Date: 2007-07-30
From: Mt Rogers NRA HQ (Partnership Shelter).

To: O'Lystery Picnic Area (VA 42) 
Miles today: 23.7

Section Hike 07-18B, Mt Rogers NRA HQ to O'Lystery Picnic Area (VA 42).Day Hike, 12.6 Miles.   Monday, 30 July 2007 - Northbound - It was another cool, foggy and wet start resulting from the rain last night. Numerous dew-covered cobwebs are spotlighted by the morning sun as they hang across the trail. When you are the first hiker on the trail, you get to clear all the cobwebs out of the way for the other hikers. There will be no real scenic views or interesting landmarks on this hike. Just a nice walk in the woods.   The AT crosses a lot of roads that are either forest service roads, VA state or US roads. A hiker is normally not over five miles from some road access. I climb up over the crest of Brushy Mountain and then I am going down again. This kind of hiking is called PUDS, Pointless Ups and Downs. I see deer all the time now and those that I come up on are not spooked off, but stand and look at you from about twenty feet away.   Stopped at Chatfield Shelter for a mid-day lunch break. I have not passed any hikers all day, but the trail register shows that three hikers spent the night in this shelter, so I am not alone out here. Move on down the ridge to Vaught Branch, a mountain stream and follow the stream for about two miles.   Towards the end of my day hike I come upon a Settlers Museum near Davis Valley. The museum had a lot of interesting information and displays. It turns out that Judy has a family line to the Davis family in this valley. Next to the trail there was a Davis Cemetery. Judy and I returned to the cemetery later to record some genealogy data for her file.    Before I could see Interstate 81, I could hear it. I ended going under the Interstate and back over a grassy field and into the woods. Soon I am at my pick up point and then we head back to look at the Davis cemetery. My feet are tired, but it was a good idea to hike this part of the trail as a day hike.   Wednesday, 1 August 2007 - 11.1 miles - Returned for the second day trip in this Section Hike. Started out over several open fields next to farmlands, complete with grazing cows and two climbs over 800 feet and one descent of 900 feet. When you count in the many small climbs and descents on my hike, I would have a total of about 5000 feet of elevation change with very few views.    Had to do some rock acrambling going through Tilson Gap and when I went over Big Walker Mountain. Once on the top, the trail went along a nice long flat ridge. Finally met a couple of southbound section hikers. I have now entered a wilderness corridor set aside for the AT. The AT is the longest National Park in the USA. There is still a bit of private owned land along the AT and I am climbing over several stiles to cross over barb wire fences.    Come to the North Fork Holston River, as I round the trail I see a hiker bathing in the stream. He is just about done, so I wait until he comes out of the pool he was in and then I approach on the trail. We chat and I continue on my way to give him some privacy. I am suddenly upon O'Lystery Picnic Area and at the same time, I spot a big bunch of blueberries. I eat and pick at the same time and then go to meet Judy.