Date: 2004-05-13
From: Massie Gap

To: Deep Gap
Miles today: 5.1
Weather: moderate rain

Not a lot of miles today but an excellent hike. This was so socked in last year I saw virtually none of the scenery. A totally different story today. Mostly pleasant weather with brief downpour in the afternoon.After getting on the Trail at Massie gap and walking back south, right away I saw lots of ponies. I think I counted 20 in the first group. As I hiked on I came upon a couple of folds. One whose coat appeared to be moist and matted like it had just been born today. They are so adorable. One was sleeping and jumps up and runs to its mother. Another was jumping around kicking up its heals. None of them approached me looking for handouts, but none ran away on the other hand. I think I saw around 50 in total where last year I saw all of 3. The views were great and I can understand how hikers get lost here in the fog. The AT crosses numerous horse and side trails. And, some of the white blazes are sticking up from the ground where there aren¢t any trees. If you can¢t see the white blaze down the Trail because of the fog, you¢re liable to take the wrong turn.Last year I bypassed the side trail to Mt. Rogers (highest point in Virginia). So this year I decided to go up and check it out. As the book said, ¢there are no views¢ but at least I now know what I missed.I hiked a little further to Deep Gap. The weather looked like it was changing so I turned around. Just before Lost Mtn Shelter it started to rain. I ducked inside and waited it out with a half dozen or so others. Three guys were out for a section to Damascus for Trail Days. I was glad I did it. Like Roan Mtn and Tray Mtn I would have never known what I missed on last year¢s hike.Trail Days¢Friday, Saturday and Sunday 14th to 16th.I can¢t do Trail Days justice in my limited comments here. It was great seeing and meeting hikers from my hike last year and trailjournals. It is really THE annual event for AT hikers and I can see why those currently on their thru-hikes get off the Trail to attend. I didn¢t go last year as I was too driven to stay at my hike.I spent a lot of time with Leif and Zipdrive at their tent. Each day I would drive down from Grayson Highlands with a cooler full of beverages and ice. It was sunny and warm most of the time¢¦much better weather than the last couple of years. Saw my good buddies Liteshoe, Footslogger and got to meet AWOL and Slider. Slider later provided some valuable resupply info for our JMT hike later this year. There were just so many others¢¦Goldberry, Sally, D©j vu, Songbird, Stumpknocker, Skittles, ATwannabe, Hotdog and Just Do It to name a few from last year. Most of the folks I met down south in March (and some I didn¢t) were there too¢¦CuppaJoe, Leki-less, Bluebelle, BooBoo and so many others. And of course, I can¢t forget Miss Janet. I hear they had some pretty good parties at her tent. And I also have to thank Leki for doing $45 worth of free repairs to my poles. That was a great service and I would recommend them to anyone who likes to hike with poles.The only bad experience was locking myself out of my Blazer one night after returning to camp. I was about ready to try and break into it myself when the park ranger put me on to a junk yard/repair shop a couple of miles down the road from the park. He had all the right tools.June 10th ¢Going Back to Manchester Center VT June13th.Charlie from Berea is getting back on NOBO at Manchester Center VT on Sunday, the 13th. He invited me along (I kinda invited myself). Thought it would be fun to re-hike the last 500, especially Maine where I had such crummy weather. Some of the Whites will be great too although I¢m not looking forward to staying in the huts again. And I remember those rocks coming off of Whiteface¢¦not fun. But hey, its all part of the hike. Most of it is fantastic and should be well worth a return visit. See you later.