Date: 2018-10-26
From: Saltlog Gap (south)

To: Matt's Creek Shelter
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Initially I wanted to get to Daleville on Tuesday, but with good mileage the last two days I told myself if I could get there Monday I could have a zero day on Tuesday. All looked pretty easy until I heard it might rain Friday. Friday I wanted to blitz into and out of Glasgow with my resupply. I thought my plans might end up not working out. Last night (Thursday) Heartrock told me the weather for Glasgow. She said 100% chance of rain amounting up to 3/4 of an inch. She said the rain will start at 9 a.m. As I went to sleep I was anxious and almost dismissed my challenge of getting to Daleville Monday. My mind was busy, it's always doing things I don't even know about. Then an idea! IF I can get to the road early enough (7.4 miles), hitch into Glasgow, get my resupply then hitch out before it rains, I could get to the first shelter to stay and keep dry then get an early start Saturday. If rain starts early I probably have to stay in Glasgow at the hostel getting a late start Saturday, dashing my chances to get to Daleville Monday. At 3:15 a.m. today (Friday) I gave the command to proceed with the mission. I was on the trail at 4:12 a.m. There was a slight breeze but I ended up taking my jacket off going up the first hill. I saw a glowing eye that turned out to be a rabbit. All the way my headlamp would reflect on something blue/green on the treadway. It was very small. When I saw a moving one I got closer to the ground to investigate. The glow was my headlamp reflecting on spiders. The trail was well built all the way down. I first climbed 400' to the top of Big Rocky Row at 2,974' then a descent of 2,234' down to the highway and the James River at just 680' elevation. Plenty of switchbacks on the way down but easy to navigate even in the dark. I only fell once. I saw the moon briefly as the clouds were coming in. Due to the clouds I used the headlamp until 7:10. I continued along Lower Rocky Run crossing two bridges and arrived at US 501 at 7:40. Good timing. The road had no paved berms so I hitched at a pull off. No takers for ten minutes. I began to walk and hitch. If I had to walk the six miles into town I will, I thought. Before I started walking I hid my trekking poles off the road in the weeds near the trail head parking lot. At two pull offs nearly a mile up the road I had success. A Prius pulled over and gave me a ride at 8:20. The retired clock repairman hikes and frequently gives hikers rides. The road was narrow with plenty of curves. He said too dangerous to walk it. He took me to Glasgow and dropped me off at the Stop & Go convenience store. I thanked him and headed to Dollar General which was nearby. I got four days of food and headed back to the convenience store for a coffee. It was 8:35 and the rain started. At the store I got a coffee and donuts then went outside under an overhang. If I wanted to hitch I'd have to go across a long highway bridge over the James River to get back to US 501. I wondered how hard it would rain and how long I'd stand there. I checked the radar and it looked bleak. For Glasgow there was an empty square on the map. It wasn't showing the radar for some reason. But all around it was yellows and reds, heavy rain. I decided to call the hostel and ask for a shuttle back to the trail. I can walk from there to the shelter in the rain. I called the hostel to ask about a ride and the guy said maybe. He told me to walk to the hostel then ask the driver if he could take me to the trail head. I said okay. Just then a young guy came out of the store and asked if I wanted a ride to the trail. I said "Yes!!" We got back on US 501 and weaved through the mountains. He constantly shifted the old Ford's standard transmission as we rounded the corners. He also gives hikers rides frequently. He gave a ride to Honeybear and Flash whom I hiked with in Maine and New Hampshire. When we pulled into the trail head parking lot it was raining pretty well. I thanked the guy and we shook hands. He headed back to Glasgow. He went out of his way to give me a ride. It was 9:10 a.m! I blitzed in and out of town in less than an hour! Amazing! In the stone parking lot I super quickly pulled out all my rain gear. I covered my pack with the poncho then left it on the ground. I had to go back to retrieve my trekking poles. Back to the parking lot I got all the rain gear on and headed out in the rain. Under the railroad bridge I paused briefly to take a picture of the James River Foot Bridge. Then climbed the steps and walked the bridge over the river. The trail followed the river upstream for about a mile then turned and ascended Matt's Creek. I arrived at the shelter in light rain around 10:30 a.m. The mission was a success! Daleville Monday! This is the fifth time I stayed in a shelter on this trip and all were due to rain. I had bought instant mashed potatoes because I knew I'd need something to warm me up once I reached the shelter. I heated and ate the potatoes as I contemplated what to do. I could go on but it is a good climb. Plus tomorrow I'd end up with lots of wet gear if I continued and tented. This was the goal and I made it and I need to be content. I got my tent set up in the shelter to help stay warm. Then I took a nap. At 2:30 I woke up to voices. A man and woman stopped. I assumed they were going to stay but they didn't. This is a planned three day hiking weekend and they were heading up the ridge. They acknowledged it is to rain harder later. As we talked I felt so lazy staying here and in my tent. After they left I again contemplated moving on. I made coffee and a short time later heavy rain started. I'll stay put. As of 6 pm the rain remains steady as it has for hours. I feel concerned for the man and woman who passed through. They were continuing several more miles which would be a few more hours in this rain. They are climbing about 1,800' higher. It is raw here. I can't imagine hiking up there being wet and cold. I'll head out early in the morning, rain or shine. One person said rain will stop tonight and another said 9 a.m. tomorrow. Must push if I want that zero day in Daleville. Not a good day weather-wise but a good and interesting day otherwise. Very blessed. All I hear is the rain on the roof and the rain splashing in the puddles in front of the shelter.