Date: 2017-04-20
From: Four Pines Hiker Hostel

To: Campbell Shelter
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: overcast clouds

I woke up ready to leave the hostel and get on the trail. Today I will see the infamous McAfee Knob. There is rain in the forecast, but hopefully I get good weather to see this much talked about spot. A bunch of us got an early ride back to the trail-head. It was only a 0.3 mile walk back, but I avoid road walks if at all possible. The area between here and Daleville has a restriction on where hikers are allowed to camp. Either at a shelter or two campsites next to two of the shelters. Not sure why the restrictions exist except that it is a very heavily used area and the authorities are trying to minimize damage. So, I either have a 10.4 mile day or a 16.4 mile day. I am hoping to do a 16.4 mile day so I have a shorter day into town tomorrow. Weather is looking good so far with sunny skies and warmer temps. I am hiking with Gigline, LG and Speck again today. They pull ahead on the uphills again and I usually catch back up again when they take a break. We went thru several stiles and one was a bit narrow. My wide load of a pack almost didn't make it thru that one. We arrived at VA 311 to find a stash of water left for hikers. Woohoo! My filter isn't working quite right, so this is good news for me. I fill up. There are also two porta potties in the parking lot. I passed those up. This is also where the day hikers begin there hike up to the top to see the knob. I see many hikers going up and many coming down and think there is going to be quite a crowd up on top which is a four mile hike. The area has plenty of signs posted, but I still almost took a fire road up instead of the AT. I finally got on track and headed up. There were two shelters on the way up and I bypassed both. I see a deer just off the trail that stops eating to look at me and then just goes back to eating. My presence didn't seem to phase it. About a mile or so from the top I started hearing thunder and seeing dark clouds moving in. Nooooooo!!! I am about two-tenths of a mile from the summit when I meet up with Speck. She said she was going to wait there until the storm passed over as the summit would be a very exposed place to be. I asked where Gigline was and she said he went up ahead. Like me he has the bad fortune of seeing most of the favorite places he has visited along the AT in bad weather. LG is still a bit behind me. I decide to wait with Speck. The rain starts coming down and we duck under a convenient rock ledge to stay dry. Several day hikers duck under as well. Gigline shows up fighting with his bright yellow poncho, but unfortunately didn't make it to see the top before the storm hit. We are all on our phones trying to get a weather report and Speck has a friend giving her weather updates via text. Speck receives a text from LG saying his lunch isn't agreeing with him and will make it shortly. The storm seems to be moving fast, but we just have to wait it out. Speck and I are staying nice and dry while some others aren't as lucky. I'm sure glad I listened to her and stayed there with her. LG finally arrives and seems to be feeling better and ducks under with us. There is much laughter to be had and we all give Gigline a hard time (it's that bright yellow poncho) and continue to wait. There is a young boy with us about 10 or so under the ledge with us. He was talking about being stuck in the rain and we remind him he will have a great adventure to talk about when he gets home. Who else in his class will have a tale of being stuck just below McAfee Knob with four stinky backpackers. He laughed. He seems like a very nice young man and was enjoying his hike up to this point. Finally the storm abates and we load up and move out. We continue the short distance to the top. Not only have the dark clouds disappeared, so have all the people. We have it all to ourselves!!! I just drop my pack and try to take it all in. I am here!!   I have hiked 712 total AT miles to get here! I am loving life. We all do the picture thing and just enjoy the views. We finally load up and start down. It's less then a mile to the shelter and I've decided to take this option as it's a little late for me to make it the additional 6 miles to the next shelter. I really wish there was a place half way between these two shelters, but it is what it is. More rain is predicted for the evening. The others debate and end up staying at this shelter as well. There is much laughter had. I don't know why, but stuff that is just not funny elsewhere is hilarious out here. We had a small fire, ate dinner and hung out. Two young women are doing an overnighter close by and came by for a short visit.   I tried the never stop method of mountain climbing today and I do feel like it was easier in the long run. I was moving really slow at times, but I just kept moving forward. I don't know if I got up the mountain any quicker, but maybe I will get faster over time. LG said two months, I gave him a dirty look. I chose to sleep in the shelter with the others to get a quicker start to the day tomorrow.   What a great adventure I am on! I feel blessed.