Date: 2013-03-28
From: Lost Mountain Shelter

To: Thomas Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: broken clouds

There aren't words to describe how wonderful and life changing the past two days have been, but I'll try to find some My time at Lost Mountain Shelter was a momentous occasion, but it started off poorly. What began as a bad mood quickly developed into full blown depression, and I laid in my sleeping bag for almost 36 hours. That was due in part to the ugly, painful blisters I have on my toes, and also because the snow still had not stopped - but mostly I was just depressed. Now I'm not trying to bore you to tears, so I'll skip to the good part. After writing many pages of extremely negative journal entries, feeling sorry for myself, and contemplating quitting my thru hike, I finally opened the pages of God's Word. I came to Romans chapters 7 and 8, which I've read countless times before, but the words were alive this time, and I ate it up. I read it slowly, repeatedly, with tears in my eyes. Then I read some of Psalms. And then the first chapter of John. And my findings were all the same: In myself I CAN DO NOTHING good or worthwhile. A life surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to find real purpose and the only way to truly find LIFE. Left to my own I am and will always be a slave to my own vices, passions, shortcomings, selfishness, and wickedness. But a life lived in Christ - now that is truly life after all!It's amazing how years and years of learning the Gospel can go straight over your head. What I've found is that God has to grab your heart in a unique way in His place and His timing. It finally clicked for me yesterday. I jumped out of bed, hobbled out of the shelter (my feet really hurt), ripped those pages out of my journal, and promptly burnt them to a pile of ashes as a declaration of faith. Faith that God can and will change my heart. Faith that through Him I can move mountains and accomplish GREAT things for Him. Faith that THERE IS HOPE! As irony would have it, I was found at Lost Mountain Shelter. I discovered a new love for God, a new passion for life, and a new fervor for this trip. I am very excited to continue this trip and see where it takes me It took me to some really cool places today. I left the shelter at 9am and quickly ran into Haspl and Mayo, two NOBO thrus who started on Feb. 4th. The three of us hiked together up Whitetop Mountain, where the snow grew from 8 inches to 18 inches with 2 foot drifts. All of the trees and shrubs were coated in snow and ice with strange horizontal icicles caused by the strong winds. The sky was gray and white and almost perfectly blended in with the snow and ice. On top of the peak, large, black boulders jutted out against the white hills and shimmering trees to create a stark contrast. It was beautiful and surreal - like another world. I ignored the many complaints of my hands and chose to take off my mittens for the sake of some great pictures Unfortunately, I wasn't able to grab my camera in time to capture the herd of deer that bounded across the mountain in front of me.As I came down into Elk Gardens I caught a glimpse of Haspl and Mayo as they were leaving in a car. Found out later they'd had enough of the snow and were headed back to Damascus. I spent about 30 minutes near the restrooms at the parking lot, eating, throwing away garbage, and organizing. I was there just long enough to receive a huge answer to prayer - food! I had resupplied with enough food to get me the 75 miles to Atkins, VA, assuming 12 - 15 mile days. My slow progress and 1 zero day were eating up my food quickly, and I'd been wondering if I'd make it to my goal. Enter Mountain Dew and Rainbow Bright, a married couple who met on the trail during their 2006 thru hike. They had just pulled up to see how much snow there was because they wanted to hike. She struck up a conversation with me, and after learing that I'm a thru hiker said, "Do you want food?" Of course I jumped on it, and they generously gave me about 2 days of food - the amount I was lacking. What a blessing!We parted ways and I continued my trek up to Mt. Rogers, Virginia's highest peak, fully loaded and motivated, but solo once again without the companionship of my fellow NOBOs. Just 100 yards up the trail I almost stepped on a skunk, literally. The poor little guy was so cold and pathetic looking, I almost think he was standing in the middle of the path on purpose to get help. When I was just 3 feet away from squishing him with my boot I saw him and jumped back. He looked up at me with sad eyes and said, "Help me senor. I am so very cold....I just want a blanket por favor." I have no idea why he was Spanish, but he was.The hike up Mt. Rogers was exhausting and draining, but beautiful. I was fortunate enough to have cross country ski tracks to follow most of the way. About half way up the trail opened into a huge field, and wouldn't you know it, about 50 yards away was one of the wild ponies! I took several photos, and he hardly seemed to mind. It was a perfect combination: A great view of the vast mountains in the background, and snow covered hills with a wild pony grazing in the foreground. Really cool. The last 2 miles were a test of faith and physical stamina. I had the pony tracks to follow for a while (they walk the trail), but eventually I was left to my own navigation. The snow was a solid 12 to 18 inches deep, and the trail was difficult to find in places. I prayed for guidance, set my jaw, and spent every last shred of energy trudging my way through the drifts to the shelter. And here I am Cozy in the loft, warm and fed, blessed beyond belief, and happy to be alive!