Date: 2008-04-28
From: Erwin,TN

To: Damascus,VA (9 day report)
Miles today: 121.3
Weather: moderate rain

04/28/08   Damascus,VA (9 day report)           ZERO Mile Day      Report for 4/20/08 to 04/28/08    Still going strong - Blisters have healed - I will fill in the missing details below as soon as I can. There is MUCH more to tell about the trek towards Damascus.         04/20/08 - Deep Gap camp area - (12.1 miles)-------------------------------------------   Cloudy - cool - some of and on light rain.    Took my time packing up and finally checked out of the hotel about 11:30am. Stopped next door at A&W for a juicy cheese burger and vinilla milkshake before walking a mile to Uncle Johnny's Hostel next to the AT.   I ran into Brad & Aggie, and SunBeam there who I haven't seen in a week or so. They had just arrived and where planning to stay a day or so.   I finally got on the trail about 1:30 and only intended to hike about four miles to the first shelter. I arrived about 3:00 and decided to push on for a few more hours.   Not much of interest tosee on the trail until very late in the afternoon I crested Beauty Spot. This is a grassy bald not as big or as nice as Max Patch. I met Toze for the first time whohad set up his on top of the bald.   I pushed on a few more miles and came across Walrus who was setting up in a small field below Beauty Spot.   It was almost 7:00pm when I arrived at Deep Gap. Nothing there but a few flat spots and a spring. The clouds had thicked and it was getting very cold and dreary. Auntie Mame & V8 had just arrived and I cooked dinner sitting on the trail with them. Several other hikers had set up and already settled in.      I set up my hammock off the trail and called it a night.    04/21/08 - Clyde Smith Shelter - (13.1 miles)---------------------------------------------   Overcast all day - cool.   Woke up to a cold,foggy dreary morning. I was the last camper to leave.   Hiked up Unaka Mtn early morning. This is a pine tree covered Mtn with lots of green moss covered rocks and fallen trees. In the fog it was like walking through an enchanted forest. very pretty. I half expected a gnome or a hobbit to pop up.            The rest of the day was just doing miles in mostly barren woods.   At the shelter I met Gucci & Barefoot for the first time. Tailgate & AquaMaria crused in late in the day. There were also a trio of section hikers there including two teachers from NY city. We had a nice chat with them around the campfire. After a Mountain House dinner I hammocked behind the shelter for the night.     04/22/08 - Overmountain Shelter - (12.9 miles)----------------------------------------------   Sunny - mild temps   Hit the trail about 8:30 am with Tailgate & AquaMaria close behind. Soon after leaving the shelter I met Me to ME on the trail. Me is a 58 y/o retired professor/reseacher from Clemson. He (Me)and I immediately found that we have a lot in common and he joined our little band of hikers. Two big climbs today, Little Rock Knob (4918 ft) and Roan Mtn (6200 ft). Little Rock Knob had nice panoramic views. Roan was a slow steep climb in pine/fur trees but not much to see at the top. No matter - it felt good just to get over it.   The far side was a long sloping downhill through the pines and rodendendrums. A group of us stopped at the Roan High Knob Shelter - the highest shelter on the AT. (Tailgate & AquaMaria, Mango & Canuck, RC4 (VT), Me to ME, and me.)         After crossing US 143 at Carver's Gap late in the afternoon we climbed several beautiful large grassy balds with awesome views of the mountains and valleys all around.   The day ended with our arrival at Overmountain Shelter. This shelter is a huge restored red barn in a grassy valley with fantastic views. The sunset over the valley was excellent. In addition to our small group, Auntie Mame, V8, and two "ultralight" hikers (Pickles & Garlic) were there.    Hammocked there for the night.      04/23/08 - Elk River campsite (15.0 miles)------------------------------------------   Sunny - Mild   *** Details soon ***            04/24/08 - Dennis Cove - Kincora Hiking Hostel - (18.0 miles)-------------------------------------------------------------   Sunny-Mild   *** Details soon ***         04/25/08 - US Route 321 (Hampton,TN)- (8.9 miles)-------------------------------------------------------------   Sunny-Mild   *** Details soon ***         04/26/08 - un-named campsite on trail - (12.4 miles)----------------------------------------------------   Sunny-Mild   *** Details soon ***         04/27/08 - Damascus, VA - (28.9 miles) ------------------------------------------------------   Sunny - Mild Morning - cold rain and windy late afternoon.   YES- 28.9 miles (Wow)            *** Details soon ***         04/28/08 - Damascus,VA - ZERO mile day-------------------------------------------   Overcast - cool- drizzle all day   *** Details soon ***   SORRY - I am at the Damascus Public Libary computer room - Ran out of time. I will try to fill in the details in Pearisburg, VA in about 9 or 10 days.   Bye for now.   -Wes-