Date: 2003-05-12
From: Cornelius Creek Shelter

To: US Route 501 (Thomas Motor Inn)
Miles today: 19.9

Day 60 Avg Mls/Day 12.8Weather: Refreshingly cool, breezy..windy in fact. Sunny in morning to partly cloudy in afternoon to cloudy in the evening. High afternoon temp 70.The dryer cooler air moved in last night before dark. The wind picked up and was blowing fairly hard all night. I must have have pitched the tent in the right place as it wasn't getting blown around. It was great sleeping.I woke up a 5 a.m. and started packing up. I knew I had 20 miles to go if I was going to stay in Glasgow VA. I was on the Trail a few minutes after 6. It was down right cool and windy all morning. There were several times I almost put on the powerstretch top. Another reason for leaving early was a planned aerial spraying over the mountains for gypsy moths. Notices have been posted on the Trail stating the application of aerial pesticides would take place between May 7th and the 31st. A NOBO at the shelter said he had passed the helicopters parked atop a grassy area near the parkway. The notice said the Trail would be closed for 4 hours after the application. I don't know exactly how they do that as shelters and campsites (with hikers in them) are scattered over the area. Hikers are out all over the place. I guess they would try to close the Trail at road crossings. Anyway, I thought I'd get out early and try to get past the areas being sprayed. It appeared to me to be too windy ...winds were gusting at over 35 mph (my estimate). I did pass the helicopters and tank truck sitting on the meadow around 8:30. I never heard them in the air all day. The hike went well although there was plenty of ups and downs. I think I ended up averaging more than 2.5 miles per hour. About two hours into the hike I was on Apple Orchard Mtn. I guess it was once an Air Force radar base and some of the equipment remains.. such as a large globe radar like device and numerous antennas. On the northern side of the mountain, I passed under "the Guillotine"...an impressively large boulder stuck over the Trail between rock formations. This is one of only three places where you walk under a rock on the Trail.I hiked alone all day...did run into Jeff a few times. At about 12:30 I stopped at a stream where hikers Kismet and Kitchen Sink were taking a break. Kismet is flip-flopping the Trail...started at Harpers Ferry going SOBO to Springer then back to HF to Katahdin. Anyway, we got to talking and she told me the only motel in Glasgow (where I was headed) was closed on Mondays along with the restaurant. They knew this because the motel manager let them tent behind the motel last night. They also said Lynchberg was about 25 miles east. I decided to go there instead. Just an example of how hikers sharing info with each other can help..a lot. Thanks! At the end of today's hike I crossed the wide James River on the James River Foot Bridge. It is the longest foot-use-only bridge on the AT and was dedicated in the memory of Bill Foot, 1987 thru-hikler and ALDHA life member. I was at routes 301/501 trying to hitch a ride east at 2:15. There wasn't much traffic and it took me almost an hour to get a ride. It was John, a tennis court contractor/salesman from Lynchberg. He took me into Madison Hts where I picked the first clean-looking low cost motel...The Thomas Motor Inn. Kind a 50's motel, but clean and somewhat cheap at $40. Thanks John! All I have to do now is hitch a ride back to the Trail tomorrow.I did get to eat dinner at a local restaurant with a great salad/desert bar. I was originally planning a zero in Glasgow but pretty much decided to hike on tomorrow while the weather is nice. It's supposed to be good at least through Wednesday.Thought for the Day: I don't know if I'd pick me up...well, yes if I looked like a thru-hiker!