Date: 2007-04-29
From: Punch Bowl Shelter

To: Cow Camp Shelter
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Day #5 Sun.Apr 29th6:30am we wake when the Sun comes Up & got started the usual way: camp coffee & (now i'm outta pop-Tarts) a large energy bar. we pack up & on the trail by 8:30am.PunchBowl Shelter "said to be haunted"..but the only thing i heard (& saw) was mice & lots of them.We hike from PunchBowl crossing (2,170 ft elevation) & cross Robinson Gap Rd (VA 607) a short time later...out of gaps...you always have to climb..this time up Rice mtn (2,228 ft elevation).then we walk beside a creek & over Pedlar River bridge (@ USFS 39) & cross Pedlar Lake & Lynchburg Dam...we meet "BandanaMan here, a SoBo section hier from NY.2pm Jigsaw & i meet up @ Brown Mtn Shelter..a whole community of freed slaves homesteading this land & sharecropping once prospered in this area...remnants left include stone walls, & foundations & evidence of a mill along the creek. Apparently (according to information billboard along the trail) the community disbanded around the late 1920s.Jigsaw leaves...i sit for a few minutes to rest my feet...take my shoes off...eat an energy bar & just relaxing...ahhhhhhhhhhhh.i re-water before leaving..beautiful stream with many places to sit & soak your feet...i hike on...lots of beautiful wildflowers popping along the trail...many (most) i cant name...but, my favorite has to be the "mountain Iris" (or wild iris or miniature iris)...danty, but very beautiful (see photo)..about 2 miles of hiking i come to a major roadway-US 60 (2,065 ft elevation) which goes into Buena Vista, VA...i cross over & head up Bald Knob (4,059 ft elevation)..thats a 2,000 ft climb in under 2 miles-Ouch!it has switchbacks-but, they dont help much...i switch to low, low gear (turtle pace) & even stop every minute or two to catch my breath & take a swig of water!This climb is kickin' my BUTT!As i near the top a young thru-hiker (later we find out his name is Justin & goes by the trailname: "Turbo" from Raleigh,NC)zips by me (without hiking poles, no less!)...i tell him IF he is going to Cow Camp Gap Shelter let jigsaw know...I'll be there...Eventually!i hike onward & upward...Up-Up-Up....my knee is now twitching...hurting...i stop to rest & massage it 7 then back to it...turtle paced hiking is NO FUN...too much like work...your mind starts to play tricks on you...yoour imagination goes crazy...Ouch! what was that in my foot?...is it something in in my shoe?...step, step, step...ouch!...maybe something terrible is wrong with my foot!!....step, step, step...Ouch!..maybe i've snapped a tendon & shouldnt be walking on it...step-sstep-step-OUCH!...maybe i've broken a tiny bone in my foot from pounding on all these rocks...step-step-step-Ouch!...i stop for inspection...take off my left shoe...i wuz right...it was something in the shoe.a pebble the size of a match head...i told you the mind plays tricks!i hike on....Up, up, up...the A.T. Data Book says the summit is @ 4,059 ft elevation...my climb continues...I watch my Altimeter (a Birthday present from my lovely wife, "D-bird")..its been fairly close to the Data book most times....i reach the summit...i am whipped!my left heel is bruised a bit after the days pounding (for real...not my mind playing tricks...this time)but,...i'll have to hike thru the pain...after the summit...a mile of roller coaster ups & downs & then down-down-down ..i pick up speed but careful since i dont need bad knees to go along with a bruised heel...down-down-down...Finally, i get to Cow Camp Gap & find the shelter (& water) which is 6/10 mile off the trail....no other water sources near the trail...i hike down."Jigsaw" is here & so is "Turbo"...i cook some Ramen noodles...drink some H20 & write in my journal. the winds are kicking up..i need to go to bed...very, very tired. Goodnite!today we hiked:                  15.1 miles