Date: 2013-06-21
From: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter - Stony Creek Valley Lot

To: Pearisburg
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: overcast clouds

We needed to be to Don Raines by 7 a.m. so we rose early, showered, and shared two fabulous pancakes from the McArthur Inn dining hall. After arriving at Don's and putting our gear into Don's vehicle, we headed off to the Plaza Motel to pick up Tennessee Walker. From there Don, drove and dropped Bandit and I off at the Stony Creek Valley parking lot on VA 635 (1 mile south of The Captain's" place). He continued north with Tennessee Walker to drop him a full three day hike north of Pearisburg. Tennessee was hiking south back into Pearisburg.We first stopped at the nearby stream and filled our water pouches and then swung by the Pine Swamp Branch Shelter to see if we knew anyone who'd possibly spent the night. No such luck though we did get good info from those who were there on the trail conditions back into Pearisburg. Then we began our 1500' climb up out of the valley. It was a beautiful clear, cool sunny day. However, we were moving at a 1.5 mph pace due to having to carry a full load of water due to a lack of water sources on this stretch.Now this stretch from Captain's back into Pearisburg is very much lacking in anything entertaining, it is purely just hiking work. So the game plan was just to move. That meant a quick pace where you work your trekking poles continually and are always watching where you put your feet as you scurry along. Rarely do you stop and look up because there really isn't anything to actually look at. There were no vistas to speak of until the next shelter and that was 12.5 miles away. We saw no turtles, no squirrels, no snakes, but we did see two deer very near the end of the day. At one point, coming around a blind corner, we did bumped into a new hiker named Pop-Tart. He exclaimed "Did you just see that bear?" Yikes! NO! I noted with relief as I'd prefer NOT to see any bears up close.Mid-morning we crossed paths with Lucky and Seeker, both of whom asked about campsites up-a-head. As we were now slack-packing SoBo and all my new found trail friends were still hiking NoBo, we were starting to run into hikers we knew. Early in the afternoon, we popped out from under the canopy onto a bald and who should be sitting there but the four ladies we'd met at Wood's Hostel, the mother, her two daughter's and Peggy. They were sitting in the shade alongside the trail with a fire going in a campfire ring. There was a young man with them that I hadn't yet met named "Thru-Walker". They were all enjoying lunch so we joined them. It was a lot of fun to just sit in the sun with my new friends way up in the middle of no where and enjoy each other's company. During lunch Hummingbird blew threw. She was now traveling with a male companion whom I did not know.Shortly before Rice Field Shelter we popped back out onto a large bald which required negotiating a style to enter the bald. We then scrambled over a second style when we entered the shelter area. The bathroom facilities at this shelter were deplorable and had I stayed here, I would NOT have used it. Being alone at the shelter, I decided to take a power nap (i.e. 10-15 min. nap) that turned into a 1/2 hour nap. I was awoken by Nomad's arrival who had a million questions about the trail ahead, water, campsites, etc. Nomad was saddened to hear that he wasn't going to be able to catch up with his buddies here this day.At this point the trail took a steep 2000' drop down into Pearisburg. As the day was growing old, I tended to rush more than I should on a downward climb. This took a toll on my knees, ankles, and feet. On my way down, I discovered that it was "Hike Naked Day" -- the Summer Solstice. Pop-Tart was the first hiker I met who was attempting the spirit of the day, but he was hiking with a bandana over only his private parts. The funny part about running into someone you don't know who is totally naked is that you find it hard to find something to look at when you speak with them so you totally focus on their face. LOL Pop-Tart told me to look for his naked friends behind him and I promised to relay his location. The trail then became extremely rocking requiring a pretty good rock scramble. Later when I finally found Pop-tart's friends, they were TOTALLY butt naked and once again I just stared at their faces while we talked!!! LOL We did run into a collage of other hikers as wekk before finally crossing the New River on the Senator Shumate Bridge.We arrived at the same place Don had picked us up the previous day and were unable to reach Don by phone for pickup. So we started hoofing it up Cross Ave. to the Dairy Queen to wait for Don's arrival. During our lengthy road walk, thankfully Don arrived and gave us a fantastic ride back to our truck. God Bless Don! We ordered Pizza Hut for dinner, picked up a chocolate shake at Dairy Queen, and returned to the MacArthur Inn where we promptly fell asleep. I'd noted to Don that I hadn't decided what my plans were for Saturday, that I needed to sleep on it. Laundry and re-packing was going to have to wait for tomorrow. Both Bandit and I were dead tired.