Date: 2016-05-14
From: Campsite near Spring before Cedar Cliffs

To: Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 15.5

This morning we awoke to bright sunshine and anticipation of a good day of hiking. While packing gear this morning I found myself walking some 50 feet to the magnificent overlook of the Shenandoah Valley to just spent a few more moments staring at its beauty. Meanwhile I was concerned about how my lack of appetite last night would affect my hike today. I was still not too hungry this morning. In anticipation of my appetite returning I put more food than usual in my pockets from which I could readily get to it while on the move.Today¢s plan was to head to the Paul Wolfe Shelter where we would be well placed to roll on into Waynesboro on Sunday morning. The weather report for today predicted afternoon thunderstorms of short duration between 3 and 5 pm. It would be great to get to the shelter before that happens. First stop today, a quick mile plus into the day, was the Blue Ridge Parkway and Dripping Rock Springs. We got there in short order. From there we would soon begin the day¢s first and only climb of any significance over Humpback Mountain. This is a very popular day hiking location and both of us looked forward to meeting day hikers. From the outset Ed was mentioning how nice it would be to get some trail magic today. I, too, was hoping for the same as a way to get more food/calories into me from the depletion of energy I expected today due to the bonking yesterday. Sure enough about a mile of so past the road crossing and the spring, we came upon a cooler placed beside the AT. Ed actually say a man walking away from it along a side trail and a house was nearby. We guessed that he lived there and maybe regularly provided magic to hikers. We each enjoyed an ice cold fruit juice. My energy took a huge boost with this too. Starting up Humpback we met two guys hiking south. One of them said we were in for a difficult climb. We asked him how far he was going. He had the difficult climb up Three Ridges. After reaching the top of Humpback we both thought he was in for a rough day as Humpback was a piece of cake. At the overlook where one could gaze upon the Wintergreen Resort we began seeing day hikers. Actually the first group were young men out for an overnight. We noticed that each of them had brand new equipment. Even their clothing looked brand new. They were on a good hike to break in new stuff and get a feel for backpacking.With a what seemed like a million switchbacks we headed toward the Humpback visitor center. Further along as Ed was a bit ahead of me, I caught up as he was giving advice to three young women day hikers out heading for the Humpback overlook. They seemed completely confused as Ed showed them the trail on a paper map! Google maps and Siry all the way! Without phone reception these millennials are probably lost. We wished them well and headed on. After Humpback it was basically easy onward to the Shelter. And of course it began raining at 2 instead of the predicted 3. Rain it did for sure¢¦in buckets accompanied by wind. A lot of wind. We had to quickly don rain jackets and pack covers before making the mostly downhill push to the shelter, which we predicted was about 1.5 miles away. By this time, we were actually in a group of about 5 hikers all heading to the shelter. One tends to gain energy and speed in rain and all of us headed at a fast and careful pace onward. The trail became slippery in spots quickly so caution was necessary. I was the last of the 5 to reach the shelter, which was full of people escaping the wind and rain. Many of them were trail club members out for weekend trail maintenance on this section of trail. Immediately upon arrival and I as usual was behind Ed, I told him of a plan I had concocted on the way down in the rain. Being still early in the day and with only 5 miles of what was supposed to be easy trail ahead, I wanted to push on into Waynesboro today. Ed liked the idea and the local trail club folks confirmed we could do this rather easily. It sure would be nice to sleep in a dry and warm motel and to eat a nice meal that I didn¢t have to cook. Ed too could use the time to re-supply as he is heading north while I¢m heading home. Getting in today for me would also mean no issues with showering before the train ride home. After a brief rest of 15 minutes or so we struck out. The rain stopped soon thereafter and we took off raincoats for the time being. As it worked out we saw no more rain, but the temps took a nose dive. We made the 5 miles to Rockfish Gap in just under 2.5 hours and it was nice hiking. At the trailhead local volunteer shuttle drivers post phone numbers. In a short time, we had one coming to get us. In the meantime, the temps and wind about froze us before we could quickly de-pack and don rain jackets/wind breakers. The shuttle driver recommended a dinner place when Ed described we wanted some good meat, good beer and a good salad. At the motel we quickly showered and headed into the downtown area about .5 miles away to Jakes Place. True to the recommendation we found a great menu, very good list of locally brewed beer and a nice sized salad. Desert wasn¢t shabby either. I had the house special of a sourdough donut topped with whipped cream, caramel and chocolate drizzles and one scoop of vanilla ice cream.Back at the motel sleep would come easy to tired legs after 15+ miles today. Tomorrow I will get my gear ready for the train easily in time to be picked up by my shuttle at 1:30 for the trip to the Staunton, VA Amtrak Station.Blessings,