Date: 2016-06-05
From: Tye River

To: Reeds Gap
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: light rain

Three Ridges Mountain is the last big climb for the next 900 miles they say. Up 3000 feet from the Tye River, the trail climbs up to 4000 feet and then down to 2600 feet at Reed's Gap. The trail still has significant ups and downs, but more in the range of 1000 feet instead of 3000 feet like the Priest and Three Ridges. I'm looking forward to the coming miles.I managed to stay dry through the horrific storm last night, but of course everything was soaked or damp. My tent and my pack were soaked, and it seemed like everything I had was damp just from the high humidity. I was to later hear that the storm dumped 4.5 inches of rain on a farm not far from where I was camped. I started the process of hanging things up trying to dry them out a little bit, which was basically fruitless since it was an overcast day and there was no breeze down in this valley. At least some of the water would drip off as I slowly packed up and ate my breakfast. I didn't get going until 10:15, dreading the 3000 foot climb to the top of Three Ridges. There were a number of southbounders coming down the mountain, all looking equally waterlogged. At the turn off for one of the side trails I caught up with one young couple and their almost two year old daughter out for a day hike. They had a child carrier and it reminded me of the hikes my wife and I used to take our two year old daughter on. Patrick and Megan were ex Marine Corp and Navy respectively and were now living in Charlottesville. He was a third year med school student and she was an engineer with civil and environmental engineering degrees. Talk about a power couple! They were really interested in the AT and we talked a long time as their daughter Josie played. Patrick had grown up near these mountains and had hiked most of the trails. Being from Charlottesville they had easy access to the AT and these mountains. We parted company and I continued my climb. Meeting day hikers that are interested in the AT is one of the really fun things you get to do out here and I really enjoy answering their questions.To me Three Ridges was a lot nicer climb than The Priest. There were several rock outcroppings with some grand views and that makes such a difference. Coming down the back side of Three Ridges the wind started to really pick up and it started to rain. It seems like an everyday occurrence here, around 4 pm you'll get a little rain come through. I had put my pack cover on but didn't bother with a rain jacket until it really started to pour. I passed the shelter turn off and there were several people camped in tents near the trail already. It was only about 6 pm and Reed's Gap was only 1.6 miles away and there was a brewery down the road everyone had been talking about. I continued on, up one more annoying climb to get to Reed's Gap. A number of section hikers passed me going south, heading for the shelter site. I was surprised to see so many this late on a Sunday evening. I got down to Reed's Gap and futilely tried to call the brewery for a pick up. The AT&T cell coverage was bad as usual. A group of three hikers pulled up in a car and they were getting packs out and stuffing them with food. They said they had never backpacked before and were going to climb Three Ridges and The Priest on the AT and then loop back on other trails. I told them for a first time backpack they had certainly picked a tough trail. They were young and ambitious and so wished them well as I tried to get a hitch to the brewery. It took 20 minutes before I was able to finally get a ride down to the brewery. I was expecting a small building stuffed into the side of a mountain, but Devils Backbone brewery turned out to be a huge complex of buildings and seating areas and was a pretty ritzy place. They were supposed to be hiker friendly so I was shocked it was such a nice place. They also specialize in functions, catering and events and hence all the buildings and seating areas for large groups. My burger was great with a price to match, as was my craft beer. They let hikers camp on the property and offer a hiker only breakfast so after dinner I set up my tent in a clearing and settled in for the night. I was glad to be done with the big mountains for a while and looking forward to getting into Waynesboro for resupply and then on to the Shenandoah.