Date: 2013-05-04
From: Stealth camp at VA650

To: Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Day Fifty Seven - Stealth camp by road to Partnership ShelterIt rained a little during the night again but only my tarp got wet. As I packed up I couldn't help but laugh at my hammock situation the night before. The tree was still on a angle held only by the tops of surrounding trees. As we headed out I was so thankful that we did the extra two miles uphill last night and didn't have to do that today. I was tired all day long and my feet were still sore from the new shoes. A local baptist church left us awesome trail magic (root beer, snacks and even matches, condiments and first aid stuff) and lawn chairs to enjoy it on along the trail in the woods. It's amazing how something unexpected like that can change your day. Thank you! As we were walking away joking about leaving the empty root beer cans with the names of the three hikers behind us on them (we had taken the last of the soft drinks) Jonathan the ridge runner arrived and we chatted away with him for awhile. Break time ended and it was time to hike again. The trail was a little rocky and really hurt my feet. I couldn't wait to stop for lunch just to give them a rest. When we did stop I hung my tarp out to dry and ate as much food as I could (tomorrow is a town day)! After lunch we saw Jonathan again at a forest service road, he was picking up broken glass where a bunch of locals hang out. He was telling us about his job an what types of things he has to do. Tomorrow he has to hike in duff (dead leaves that you put in the privies to make stuff decompose faster) several miles to a shelter that isn't near a road. Thank you for all the work you do to maintain the trails Jonathan! As we left him he told us we only had four more miles and one more up. He was right about the mileage but way off about the ups. He did say that I would like the last stretch to the shelter and he was right. The trail went through rhododendron bushes and there were several streams we crossed. Unfortunately my feet were killing me. I actually stopped and wore my crocs for the last mile. As we arrived at the shelter I noticed a beautiful section of pine trees overlooking the lake below and asked Hobo if he wanted to camp here. We went to check out the shelter and surroundings, it was packed and there were a field of tents on the other side and a big campfire already blazing. We went back to the beautiful pines and started setting up. We were soon joined by several other tents and Backtrack and his hammock (he says I can try it out later). Partnership shelter is famous for its showers (they are cold though) and for the ability to have pizza delivered. It is right next to Mount Rogers Visitor Centre and there is a phone outside the building that you can use for delivery. Of course we had to follow tradition and order pizza! We sat with Betterman and Smothers to enjoy our feast away from the crowd at the shelter. I bet there are more than forty people here tonight. I am really surprised because I thought most people would have preferred to go into town but according to Backtrack this is where the party is at. As I am typing this Crash and Rocky just hiked in and will be my neighbour for the night. Rocky is in love with Melkie and Crash has been teasing him all day about catching up to him tonight.Confessions of a thruhiker:"Maybe it's the power bars that are making me stink."Trouble'Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wilderness is a necessity; and that mountain parks and reservations are useful not only as fountains of timber and irrigating rivers, but as fountains of life' John Muir Our National Parks