Date: 2009-05-25
From: Pearisburg, VA Holiday Motor Lodge

To: War Spur Shelter
Miles today: 8.1
Weather: light rain

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY AND THANKS TO ALL MY COMRADES IN ARMS THAT DIDN'T RETURN HOME. I HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN YOU.I didn't sleep well last night.We got a ride to route 42 and proceeded South back to Pearisburg. We crossed seven stiles in the first mile as we went into and out of a private pasture several times. Into a Rhododendron Thicket and then into a hardwood forest. I knew immediately that something was amiss. This just didn't look like a spring forest. It was overcast and I thought it had begun raining. Thats what it sounded like, drops on the forest floor. There were drops alright but not of rain. Millions of Gypsy Moth Caterpillars were munching their way through the forest and dropping their waste onto the forest floor, and there was so much of it, it sounded like rain. The floor was littered with bits and pieces of green leaves as the wormy army cut through the leaves, chunks of the leaf fell away from the tree. It looked like a confetti parade with only green confetti. The trees were looking bare like it was fall instead of spring. This forest was being devistated. I stepped on as many as I could as I walked along. Caterpillars were on our packs, clothing and skin as we made our way along the trail. We walked through many silks with bits of leaf dangeling in front of us like a Halloween game. As we left the infected area we did a thourough search of our selves and each other to be sure we didn't take any caterpillars with us to a different part of the forest. We sure didn't want to help transport them to new and healthy forests. I tripped once and instinctively put my poles out to catch myself. This seemed like a better idea than doing a face plant on some rocks. Never the less when I caught my full weight on my poles it sent a shock to my ribs and I knew I was back at square one of the healing process. Intense pain for a while definitely took my breath away.There were low clouds all day and I passed many NOBO's on my trek south. Had to answer the same questions all day about why I was going South. I was in sight of the shelter when a heavy downpour began. I wasn't soaked but I was wet by the time I got under the shelters overhang. It rained hard for quite some time. It took all day to go the eight miles and I was tired when I did finally get there.I am wondering if I am regressing in my conditioning because it took all day to go the eight miles.There was a nest of baby flycatchers on the center upright beam at the front of the shelter and mom and dad were busy trying to keep everyone fed. Our presence made them very hesitant to go to the nest with their beaks full of moths, worms, and other juicy birdy tidbits.Some people understand what it means to share a shelter and others just don't get it. It was dry in the shelter. People had their dry equipment already laid out and some would come in and carefully get out of their wet clothes and store their gear where it would not affect others. Other hikers just barge in without any effort to contain water and flop down without a care for the general shelter well being. Don't want to mention names but if they are reading, they know who they are.With the overcast and rain it got dark early so it was good that I got all my chores done and got ready for bed. Wrote a lot by the light of my headlamp. Was having a lot of discomfort with my ribs. Noticed my feet were sore too. Will look at them in the morning.See you on the trail.Nice Lenses