Date: 2011-05-07
From: (47) Looking Back

To: (48) Campbell Shelter
Miles today: 27.1
Weather: few clouds

I awoke at 5:30am and headed out. Things sure were easier without that stupid Helm around. Yup, that no good punk had been holding me back¢¦I had a big day planned, but took a blue blaze side trail anyway to visit the Audie Murphy monument placed near where his plane had crashed (America¢s most decorated soldier). After this I ascended up the side of Cove Mountain to the ¢Dragon¢s Tooth¢, a particularly rocky and hazardous outcropping that the trail conveniently goes through. Going down the opposite side of the Dragon¢s Tooth was the fun part. It was nothing but rock cliffs and very steep. In many places the trail forced me to climb, and my worn out shoes would slide over the rock faces like they were made of glass.When I reached the bottom I came to a road that, according to my book, had a gas station on it. I decided to go there and treat myself to a mountain dew, and on my way I ran into Bud. Bud told me that he had lost the trail coming down the Dragon¢s Tooth, and that he had slid uncontrollably down the mountain on his butt because the grade was so steep he couldn¢t stop. His wild ride ended in someone¢s back yard, and after waving to the residents, he found a road that led him to the gas station. There he had seen Green Hat leaving in a truck. I couldn¢t believe my ears! I had missed Green Hat, despite my best efforts to catch him, by a mere hour! (Buckets of tears!) It was ok though; I had his e-mail in my phone and was able to message him later.After getting my dew, I hiked with Bud for a few hours, but then went ahead to McAfee Knob to take pictures before nightfall. McAfee Knob is a rock ledge extending over a cliff, where hikers often get their picture taken in some generic pose. It is one of the most recognizable scenes on the entire trail, and I was not disappointed. At the top of one of the cliffs were some teenage photographers filming the scenery. I stopped to take some pictures and one of them asked me, ¢So do you like, spend the night out here?¢¢No¢ I answered jokingly (it was getting dark and I clearly was). He looked puzzled. ¢Well that¢s an interesting bed you¢ve got¢ he said, referring to the folded up sleeping pad I keep strapped to the top of my pack. ¢It¢s an accordion¢ I answered, which got a laugh. I asked if one of them would take my picture, and of course the head photographer volunteered. He took my camera and snapped off numerous pictures at different angles saying ¢you can never take just one!¢ The pictures were fine, but I never did get one of myself on the Knob. I went on to find the shelter. It was unoccupied and all mine, the first time this had ever happened!My total for the day was 27.1 miles. People on the trail often tell me to hike slowly or I¢ll miss everything. This is rubbish. In addition to hiking a large number of miles, I stopped at the Audie Murphy Monument, climbed the rocks at the Dragon¢s Tooth, walked down the road to have a soda, hiked with a friend, and saw McAfee Knob. Heck, I even had light left to eat and write this journal! The trick to fitting everything in is to wake early. I got up at 5:30am, hours before most other hikers. In doing so, I made my day longer, and used this time wisely. It had nothing to do with how fast I hiked, but rather the extra time I had to hike. Besides, I have more fun knowing that I am beating the pants off of the Virginia challenge then I would sitting around half the day!