Date: 2007-05-16
From: Iron Mountain Shelter

To: Abingdon Gap Shelter
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: broken clouds

May 16, On my way to VAGot up at 6:20 a.m. to 55 degrees in my tent. I slept well last night except for the bouts of itching I had on my legs - I think I have poison ivy. Oh well. I got ready pretty quickly and we hit the trail a few minutes before 8 a.m.The morning was stupendous! I floated along like I've dreamed of doing since the day I started this hike. The terrain was perfect. Small, rolling hills, gradual downshills, no rocks, and perfect weather. I stopped to wait for Certain at a footbridge and saw a rabbit eating breakfast. It let me get pretty close to take some photos too! I saw a mouse scurrying around too.I hiked the first seven-ish miles in three hours and 45 minutes and then stopped at Double Spring Shelter as it started to rain. I was there for about an hour eating snacks and waiting out the rain. Certain and I left around 1 p.m. headed another 8.3 miles. It was still raining so I tried to keep moving the whole time. As I got to Deep Gap and the highway, the rain stopped so I stopped to get junk out of my shoes. It was there that I met Mayo - well, we'd been running into each other but never formally introduced ourselves. We hiked the next four miles together and talked the whole time - definitely the longest conversation I've had while hiking, mind you I was mostly silent on the uphills. Mayo lives about 20 minutes outside of Boston. It was nice to talk with him today, always nice to meet another fun person on the trail. He actually looks and reminds me of one of Eric's old roomates, Mike (Hi, Mike/Katie). So, as we approached the shelter it started to rain again. Luckily I made it before it really started to come down. I got here at 4 p.m. after a pretty nice hike - more hills than the morning but still pretty gradual. I felt pretty bad though because I knew Certain was out there getting drenched. I plopped down in the already packed shelter to try and wait out the rain. I even made dinner while I waited in the square foot of space I found. I was excited to see He-Man and She-ra and Fuzzy Monkey here tonight along with some other friendly faces. Certain came in about an hour later and was kind enough to set up her tarp and let me set my tent up under it, then carry it to its real destination. That didn't totally work because I was so worried about the Tyvek getting wet that I accidentally set it down right on a tree root - which I didn't realize until my tent was totally set up and I was inside. Yippee. I got out in the pouring rain to move it, thus defeating much of the purpose. But, I guess I found the one bonus to having a hammock - having a tarp to set up under. That's the only one though, I'm sure of it. Today was a good day. We did our biggest miles yet and I actually feel pretty great. If it hadn't been raining, I think I would have liked to push on. The terrain is wonderful - a nice and well needed break from the rigorous ups and downs in TN/NC so far.Tomorrow we will be in Virginia. I can't even believe it. I'm so excited. I know I'll get sick of being there one day but for now I am thrilled to finally cross another state line. Lots will happen in Virginia - I can't wait! AND - this is great news - C-Shot's mom decided she wants to take us in when we get to Waynesboro. She told me she would make us wear terrycloth bath robes while she served us chilled white wine and then made us use the hot tub. Sheesh, finally someone who understands! So at least I have that to look forward to, right?Well, it's been a good day but it's 8:22 p.m, 53 degrees and I need to warm up. Cold and wet = no good. - Sound of a bird tweeting, shelter conversation, rain dropping off the trees, someone flatulating.Post Trail Thoughts:I felt really good this day. I can't believe it took us so long to finally hike a 15 mile day but I was really happy with how I felt at the end. Although I hated hiking in the rain, this appears to be one of the very few days I ever had to do so while on the AT. If I remember correctly, the shelter before Double Spring Shelter had a fabulous view and I was there with Cobweb and Mayo for a bit before heading on. Once I got to Double Spring Shelter, I sat there with Cobweb, Mayo, Young Eagle, and I think C-Shot and his dad, Fuzzy Monkey, and some others.Last, when I wrote about the sounds that night, I didn't want to call out Cobweb and Mayo online because I'd just met them but now that we openly joke about this, I feel safe telling you, Internet, that all of the flatulating and "odd noises" were coming from the tarp tent they were sharing that night. It was cracking up in my tent!