Date: 2008-09-28
From: Jim & Molly Denton Shelter

To: GRAVEL SPRINGS HUT
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Sun.Sept 28 (DAY#3)We had some "LATE ARRIVALS" last nite..."BAMA" (from Alabama, of course) 2006 Thru-hiker & "Professor" (from PA) 2006 Thru-hiker (finishing up a couple short sections that he missed on his THRU)."BAMA & The PROFESSOR" were up by 6am & gone abt 30 mins later outta the shelter...they were wanting to get in a 20 mile day today...WOW!"DAKS" & I get up abt 7am...have the usual TRAIL breakfast (for me: Double Helping of "COWBOY COFFEE" & 2 Pop-Tarts).We're out of the Denton shelter by 8am & heading SOBO!We "flip-flopped" our miles from yesterday. So, today we have 18 miles to hike to get back on schedule. We're heading to GRAVEL SPRINGS HUT.We head uphill (of course) outta the shelter & after a mile or so..."DAKS" takes a "NATURE BREAK"(he tells me he opposes the PRIVIES along the trail)...I hike on.This apparently threw "DAKS" for a loop (ME hiking on...that is)"DAKS" didnt hear me or see me when i passed him while he wuz taking the #2 "NATURE BREAK"(I didn't want to YELL or disturb him!)...therefore he still thought I was BEHIND him...This caused quite a panic... eventually...the story in "DAKS" words COMING... >After abt. an hour of hiking...I'm thinking..."DAKS" shouldve caught me by now...Or maybe he is just pacing himself...knowing we have a long...18 miles to hike...after another mile or so...i hike upon BLUE BLAZES off to the right...(i'm thinking they take me down to TOM FLOYD)...i go down, down til i come out into a paved parking lot(but, not before i FALL on the last step & bruise my back ) in front of PETER's LODGE (i find out later its a YMCA DAY CAMP for NO. VA kids)...they had a picnic table...so, i had lunch there...30 mins later...after i finished lunch...i hiked back to the trail (about a half mile) & thinking by this time "DAKS" will surely have passed me & is now in front of ME!I hike another mile or so...& find TOM FLOYD WAYSIDE...just off the trail...full of college age guys...they said:.."youre the only hiker we've seen today!" (Yikes!)...i hike on.All things are popping in my head....did "DAKS" fall & hurt himself? (loads of slippery rocks out here after 3 days of rain)...OR did he just pass me when i went down the BLUE BLAZED trail??? Thats probably it....If he is behind me...he'll be catching me shortly...If he passed me...I'll see him @ the shelter late this afternoon!+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++                              CRITTER REPORT:lots pf chipmunks & grey squirrels out here today. loads of white-tailed deer,grouse, & i saw a grey fox yesterday.+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++After a couple more miles...I run into a NoBo day-hiker...i ask about the next water source..he tells me its abt 5 miles...& hands me a nice, COLD 24 oz bottle of water.....SWEEEEEEEEEET!We talked a few mins before he headed on his way.Lots of wild blueberries along the trail...which means lots of BEARS are around...(THEY LOVE BERRIES!)I hike on...see more deer...you ALMOST have to prod them off the trail...they are so tame inside the park..(no hunting here)then as I stop for a short rest...i hear what i first think is the cracking of a falling limb...but, its a BEAR!!!!!abt. 30 yards or so from me...a BEAR is moving very slowly away from me...i start my camera taking a movie clip....then some bad photos...the BEAR stands beside a small tree...& takes a statue pose...so, i would move on, i guess....he turns his head slowly to see if i'm still there every few seconds...i finally take enuff bad pictures & move on...pretty EXCITING STUFF!!!I hike on....still NO "DAKS"...I'm sure he'll be waiting for me @ the shelter when i arrive...probably will be there an hour or so ahead of me...I've slowed my pace, somewhat as i'm developing a little chaffing problem (OUCH!!!).Some more light rain begins...& the wind begins to pick up & a few minutes later...the RAIN comes down in buckets....a real CLOUD BURST.I put my rain jacket on...& hike on.RAIN normally quickens your hike pace...but, I am DOG-TIRED & these miles are kicking my butt!...SQUISH...SQUISH...SQUISH...SLOSH...SLOSH...SLOSH...pass over another bend of SKYLINE DRIVE & then again til i hike into GRAVEL SPRINGS GAP & there is "DAKS" & hey,... that looks like his car.....in the trail-head parking lot!????     "JAYBIRD!"...("DAKS" YELLS!)....                  He tells me the story of he thinking I'm hurt, his calling the local Sheriff's office...reporting me missing...hitch-hiking to Bears Den to get his car & then driving down here...ETC.,ETC.,ETC...WOW!!!..."DAKS" walks with me to the shelter(HUT)..we take a few photos & he decides to call it a day & head home...since he has already hiked these miles (dont blame him)THANKS for hiking with me, "DAKS"! SORRY for ALL the confusion...see U up the trail!So, I'm SOLO tonite in the shelter unless some other late SoBO-ers show up.I write in my journal & make myself EAT...I AM very tired.7pm   GOODNITE!                              18 miles today