Date: 2016-03-20
From: Overmountain Shelter

To: Mountain Harbour Hiker Hostel - US 19E
Miles today: 9.2
Weather: clear sky

Today was a Nero of 9.2 miles that was over by noon. Resupply was needed for the hike to Damascus, Virginia. Overmountain Shelter was spacious and we had a glimpse of the valley below it before last night's sunset. Overmountain Shelter originally was a barn so it can accommodate as many as 24 hikers and maybe more. A Boy Scout Troop made up about half of the shelter's visitors and there was good dialogue between hikers and the scouts.Shades, a successful thru-hiker last year, and Dan were here on Spring break from Liberty University. They are strong hikers and were great conversationalists with the scouts, the scout leaders, or other hikers. Shades provided trail magic to another hiker when he gave the hiker his Sawyer water filter upon hearing that the hiker's water filter wasn't working. Dan offered Blues Brother and me a ride to a Dollar General so that Blues Brother and I could resupply at the end of today's hike. Then, they offered to take us to a restaurant to have lunch with them. We each had a double bacon cheeseburger as part of our meal. I'm not certain that hiker hunger has arrived yet but the food at Bob's Dairy Delight was awfully good. Dan and Shades have offered to shuttle Blues Brother and me again when the AT passes close to Liberty University in the coming days. I've read prior year's trailjournal accounts that refer to the good future ahead given hikers experiences with young men and women and I'm hard pressed not to say the same thing. Dan is studying graphic arts and he's heading to Colorado soon where he'll pursue his passion for free climbing. Shades sounds like he is seriously considering a stint with the Army after getting his degree in mechanical engineering. Yes, I'm a very old guy to be speaking with these two. The AT just brings all ages together as we hike. Today's hike evolved from the disappointment of a foggy morning. Blues Brother saw it snow in the middle of the night. It was fun seeing Blues Brother enjoy the falling snow later in the day when he said that he had seen more falling snow today than he sees in an entire year in Mississippi. The climb up Little Hump Mountain was quick and was followed by flat hiking before beginning to climb Hump Mountain. Somewhere between the two climbs we were treated to special scenery. The disappointment of a foggy day transitioned into a ice-covered display of more than a mile. Open fields of rim ice and trees with frosted covers were beautiful and created a landscape of enchantment that only Hollywood can seemingly create. Blues Brother and I acknowledged this moment as we said in unison "Are you seeing this?" The morning's fog lifted with the two of us hiking several hundred yards apart. I got to see Blues Brother climbing over one of Hump Mountain's false summits. From that vantage point, Blues Brother told me later in the day that he saw me furious climbing with my hiking poles flailing and then was happy to see me turn around, stop, and pull out my phone to capture the view with a photo. As the fog lifted we were above clouds but we're now given views of the surrounding mountains and countryside. I can't remember his exact comment, but Blues said something along the lines of knowing then why we were climbing this section. I can only hope that my photos captured these scenes because many who hike through here in all kinds of weather aren't able to see such a combination of weather and scenery.Mountain Harbour Hiker Hostel provides our quarters for today. Tessa, now having a trail name of "Rocky" in recognition of her Philadelphia roots, was already here when we arrived. Blues Brother first met Rocky at Laughing Heart Hostel in Hot Springs where I had also briefly been introduced. The conversation between us came easily as we shared our findings of the AT's first few hundred miles. Fresh Ground, a legendary provider of trail magic who is thru-hiking this year, joined us mid-afternoon with news of heavier snow falling where Blues Brother and I had passed in the morning. Our heated lodging felt all the better after hearing that news. As of tonight it sounds like we all envision a similar sequence en route to Damascus. What is apparent though is that you never know what unfolds on the AT, it just seems to happen.