Date: 2017-04-27
From: Marble Springs Tent Site

To: Johns Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 9.3
Weather: overcast clouds

I had a choice today of doing 9.3 miles or 18.2 miles with most of the last 9 miles climbing a cumulative 3000 ft. When I went to bed last night I was going to do the 18.2 with LoneStar. I woke up about 3 and debated with myself about the mileage. I decided to take an easy day today and tackle the 3000 ft elevation climb when I'm fresher tomorrow. My feet are feeling the long days and I don't want to overdo it to fast. I enjoyed hiking with him, but I'm trying to be smart for me. I went outside my tent around 3 as well to find a tree and I must say the stars were out of this world. Absolutely gorgeous. I just stood there in awe for awhile, but eventually crawled back into my tent.LoneStar's alarm went off at 5. He needs two cups of coffee in the morning and two hours to pack up. He wanted to be out by 7. I crawled out shortly after his alarm and let him know my change of plans and just chat for awhile. He was out just before 7.Since I only have a little over 9 miles to go, I was planning on a late start, because it is mostly downhill for me today. I managed a 8:15 departure time. I'm not any good at just sitting around camp in the morning. Oh well, I will hike slowly today.I had some views of where I've been hiking. The early morning views had me above the fog. So I was hiking down into the fog versus hiking up into the clouds today. I took more time to enjoy the flowers around me and just enjoy the day more then I have been. The wildflowers are just magnificent this time of year.  I passed a trail named Devil's Marbleyard. I don't know what that trail has in store for a hiker, but it just has to be worse then the trail coming off Dragon Tooth. I will need to Google it when I get to town.I had to ford a few streams today, but was able to keep my feet and boots dry. Thank goodness. I am finally getting everything dry from the rain earlier in the day. I did see some waterfalls coming right down by the trail. I don't know if they are normally there or just there due to all the rain.  I stopped for a break at the first shelter of the day for a snack. It is right on Matt's Creek and the shelter had a flash floods warning sign. It looked high enough to stay dry from this past storm which is good because the AT crosses the creek and there is no bridge. There were a lot of butterflies and huge bees buzzing around the shelter, but they left me alone. I hike further down into the valley and things got a little wetter. I saw a large group of butterflies hanging out on a rock. They were very pretty. I walked along Matt's Creek for quite awhile and then saw the James River. I would eventually wind my way down to it.  I saw a turtle in the middle of the trail and stopped to takes it's picture. He blended in to the trail pretty good. He should move before he gets stomped on. I started walking along the James River for about a mile of so until I came to the longest footbridge on the trail. It allowed me to cross this large fast moving river safely. Very cool bridge. I went thru two parking lots just on the other side of the bridge, but no trash cans today. Darn. Not that I have accumulated much trash since yesterday, but still. Some type of fighter jets were doing manuevers today. They wouls come roaring over the mountains, make a hard U-turn at the river and then roar back over the mountains. It was like they were using the river for third base or something. I made it to the campsite quite early. I wish there had been a campsite or shelter somewhere between here and the next shelter, but I don't want to push my feet to 18 miles today. So here I'll stay. I rigged a clothes line and hung everything up to dry out. My sleeping bag and other stuff is all a bit damp. I talked to Nemo, Farley, Bird and Kiwi when they came through. Everyone is headed to that next shelter high in the mountains. Made me want to go, but I stayed put.  The two section hikers that stayed with us last night were supposed to come here for the night, but I got the feeling they have bailed on their hike. It was pretty hot today and there is rain in the overnight forecast. I'm set up in the shelter and will read for awhile.  There are thunderstorms in the forecast this evening and tonight. It was another reason I didn't hike up the mountain today. It looks like the trail follows the ridgeline at the top and I didn't want to get caught up that high with lighten flashing about. It is still early and the sky is getting pretty dark. I think I will fix dinner early just in case. Tomorrow is supposed to be another sunny and warm day. I hope to get an early start to knock out this next climb. It is the last huge climb before I hit Buena Vista, my next trail town. It is about 20 miles away and I have numerous options tomorrow for camping for the night and then hike into town Saturday. I am ready for a shower, laundry and some town food.