Date: 2005-05-18
From:  Bailey Gap Shelter

To: Laurel Creek Shelter
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: light rain

This morning was a good morning. Again, we got started late...we have to quit that...but, that's ok, we hiked today with Mongral. He is a really nice guy, and a fellow South Carolinian to Bug. The funny thing is that he is a Clemson alum, and Bug is a USC alum.Mr. Clean Jr. has gotten behind us, as he stayed in Pearisburg an extra day, so it was good to have another person to hike with. We enjoy meeting and getting to know new people along the trail! Think back to camp as a kid, you meet people and get close to them in such a short period of time because you are thrown together in close quarters, in our case shelters. Plus, in our case, we hike with these people everyday and in doing such, we face the same rocks, we have the same hurts, and hike the same hills...that in and of itself brings us closer together.We had some rock scrambles to get over today, they were tough but fun. I think I like them so much because you have to use your brain and think about each step you take (it's so easy to just get in your zone out here and get into a "daily grind").We had exquisite views from Wind Rock and took time to have a snack, nothing but mountains and valleys. There were no roads, no businesses no power lines, just God's beauty at its finest. Mongral fixed Bug up quite nice with his boot problem....he gave Bug the cardboard from his Little Debbie Swiss Cake Rolls, which he promptly put in the heel of his shoe to keep it from pinching into his heel. Little Debbies are quite handy to have out here on the trail, and we beieve they should be included in emergency first-aid kits for hikers! LD loves to multi-task, as shown by the cardboard insert and the obvious calories they provide. Bug has dubbed this little cardboard piece, "Little Debbie Orthotics."While we were there, Bug took advantage of the high elevation and good cell signal to call Vasque. They were really nice about his boot situation and were eager to rectify the situation. They told Bug he could have his pick of shoe and that they would have a pair waiting for him in Catawba, VA (our next stop).This automatically made his feet feel a little bit better, so we hiked on to War Spur shelter. Days like these just reaffirm our decision to be out here! The sun is out, there is a gentle breeze, and we are shaded by all the trees coming into bloom. The shelter was in a gorgeous setting and had rhododendrons all around; there was a nice stream just down the way that made a peaceful gurgling in the background. We went down and soaked our tired, swollen feet as long as they could stand it.After about an hour and a half we moved on, as we still had 5.8 miles left to do. We had been so lulled by the gentle rolling hills that Virginia had thrown our way so far, that we didn't expect such a stiff climb this afternoon. It was fairly painful, but we did get to see another "Jack in the Pulpit" flower, our second in 650 miles of hiking!Bug and I thought we were in for more fun when we spotted a cooler up the trail, just off the road! You must understand, when a hiker sees a cooler, a bucket, and/or smiling faces at the road, they automatically assume that there is someone handing out trail magic. This was a trail magic cooler, but alas, all the gatorade was gone, and the only thing remaining was a disposable camera and trail register.When we arrived at the road, there was a couple who had just arrived for a day-hike to catch the views from the ridge about a mile up. They were friendly, and I had to give them kudos for going on a hike after a long day at work, instead of vegging on the couch. However, it really did make me sick to see these happy-go-lucky folks hop out of their climate--controlled vehicles and hop up this steep mountain road with nothing but camelbacks to carry, like it was the easiest thing in the world. (NOTE: I do like and admire anyone out hiking any length of the trail, but it is tough for us thru-hikers to see something like that at the end of a long day, especially when it isn't over and the rest is straight up). =o)We finally made it to the top for some nice ridge walking and decided to skip the "view" as it was getting late. Views are nice and wonderful, but that is a disadvantage of a thru-hike vs. a section hike. So many times, on a thru-hike it is difficult to want to hike anything more than 3-4 yards to catch a view, because of the miles either you've already hiked or still have to hike that day.After many more shale rocks downhill, we did finally reach the shelter. It's been a nice evening and we arrived in time to set up our tent on a lovely, soft pine floor. Just a ways down from the water source, the creek had a 3 foot waterfall. Bug and I took this as an opportunity to wash out our clothes and bathe. The water was ice cold and took our breath away, but there is something quite refreshing and surreal about bathing in a hidden mountain stream (especially when you consider it has been over 3 days in HOT weather since our last town shower). Again, one of the many ammenities we so often take for granted at home. We cooked our evening meal and again are sharing company with Mongral and Chuckles & Gotto Go. There are 2 other gentlemen here from Maine and Washington, but I did not get their names. Things are beginning to quiet down so I will say goodnight.