Date: 2013-05-05
From: USFS Road 86

To: Atkins, VA
Miles today: 7.4
Weather: light rain

I had a good breakfast with Brian and Anne at the hotel. After breakfast they drove to the outfitter in Damascus to get some things I needed while I packed up and got in one more shower. I also decided to make reservations at a hotel near the trail in Atkins since the forecast is for rain today and heavier rain tomorrow. When we exited the interstate on the way back to the trail I realized that we were getting off at the Atkins exit and that I might be able to leave my stuff at the motel and slack pack the short hike to Atkins. The motel let me go ahead and check in so I was able to leave most of my stuff in my room. We reached the trailhead about 12:30 and found Two Sticks and Backtrack coming down the trail. It was fun for Brian and Ann to be able to meet some of the characters that they've heard about. It was sad to leave my friends again. THANK YOU Brian and Ann, your love and support MAKES A DIFFERENCE!!!It was misting as I headed up the trail leading the young bucks up the first mountain - I love slack packing! At the top of the mountain it began to rain heavier so I stopped to put on my rain gear and pack cover. The majority of the hike would be down hill after this first mountain. It was an easy and fun hike despite the steady rain and wind. At the first shelter I stopped and had lunch with Two Sticks, Backtrack, Olive Oil, Splash, Tex, and others. Two miles after the shelter I arrived at a farm from 1890 that has been preserved and a settlers museum for the area. It was interesting and relaxing to explore the farm. At the museum I spent some time talking to two couples who were section hikers from Georgia. They had decided not to continue in the rain and had called a taxi to come and get them. During one section of the trail I could hear a loud buzzing sound. As I walked it got louder and louder. I came into a clearing and it became clear where the noise was coming from - it was a high voltage power line. The trail went directly under the tower holding the power lines and I was unnerved about walking under the tower in the rain with the loud buzzing overhead. Needless to say I wasted no time crossing the power line and getting back into the woods. Near town I could see a train track below me. As I got closer I could hear the distant sound of a train. I heard another hiker holler "hurry Hobo!" So I ran down to the track as I hollered back asking how far away it was. He replied about 100 yards and I immediately knew I was NOT going to race a train on foot across wet tracks. It was fun to watch the train go by and it wasn't a long train so I didn't have to wait long. I arrived in Atkins and walked to the only restaurant to discover that it was closed on Sunday. I walked across the street and got a mixture of hot chocolate and coffee at the convenience store. Then I walked the short distance to the motel and immediately turned on the heat and took a hot shower. I went in with some other hikers and ordered food from a pizza place that delivers. Almost the entire motel is filled with hikers. The forecast tomorrow is crappy (including flood warnings) so I'll decide in the morning if I'm going to zero here or hike in the rain and try to find a place in a shelter.