Date: 2014-05-01
From: Warspur Shelter

To: Niday Shelter
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 50-May 1, Warspur Shelter to Niday Shelter, 18.2 miles. A quick note from last night: as the evening progressed and no one else showed up I said that nobody was coming and we would have the shelter to ourselves. Jim thought somebody had to arrive. When we were tucked nicely in our sleeping bags, almost asleep, at 9:30 PM, we see a headlamp coming down the trail! Here comes Spirit Hawk, after a 25 mile day! He pointed out that some rain had just started up as he arrived and proceeded to get himself set up in the other half of the shelter. We chatted for a few minutes since we've camped with Spirit Hawk a bunch of times since starting the trail but haven't seen him since Damascus. He will be doing some big days now because he has to go home and wants to be able to leave from Waynesboro, VA. We were up early and on the trail at 6:45 AM. We save a few minutes in the morning if we sleep in the shelter because we don't have to take down the tent. Let me state the obvious: Walking in the partly sunny/partly cloudy weather with temps in the mid-60's with gentle breezes blowing is much more enjoyable than walking in the rain/mist, with temps in the low 50's and strong winds. Today was the first kind of day, our reward for hiking in 3 days of rain. This morning we had 2 creek crossings and because of all the rain, the creeks had risen and and the usual large stones that hikers step onto cross the creek were now either under water or were very wet. So we had some tense moments as we crossed and hoped we didn't slip and fall in, which we didn't! We did get our boots wet at one crossing because we had no choice but to step on a large rock with an inch of fast moving water pouring over it. We had 2 big climbs today, the first one in the cool of the morning, to the top of Kelly Knob and the second one, to the top of Bruisers Knob with the sun beating down on us. Our afternoon ridge line walk became a challenge when the trail took us along a knife edge of steeply sloping large rocks. There were several things that made this uncomfortable walking but the 2 good things were the rocks were grippy under our boots and we have great views out over the valleys and to the distant mountains! The rocks continued most of the way to our shelter, where we'll stay in our tent tonight. Wildlife today: one red eft and one fence lizard! We are seeing more birds but I couldn't name them for you. We had some cell service from the top of Kelly Knob so we stopped to post the two previous journal entries, check the email, and make some motel arrangements for our zero day in Dalesville. Our email included a note from Corey indicating that he was indeed planning on meeting up with us this Saturday and a friend or two may join him! We were able to email him back and leave a phone message with the details of where to meet us. On Saturday he will drive his car to Dalesville, park where Jim and I will spend Sunday and Monday night, and then hike about 10 miles south on the AT to meet up with us. We will all hike back to Dalesville on Sunday morning. As you might imagine, we are soooo excited about this plan and chance to see Corey. Tomorrow is 16+ miles to a small hostel in a garage. All is well.