Date: 2013-05-04
From: Pond Campsite

To: VA 600 Elk Gardens
Miles today: 11.9
Weather: moderate rain

Daya 53: Aquaman got into to camp late last night and set up his tent between Bluegrass and mine. We all got up earlier than usual because today we will need to go at least 16 miles to get us over two huge mountains; White Top and Mt. Rogers (both being the largest in the state of VA). We heard that rain may be moving in, so the strategy is for Aquaman to start his after-burners at the beginning of White Top Mountain and zip up to Mt. Rogers to secure three spaces at the Thomas Knob Shelter. The weather was ok, a little cool, a little wind. Going up White Top Mountain was a huge climb of five miles. As we went up in elevation, it started to mist, fog, rain and the wind was loud and strong.   For some reason, I was having a tougher time with this climb. Bella seemed to sense that I was, so she stayed with me and kept a few feet in front of me while looking back to make sure I was coming. Bluegrass would stop to let us get caught up along the trail. It just wasn't a fun climb. We started to see hikers come our way with horrible stories of what was to expect on top. They said that that morning there were icycles falling off the trees on their head. On top was a small bald with lots of rolling hills and the trail was a deep trench. Visibility was almost nill and the rain was going straight across. As we walked the trail, there wind was constant and then there were the gusts that would knock you off the trail. It was sending pack rain covers off their packs and hikers were running to get them. Fortunately, ours stayed on. Then we had to hike down to a gap before we would go up again to Mt. Rogers. Once we got to Elk Gardens where there was a parking lot and a small bathroom, we were cold and tired of fighting the wind. We had to keep walking or we would get dangerously cold. We still had another 4.5 miles to go to get to Thomas Knob Shelter which is on top of Mt. Rogers. Bella was a trooper but she was getting cold when we stopped too. I saw the bathroom so I ran over to use it. It was funny because there were about six sets of hiking poles all strung outside the restroom door. I knocked on the door. The door opened and sure enough there were about six hikers in there. They started to get packed up and left. I motioned Bluegrass and Bella to come over and we got in. It felt great to get out of the wind, rain, sleet and cold. I kept peeking my head out and found Banter, then Coach, Monk and Hans Solo. Then came in Steady (has completed the Pacific Crest Trail and Continental Divide), Donnie and Even Beard. Party in the restroom...it was so funny. So we decided to call it quits and call Moonlight to come pick us up. I felt bad that Aquaman was ahead of us but we were also told by the southbound hikers that there were at least 50 plus hikers that they counted that were heading up to the 16 person shelter. He came in a pick up so Coach, Banter, Steady, Bella and I were told to get into the cab while the rest climbed into the bed. Moonlight offered his house to us and we all decided to move the party from the restroom to his house...good deal!First thing we all did was drop our packs at his house and then dispersed to find some food in Damascas. My these towns sure suck you in and you can't get out! We checked the weather report for tomorrow and it looks like rain for the next seven days.   We all miss you Alex!Salsa