Date: 2023-04-15
From: Va 625/FS222 ÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ Poor Valley Rd

To: Va 610. [Old Rich Valley Rd]
Miles today: 9.4

Last year [11 May], after coming down more than 2000 feet for Chestnut Knob, my wife & granddaughter thought I was too weak to continue on the much lower hills to the South. So I didn¢t get to do the 1.5 miles to Lick Creek, where the bridge is out. I didn¢t see why I couldn¢t have gotten to Groseclose next day, or at least to Ceres that evening, where Va. 42 is a well-paved 2-lane road. Our locating in Marion will be convenient from I-81 to Damascus, but for the first couple of days this year it involves multiple times traversing that long & winding road across Big Walker. But then we have to add the long & winding gravel road, Va 625, 4 miles in from Rt 42, then another mile as Forest Service road 222 before getting to the trailhead. And back!This morning, we saw a man walking near his cabin, who told Susan how to get out a slightly better way, by continuing on Rd. 222. Still gravel roads, which she doesn¢t like.At least, this time, I was more prepared to ford Lick Creek. I brought sandals so I wouldn¢t have to walk in wet shoes. I don¢t mind wet shoes after fords in Maine because the water is so cold, but I wasn¢t ready to do this one barefoot either. It turned out to be level gravel ¢ no big or sharp rocks ¢ I still would¢t enjoy it barefoot.As I was changing footwear, Jersey Mike was approaching from the other side. He just took off his shoes & waded in. I think my feet aren¢t as tough as his. It wasn¢t at all difficult with sandals. The Trail then got busier than I¢d expected [much nearer to the ¢bubble¢]: I soon met Joker, Leap-Frog, Yogi, Brute, Wizard [NZ]. After a few slight uphills, & cutting a blow-down across the Trail, I arrived at Knot Maul shelter for a bit of lunch, meeting Bavaria [Ger] & Pepper, Alabama Chowder, 2-Sticks, Zed, Beard & Ripley, DB & Sour Patch, there & thru-out the afternoon.  From the shelter, it was only 2 miles to Rt. 42, then another mile to Rt. 610, my pick-up point. There are 2 new hostels at Rt. 42, but I didn¢t have time to check them out. Shortly after Rt. 42, I passed what¢s left of an old mill on the North Branch Houston River [a pretty sight] then began hiking up a couple of hundred feet on some long switchbacks. I could see a couple of speedy-looking day-hikers starting up the hill just behind me; so my challenge was to stay ahead of them. By the time I got to the top, they had disappeared. Then I was going down gradually thru pastures, passing a turn-off to a birding trail heading North. I got to the road just before 5:00. A car was parked there, but not Susan¢s.No cell service in this area; so I had to stay near the road, with no idea when she might arrive.  Not much shade or place to sit [lots of poison ivy] . After a while, an older man & a teen-ager came down the hill to the South. They were part of a Christian group from Indiana, doing day-hikes in the area; so we got to talk for awhile as they waited for the others. When they arrived, they were concerned that I would be waiting there alone. After a while, they gave me a can of pop & a blessing & left. Susan arrived after 6:30, after trying a different route that turned confusing [too many roads with¢Poor Valley¢ in their name].