Date: 2016-08-17
From: VA 670, South Fork Holston River

To: Fox Creek, VA 603
Miles today: 13.6

We got another late start. When I woke up my BG was very high. I had to bring it down before I could eat breakfast. Otherwise my BG would just continue to climb.The AT crossed a few streams and passed through a few rhododendron tunnels, and then opened into a field with beautiful wildflowers. I took a break to take pictures of the flowers.On the other side of the pasture the AT tucked back into the woods, and it was perfect. The forest was cool, lush, green, and dripping from last night's rain. A mist hung in the air. The sun was out. Sunbeams filtered through the thick tree canopy and cut through the mist, illuminating the trail. The birds were singing, and the trail tread was carpeted with a thick layer of needles. It just doesn't get any better.I was so glad, so appreciative that, despite every thing, I was back on the AT. I realized how close I came to not returning to the AT, to not experiencing today, and I became emotional. But I held true to my rule, there is no crying on the AT. So I pushed the last few months and the diabetes out of my mind, and just focused on enjoying today and being on the AT. I had a wonderful time.I stopped at the Trimpi Shelter, which is a little ways off the AT, but was worth the effort. It is a well maintained stone shelter with a fireplace and a very cute well made privy. I took a break, checked my BG, and packed out a small amount of trash.A short time later, I hit an area with good cell coverage and stopped to text with a friend who had lost his mother that morning. I felt very sad for him, and I felt guilty. I was having a wonderful day and he was having one of the worst days of his life. Further up the trail I met a very friendly NOBO Frenchman. He could only obtain a 3 month visa (unlike the Germans and Australians I met last year who obtained 6 month visas). He started at Springer and hopes to make it to Harper's Ferry before he has to return to France. His English was not just the best, and my junior high French, after more than 40 years, was extremely rusty, but we were able to have a nice conversation. We even had a bear whistle contest, which I easily won with my very loud lifeguard whistle.In the mud on the trail I saw fresh deer and fawn tracks. I also saw fairly fresh bear scat along the edge of the trail. I was hoping to see some wildlife. All I saw was a gray squirrel. The bridge over Comers Creek was very nice, as were the small waterfalls/cascades. I wish Rod had hiked in far enough to see the waterfall. About 1/4 mile later I met him. We took a break at the Dickey Gap Trail turn off. Curiously, we watched as a guy out trail running came up the trail from the Hurricane Campground. Initially the guy ran SOBO on the AT, then he passed us again as he ran NOBO on the AT.It was supposed to rain, so we moved on. Sure enough, it began to rain.   We took refuge under a tree and stayed fairly dry. It was a short light rain, but we suspected more was coming. We skipped the Hurricane Mountain shelter because Rod had stopped there earlier, it was at least .1 miles off the AT, and we were hoping to get to Maggie before the rain hit again . Our plan did not work. Shortly after we skipped the shelter it started to pour. We ducked under a tree to keep from getting totally soaked, but the rain was coming down so hard it did not help much.This time there was thunder and lightening.   Under the circumstances I did not want to continue climbing up the mountain, at least until the thunder and lightening stopped. So we waited and got soaked. A few times the the rain let up, the sun came out, and we thought the storm was over. Then we would hear a clap of thunder and it would rain even harder.Fortunately we had less than 2 miles left. The thunder and lightening finally stopped, and we made our way to the road crossing, where Maggie was patiently waiting. On the way to the hotel we saw a doe and 2 fawns, larger and stronger than the fawns we saw in July, and still with their white spots.The AT is calling. It was a tough day, especially for my friend.