rivaled the Fontana Hilton. It had a shower, potable water from a spigot, and a totally enclosed privy. But the real bonus was the shelter¢s close proximity to the Mt. Roger¢s Visitor Center, where shuttle service into Marion, VA was available for only 50 cents. My plan was to overnight at the shelter and take the shuttle to the hospital in town. It seemed the first five miles of the hike went quickly. The terrain was smooth, and the sun was shining. For much of this stretch, the trail led through open, park-like landscape. I stopped by the Holston River to read the informational signs about limestone and loose rock river beds. I was tempted to just dive in the fast-flowing water, but I kept my eye on the prize that was ahead. I leap frogged with Scott, Jeremy and Eggs for almost the entire trail. They would rest, and I would pass; then I would rest, and they would pass. It was fun to see the familiar faces throughout the journey.  At one point, we met up with the Ridge Runners. We told them about yesterday¢s obstacle, and they took note to check it out.  They told us more about the shelter and mentioned we would see a rock outcropping just before the shelter where we could get a good view and a phone signal. I would be on the look out for this out cropping¢not just for the phone signal, but as a sign that I would soon be at the shelter.I parted company, but not long afterwards, Scott, Jeremy, and Eggs caught up with me. They asked if I had seen the rattler that was on the side of the trail. NO, I didn¢t!!! Scott was the first to spot it and backed up to allow it to cross the trail. This was the second time a rattler had been in or near the path that I recently crossed; I wondered how many other times danger had been so close, and I just never knew about it. In other words, how many times had God protected me from something when I never even knew I was at risk. I hiked on with a grateful heart and a more cautious eye on the trail.When I crossed the footbridge, I knew I only had just over a mile to go. I started looking for the outcropping, even though I knew it would be at a higher elevation. Every time the trail would turn or I would see a patch of sunlight through the trees, I looked for this outcropping, to no avail. Then, I came to a huge area that looked to be the site of an expansive excavation project and, just beyond, the shelter!! I never saw the outcropping, but this was the best view of the day! Scott, Jeremy, and Eggs had already settled in as was one other tenter (my apologies to him, but I forgot his name and didn¢t write it down), and the resident kitty cat that I instantly named ¢Bones.¢ Bones was not afraid to beg for food, and by the looks of it, he needed it, although I¢m sure that probably had to do more with parasites than with lack of food. The register was filled with notes from hikers who described the gourmet meals that Bones feasted on. Taking advantage of delivery service, the tenter and I went in on a pizza that was delivered to the Mt. Roger¢s Visitor Center. What a great finish to the day.After dinner, I chatted with Scott and Jeremy. Scott would soon return home to his wife and job as a pastor of a Lutheran Church and Jeremy would resume hiking after a short break with family. He will hike to his new home in New York to pursue his dream of acting and writing. He left a beautiful poem in the register¢what talent!I entered my message in the register, too, knowing that it would likely be my last entry for the season. It was bittersweet.