Date: 2003-05-17
From: War Spur Shelter

To: Niday Shelter
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: moderate rain

Rain again? That was our first reaction waking up and hearing the rain hitting the shelter roof. We stayed in our sleeping bags as long as we could and finally got up, packed up, and got started around 8:00 a.m. When we got to the stream that was running about 100 feet from the shelter we discovered what was to be the hardest log crossing on a stream to date. With all the rain the stream was swollen and running quite fast. There were 3 logs that span about 15 feet across the stream with the middle one hanging lower than the 2 end ones. We corssed one at a time having to turn our feet at an angle to shuffle slowly across the logs. The logs were still in their natural state, that is, round, and with the added wetness from the rain and the algae, these were some slippery logs. To make a long story short we all took our time and made it across.After a couple of easy miles we started a long 1,700 foot climb up Johns Creek Mountain. About 500 feet short of the summit there is a forest road at Rocky Gap and there a trail angel left 3 coolers with soda, water and Gatorade and plastic bags with snacks. Just as my stomach was starting to growl too, mmmmm, what a nice find. After summiting Johns Creek Mountain we, Beekpr, Milo, Muke, Hatteras and I made our way down to highway 42, about 8 miles from our starting point, where Hatteras was to be picked up to be taken back to South Carolina. At this point I thought there was still 4 of us but that was not to be. Milo and Nuke decided to catch a ride with Hatteras and find a place to dry out and decide whether they want to continue any further on the AT. Now all of a sudden there were only 2 of us, Beekpr and me. We said our good byes and the 2 of us continued the hike. We are going to stay in Troutville so if we don't see them by the time we leave I reckon they went home.We were a little shell shocked for a while as we started our climb up Sinking Creek Mountain but the terrain knocked that out of us very quickly when we hit the rocks on the ledge. We found ourselves walking on some knife edge ridges with long drops on both sides. Then we had to cross huge steeply slanted slabs of rock for close to a mile. Since the rocks were wet from the rain this made this section one of the most dangerous on the trail. You didn't want to slip here. On a dry clear day this would have been an awesome walk with great views, but since we were walking in a cloud, there were no views this time. After clearing the rocks, we made our way down to Niday Shelter and jumped into some dry, warm clothes form our packs. We hung up all our our wet gear in the shelter. Luckily ther are only 4 of us hikers here so there is room to spread out.Well, hopefully Nuke and Milo will have a change of heart and continue up the trail. It was great hiking with both of them, and we had great fun coming up the trail. I'll definitely miss seeing Milo's yellow shoes and those "high gators." Nuke was our strongest hiker and usually the first one up in the morning, which got everyone moving. Hoepfully we'll see you again on the trail, but if not, good luck to you both.