Date: 2008-03-27
From: Cornelius Creek Shelter

To: Rte 501
Miles today: 19.8

Thursday, March 27, 2008Cornelius Creek Shelter to 501, 19.9 milesAt 6:45 Homer meets me at 501, where I leave the Element, and takes me to the BRP leading to Cornelius Creek Shelter. On the ride along the BRP we see at least 100 deer.Yesterday Cascade and Rock Slide climbed Tinker Cliffs. While they were doing that 2 NOBO hikers helped Homer move a big locust log from the path of his relo and helped him finish. He and Therese painted the blazes.The Odd Couple officially opened their relo'd section of trail. Cascade and Rock Slide christened it.At Lambert Meadow the whole family had a weenie roast. A real satisfying day, Homer says.Homer adds he¢s seen 2 bobcats in this area, one of them was running down the AT right ahead of Homer, not realizing there was a hiker in pursuit. We see a male turkey struttin his stuff for 2 females.As I¢m getting out of Homer¢s car, I see a fresh red stain on the back seat. Oh Oh. My elixir bottle is leaking. I feel terrible. Make a note to send him $ for dry cleaning, and remind him what his mother said, never refuse money. Goodbye Homer. Thank you and Therese for EVERYTHING! Somewhere up north, I¢ll try to return the favor to Cascade when she NOBO thruhike¢s next year. Please stay in touch.   Stop at Cornelius Creek Shelter and I meet Skittles there, and Biff.   Vagus and Stride didn¢t make it to Cornelius Creek last night. Maybe they stayed at Bryant Ridge.7:40 I spot a doe in a rhodo thicket. Throws her head back and stands there watching me. I hear 2 more deer deeper in the woods.Sign: 5.3 miles to Thunder Ridge Shelter.I hear a cardinal, sun¢s up, it¢s another day like yesterday, probably 50 now.Maybe 12 mile north of Parkers Gap Rd, I come to a tent, set up, but flapping in the wind. Looks abandoned. Or maybe hikers are inside and just didn¢t stake it well last night. I don¢t want to poke my nose into people¢s business.   Take photo and walk on.Hello again to Skittles as he overtakes me.Not sure what kind of vine it is in the field. Three-lobed flattish seed pods. Balloon flower?Pass radio tower on Apple Orchard Mountain. Another skim-milk view today. Healthy-looking spruces growing there.Picture of 7-inch scat on the trail. Bear? I still have so much to learn!Descend some steep rock steps. Thank you, maintainers. Pass some dark caves. This reminds me Homer and Therese like spelunking. Heavy rock overhang. 3 juncos.I pass under the Guillotine uneventfully.At Thunder Ridge Shelter, hello to Rebecca, Moe (a weimaraner) and Angie. Rebecca is going to thru-hike with Moe, starting in May, Daleville to Katahdin, then flip and hike Daleville to Springer. She works at an outfitter in Daleville. Also she trail-runs. Her journal will be on blogspot.Today¢s smiling trail companion is named Fearless Fosdick.I find myself on old-looking eroded trail, old blazes. Don¢t see hiking pole holes or bootprints. Wonder if I missed a turn back there. Will stay where I am and hope I come out at Petites Gap. I do.Hello to father and son hiking south, from the AT they¢ll pick up the Apple Orchard trail.2PM A camping area after 2 or 3 long switchbacks. I think I may still have 8 miles to 501.More non-blueberry vaccinium blossoms. ID these when I get home. No pollinating bees out yet.4:15 Belfast trail, the high point, I reckon.8 sarvis trees in bloom.It¢s a long descent and my knees object. Sign register at the Matt Creek Shelter.Swarms of teeny little soft-bodied bugs that fly in your face and mouth.Out at 7PM. Off to one of my favorite hostels on the entire AT, Dutch Haus. At Dutch Haus, Four Bears is staying over an extra night in a room above the one that Lois and Earl have named after him. The room Four Bears is sleeping in has TV. He's a basketball fan and there's a game on.Lois puts me in the "Four Bears" room.Four Bears and I will catch up with each other at tomorrow's breakfast. We hiked a day together around Laurel Falls in 2005.Hello to Dan, a section-hiker from NJ.Big hug for Lois and Earl, and Earl¢s Dad, Big Earl. Lois¢s Earl is known in the family as Little Earl, so named by his grandmother. Tomorrow morning Big Earl will drop Dan off at Hog Camp Gap, then me at 501.Sweet Sixteen, remember when we dropped you off there? Your solo-backpack from 501 to was it Elkwallow? inspires me to SOLO-BACKPACK north to Fish Hatchery Rd. You're my inspiration, and you're not even old!After Fish Hatchery, only 55 miles in the Shenandoahs left for me to hike to finish VA #2.