Date: 2012-04-21
From: Chestnut Knob Shelter 565.2

To: Jenkins Shelter 575.2
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: light rain

We had another beautiful sunrise on top of the bald at Chestnut Knob Shelter. I feel young again after a great night's sleep in the warm, dry shelter. (Random thought: We purchased new sleeping pads in Damascus: "Thermorest Neolite XL" air mattresses. We had been sleeping on foam pads. What a difference!) We thought we heard wind in the shelter, but it wasn't bad so far. We were hoping the rain would hold off until we got to the next shelter. Today's hike undulated up and down, trending down. This was good for Karen, but not as good for Gary, who was suffering from some kind of pain in the front of his right leg. (Random thought: What do you do for leg pain?: take nsaids, rest, apply ice, make sure your shoes are in good shape. Well...we have only a few aspirins with us..we never have leg pain at home; rest...we need to hike 23 more miles into Bland for our mail drop; ice...no ice on the trail; and check the shoes...well...Gary's shoes are shot...worn out.. new ones are coming in Bland. The one thing he could do was hike the downhills slowly and carefully, to minimize jarring, which he did.) At any rate, at about six miles into our hike we passed some trail maintainers from the Piedmont AT Hikers Club, wielding chainsaws to clear the trail. Thanks SO much, Black Cloud and Aubrey. They told us about some trail magic ahead, brought to us by a local church: lots of water in jugs and bottles, and hard cooked eggs. Thanks! (Random thought: you really appreciate some of things we take for granted, like water, out on the trail.) A short time later we saw three more whitetail deer in the woods in front of us. The deer here seem pretty tame. Since we'd decided to only hike ten miles today due to Gary's shin pain, we arrived at Jenkins Shelter by 1:30. Applesauce was already there. He had zeroed there to rest a sore knee. Duffer and Trotter also decided to call it a short day and relax the afternoon away...a guilty pleasure on the AT. When we arrived, there was a hunting dog (wearing a fancy radio collar in addition to her regular collar.) Whitewater called her owner and arranged a pickup of her since he was going on. The dog was really sweet and seemed to like hanging out at the shelter getting snacks and attention. We guessed she was one of a number of dogs at home. The privy here was also interesting. I felt the need to photo it-friends on Facebook would see it next time I had internet coverage. It was a privy with maximum ventilation-no wonder it was out of view of the shelter. Trotter built a fire. Now...if only I'd bought those marshmallows I saw at the convenience store in Atkins! Greenbush, who was section hiking from Damascus to Harper's Ferry, showed up shortly after we got in. Later on, more people showed up, filling the shelter by 3:30-early by AT standards. Then Badger came it, but he slept in a hammock every night anyway. All told, we had eight people in the shelter which was made for six, three tents, and a hammock. Life is cozy but great on the AT, especially when you get an unexpected short day, and get to relax the afternoon away.