Date: 2015-05-13
From: 549.2 campsite, VA

To: 568.0 campsite, VA
Miles today: 18.8

Up and quickly out of camp on my own this morning. After another restless night and the first cold morning in a while, I was ready to just get moving. Down through Tilson Gap and up Walker Mountain, Rock Boat would catch up with me here while I was chatting with a couple of SoBo section hikers. We grabbed some quick pictures at the official 25% completion point of the trail, along with 2 Bad Dogs who joined us, but it was short lived as the cols wind forced us down off of the summit.Exiting the woods at the base of the mountain, we would spend the next ~2 miles passing through a series of open pasture and woods. Today brought the most fence stiles, wooden A-framed structures used to climb up and over fences along property boundaries. Rock Boat and I climbed the first one over onto VA 610, a scenic country road passing through the valley. We rested here for ~15 minutes and ate a quick breakfast. Both Moosehead and Hobble caught up just before and were forging ahead as we rested. With breakfast complete, we climbed another fence stile into the private property of someone gracious enough to OK the path of the trail cutting through. We climbed up and through a scenic cow pasture, walking within ~5ft of a few cows too stubborn to move. We were just visitors on their land afterall. I took several pictures during this stretch and hope to get them posted in the near future. We continued back into the woods until we came across a beautiful farm seemingly unchanged in decades. The white farmhouse and several wooden barns sat nestled along a flowing creek lined with white, yellow, and purple wildflowers. It was during this stretch that Rock Boat and I stumbled across one of those coolers of trail magic that, most of the time have been empty for some time. However, luck shined on me today as I scored the last Dr. Thunder. It may not have been a Coke, but it filled in admirably. Thanks to the trail angels, Lumberjack and Lab Rat.The next climb of the day would come in the form of Brushy Mountain. Flip flopping with Moosehead and Hobble, we made our way up and over to Knot Maul Branch Shelter where we took another quick break before deciding to continue another mile or so before loading up on water for the day's biggest challenge soon approaching. Down the mountain past Lynn Camp Creek and over the small Lynn Camp Mountain, we soon reached Lick Creek where we breaked for lunch. I used the time to take a few pictures, down a few pop tarts and Scooby Snacks, and relax. Hobble, not having bathed in 8 days, immediately jumped in the creek with his GoPro and began getting footage of the many small fish that approached him. Moosehead soon followed suit and was in as well. Although it was a perfect day for a dip, I still felt fairly fresh from my 3 showers in Marion, plus Chestnut Knob loomed ahead and I wanted to get it tackled out. Not a particularly daunting mountain, it did, however, jump off the pages of the AT guide as we flipped through the pages over the past week to get an idea for the terrain ahead. Rising to a height of 4,410ft, it would take ~4.5 miles of continuous climbing to finally reach its summit.Consisting of several switchbacks and steep sections, my body quickly covered in sweat despite the cool winds blowing all day. At about the halfway point, the woods open up as I reached Chestnut Ridge. Gradually heading uphill as I continued, the ridge rotated between vast, open areas providing near-360 degree views of the ridges we've crossed over the past few days and enclosed corridors. Leading the way for the ~5-6 of us hikers that flip flopped throughout the day, I finally rounded a corner and was at Chestnut Knob Shelter, one of the best shelters on the trail so far. Offering 4 walls, a cement floor, and bunk-style sleeping arrangements, it's really a treat for hikers. The best thing about the shelter, however, is the view. To the south lies a series of long ridges that we had trekked along over the past few days; to the north was a scenic valley dotted with beautiful farms. If you listened hard enough, you might even think you could hear the barking of Lassie as she herds sheep or helps the latest victim in the well.Being ahead of my group by over 30 minutes, I did the best thing I could think of with my downtime: I threw off my gear and shirt and dozed under the sun of a clear and cloudless day. Eventually Hobble arrived, followed soon after by Moosehead and eventually Rock Boat, the summit gradually becoming covered by the lifeless bodies of thru-hikers enjoying the weather after reaching their destination ahead of schedule. Needing to cover ~16 miles to Laurel Creek/VA 615 tomorrow, I decided to continue on a couple more miles to shorten tomorrow's trek a little. Rock Boat joined me and we continued on, leaving Moosehead and Hobbs content with the shelter. The stars tonight promise to bring their A-game and it should be quite the show from up there.Rock Boat and I continued down into Walker Gap where we loaded up on water for the night before hiking uphill another half mile to the top of a small summit. The summit belongs to the 2 of us tonight and that's perfectly fine with us. Rock Boat has his tent pitched nearby and I'm cowboy camping next to a fallen log in hope it blocks a little of the cool wind blowing up and over the summit. With a dinner consisting of tuna, pepperoni, pop tarts, and Scooby Snacks complete, I'm currently lying in my sleeping bag as the sun makes its way towards the horizon. It should be a beautiful sunset. Tomorrow leaves ~14 miles to where, rumor has it, trail magic awaits in the form of a ride back to Damascus, VA for Trail Days. We will be staying Thursday-Saturday night, hopefully returning to the trail sometime on Sunday. I will continue to post updates if I'm able to find a place to charge my gadgets while in town however, with thousands of people converging on this small town, it may not be possible and I'll update as soon as I can.Here's to 25% of the AT complete, big, big, blue skies, and being spoiled by the views of southwest Virginia and feeling overcome with what can only be described as love.