Date: 2010-05-01
From: Damascus - Dancing Bear

To: Lost Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Morning started early, 7:15. Unfortunately, the Post Office does not open until 9:00 so there is no way I can leave until my box is in the mail. Got up, mostly packed up. Ate my 3 eggs plus one that I broke the shell on so 4 in all. Gatorade, quart of chocolate milk and Pop-Tart. With all this food available, I skipped my breakfast out.Showered, got dressed, went to Outfitters to get a smaller sunscreen. Less for more. Took a couple more pics of the town including the Place Hostel.Sending back misc items, including the shave cream and extra razors I picked up for the removal of my beard. At the P.O. at 9:00. With my box gone, I went back to my room, picked up my pack and on the trail at 10:00. A bit later than I wanted, but still not bad. I have the ham and cheese foot-long I bought yesterday. Plan is to have it when I reconnect with the Creeper Trail. Drank my water through town and hit the trail.Morning was nice and the day heated up in the afternoon. Surprisingly hard climbs. The next 40 miles or so are up so I may as well get used to it. I know I have a shorter day at only 15.8 miles so I am in no hurry. Rain possible over the next four days with storms on Sunday night and Monday. Time will tell. Most of the potential rain days so far have turned out to be good hiking days.Five hours into my day, I rejoined the Creeper Trail. The Creeper Trail is an old rail right-of-way turned into a bike path. You could blue blaze from Damascus to this point with an easy 13 mile hike with 2 ice cream stops on the way. That makes this section possibly the number one blue blaze on the AT. My guess is that 25-35% of hikers take it. Of course, being a white blazer, I did not take it . Only white for me.With the hot day expected, I packed my sandwich deep in my pack to try and keep it cool. With the extra mayo on it, I needed to be at least a bit careful. Although it was warm, I knew it would be OK. I sat on a bench right on the Creeper by the river. Enjoyed my lunch and my break. One 700 foot climb to go and my day would be done.Out of water and the book said that the water sources south of a certain road were not suitable for drinking. Walked on a bit, found a stream and finally got something to drink.At the shelter was a newer group. There was still room in the shelter, so I grabbed a spot. By the end of the day, the shelter was full and there were also a couple of tents. Cookie and Tick-Tock ended there as well. I have been on and off with them for a bit. They moved ahead with my double zero day in Damascus. We talked about the climb over Mt. Rogers tomorrow with the ponies and Fat Man Squeeze. Naptime was also there. First time I met Naptime was at Mountain Harbour at US 19E. Then again in Damascus where she was in the bunk below me at the Hiker's Inn. She is a fast hiker but likes to stop early. If she hiked a full day she would be easily over 25 mile days.With a nice fire going, just spent the last couple of hours relaxing. Big day tomorrow so in bed early. I am already getting the feeling that the hiker make-up has changed. It just feels better. I think I really am past the large group of hiker wannabe's but never-will-be's. I also see in the shelter journals that Cricket and Michigan are one day ahead. With good days I know I will catch them by Partnership Shelter. It will be nice to see them again. They are both good guys to hike with. Time will tell if I catch up.All is good. Rested and ready for Virginia.