Date: 2005-06-18
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: Pinew Swamp Branch Shelter
Miles today: 19.1
Weather: broken clouds

My roomate and recent hiking partner, Passin' Through, and I got an early (6AM) start. I was determined to do a 19 mile day - he was kind of "well, let's see how bad the climb out of Pearisburg goes and then I'll decide...."The climb was a long one, roughly 2,000 ft, but it seemed longer to me. The trail was not graded, but sort of just a constantly steep up, with no switch-backs and a lot of rocks. After that, however, it was pretty much ridgeline hiking for the rest of the day.One of the highlights was a place called Rice Field, a large meadow at the top of a hill with almost panoramic views of the surrounding valleys and distant mountains. According to the shelter register, there was a mother bear and three cubs in the neighborhood, but I never saw them.I did see two deer today, and was struck that neither of them seemed afraid of me, but rather stood there looking at me for several minutes, obviously curious about this strange, foul-smelling creature carrying hiker poles.I also managed to chase up another wild turkey who was nesting right next to the trail. They just launch themselves into the air with a great ruffleling of feathers, accompanied by a loud GOBBLE, GOBBLE, GOBBLE, GOBBLE, which is enough to give poor old Private 2nd Class Walter M. Longhaul, who is lost in deep thought, a heart attack!It was obviously a female, as she then proceeded to run several times in a large circle around where her nest was, anxious for me to move on so she could go check on her babies. So I moved on. It always troubles me when I bother the local wildlife, as I am, after all, the intruder. But it does remind me of what a privilege it is to be able to be out here seeing all these neat things with my own eyes.I have to say that I am getting increasingly comfortable living out here in the mountains. Not something I'd like to do full time, forever - at least not living out of a backpack, though I have seen a couple of rural properties I would not mind owning.Coming back to the wildlife, on my way into Pearisburg it was "turtle day." I saw two box turtles on the trail, after not having seen one since Georgia. Coincientally, I saw a third one in Pearisburg along the side of the road, except that he was dead, having been run over by a car. And people ask me if I'm afraid to be in the woods! No, the real danger lies in the city with all of the speeding traffic!Tonight we're having a quiet night at the shelter, just me, Passin' Through and Snappy - another section hiker who, coincidentally, I met at the Pennsylvania Ruck in January. We do have a campfire, thanks to the fact that someone left an awesome supply of tinder, kindling and fuel wood right next to the fire pit. I'm getting my journal updated for today, but still need to do yesterday's entry!Town stops can be surprisingly hectic, especially when you only arrive after 2PM and are staying a mile away from everything. You hike to the post office before it closes, then the laundry, then find a restaurant (NEVER, EVER, do your resupply shopping on an empty stomach!), then a grocery store, then a hardware store for fuel, then back to the motel to get things organized and re-packaged and the pack re-packed, etc. There are just not enough hours to get done everything you want to do - and some things just don't get done. I'd hoped to catch up on my emails, for example, and was going to try to call Butterfly Moon in Waynesboro, as I'd heard that she was laid up there for a week with a foot problem. Alas, facing a 19 mile day today, and being exhausted by 8PM, I collapsed at 10PM, and none of that stuff got done. Today's hike is dedicated to Butterfly Moon, in hopes that she will recover quickly and be back on the trail soon. I know all too well what she is going through! Hang in there, BfM. It will all work out!Stay tuned, Longhaul