Date: 2016-02-12
From: VA 621, Craig Creek Road

To: VA 42, Footbridge Sinking Creek
Miles today: 11.4

The weather has not been cutting me any breaks. The jet stream is driving cold air much farther south than normal, which is causing record low temperatures and terrible wind. Snow and then freezing rain are coming over the next few days.Today was another tough day of wind and cold. Once again we waited for the air temperature to warm up a bit before my husband dropped me off at the AT. Like most days, the day started with a very long climb out of the gap.I stopped briefly at a creek to take pictures of the ice that formed along the edges of the creek and hung off some of the rocks in the creek. I also stopped briefly at the Niday shelter. There was a half eatten mouse directly in front of the shelter. Yumm! I collected trash, including an almost full bag of wraps (no wonder the shelter had mice), and kept going. As I was climbing, I was looking forward to reaching the ridge and hoping for a dirt road at the top. There was no dirt road. I did, however, see the Eastern Continental Divide sign.   Unfortunately most of the ridge, when I FINALLY reached it, was very rocky and exposed. I had to carefully pick my way over the snow and ice covered rocks.There was also lots of large slanted slick rock. I walked very carefully to avoid falling on or sliding down the exposed rock slabs. Walking on a sharp slant for such a prolonged period of time aggravated my left foot and knee pain. I thought I was done with the slick rock slabs. I guess I was wrong.In the snow I saw northbound boot tracks which were not fresh. Perhaps they were made by "Wild Cat." The boot tracks helped me navigate over the rocks and stay on the AT when white blazes were in short supply.I saw other tracks in the snow too - fox and coyote, but just in spots.I saw no one. I saw no animals. I began to wonder whether I should be out here in the cold and wind, hiking through the snow, leaving my own boot tracks behind in the snow.Eventually the rock outcroppings and slick rock disappeared, and the AT was surrounded by trees and out of the wind. I skipped stopping at the Sarver Hollow Shelter because it is .4 miles off the AT.The trail tread smoothed out, and on both sides of the trail I noticed several carefully stacked piles of rock. It appeared that some kind soul apparently dug the rocks out of the trail. Whoever you were, THANK YOU!! My left foot and both knees thank you too!Today I needed to just keep hiking to stay warm. As much as I love the AT, every once in a while I have an off day. Today was one of those off days.I was really glad when the AT left the ridge and headed into the gap. Thankfully the descent was gradual with many switchbacks. I had limited cell coverage up on the ridge. So I texted my husband to let him know I was OK when I reached the powerline and had service. The rocky ridge slowed my pace. I was behind schedule, and I was sure he was starting to worry.I saw the Keffer Oak, the largest oak tree along the southern AT. (According to the AT guide, the largest oak tree along the entire AT is in NY.) Thankfully the sign for the Keffer Oak was not nailed to the 300 year old tree. Instead it was attached to a nearby stile.My husband and Maggie were waiting for me at the road crossing at VA 630. I took a brief break, then hiked the last .9 miles without my daypack. The AT climbed up through a pasture and then dropped down, again through a pasture. My husband and Maggie were sitting off VA 42, next to a fenced pasture, when I reached the road. What I think was a very curious jackass came to the fence to check me out (and most likely to try to mooch some food). He was very cute, but quickly lost interest and ran off when it became clear I was not going to feed him.I was glad I was done hiking for the day. It was another VERY tough day because of the weather and the rocky ridge. Fortunately, because my husband is slackpacking me right now, at the end of each day I have been able to go back to a warm hotel, strip off my sweaty clothes, and take a very long hot shower to warm up. After a nice meal, I then slip into a warm clean bed for a good nite's sleep.   In the morning I put on warm dry clothes and enjoy a nice breakfast before hitting the trail. I know how good I have it right now. I hope my husband knows how very much I appreciate his help and having him along on this part of my AT adventure.The AT is calling. I REALLY hope the weather forecasts are wrong, and the jet stream moves back north. I need to make some serious miles.