Date: 2006-06-06
From: Brown Mountain Shelter

To: The Priest Mountain
Miles today: 23.2

Well after sleeping with one eye open for bears I woke early around 5:15. I had to pee really badly and I finally couldn¢t hold it any longer so I got up and thought about starting to hike right then. But I didn¢t want to do anything stupid like that so I got back in my hammock to "snooze" for a while.I had 2 miles to go uphill before the road where I needed to hitch into Buena Vista. (Bee-u-na) My plan was to leave with Dirt Diva and Compass Rose so I could hitch with them. (for some reason people are more likely to stop for young women than any other hikers) but I hit the snooze button a little too much. I got up right when they were leaving. I packed up and headed out around 8:30ish. I made real good time to the road and went to work. It only took me 4 non-semis going by to catch a ride. However this took about 15-20 minutes. The guy said he couldn¢t take me all the way but he could take me close. I figured that was better than nothing so I hopped in. He said it's real hard to hitch from there, so I guess I¢m lucky he came by and took me as close as he did. He dropped me off right at the Blue Ridge Parkway and said it was about 2 miles down the paved hill. I figured it was better than 2 miles up hill and rocky. After I started walking, I dug in my pack and pulled out my cell phone to see if I had service. I did, so I made a few calls walking down this windy mountain road with cars buzzing by me. After walking about a mile or so I was in mid-conversation with my dad and this truck comes up next to me and stops in the middle of the road. I look and it was the same guy from before. He tells me to hop in. I basically slam my phone shut, probably making my dad think I was getting attacked or some thing, and head into town. He dropped me off at a gas station where I got some supplies to get me a few more days to Waynesboro, then go next door to Hardee¢s. Now usually I don¢t eat at Hardee¢s for 2 reasons. 1. I think that they are the reason for obesity in the south. 2. I think their commercials make all men look like idiots. But since I have a hiker appetite I figured I would give it a whirl. My whole experience was crazy. Long story short I never knew working at Hardee¢s could be so tough and I am glad that I stayed in school and got my diploma.I ran into Dirt Diva and Compass Rose while eating and they said they were going to call a guy to get a ride back to the trail. Once back on the trail I had to finish that climbing that I started this morning. The climb was kind of hard on a full stomach.Mid afternoon I passed the 800 mile marker. I stopped, cheered, and kept walking. For some reason I wasn¢t as excited as the 100, 200, or 500 mile markers. Maybe it had to do with that the 700 mark was less than a week ago. I kept trucking along till I got to this field with a giant tree in it with a rope swing hanging from it. It looked like something out of a movie. Dirt Diva and Compass Rose were under the tree with Blind Monkey on the swing. I bring up the 800 mark and how the 700 was a week ago. Compass Rose says that we were together at the 700 too. Then dirt diva chimes in and says yeah that¢s where we saw you fall. Everyone got a good laugh and pressed on. I pushed on farther than the rest of the group I had seen all day. Since today¢s date is 6/6/06 I figured I better go somewhere safe to camp. I decided to camp at the top of the next mountain. The spot was perfect and it was right on the top of The Priest Mountain. I set up camp and was eating some combos around the small fire I built. All of a sudden I hear this large animal take off running in the woods, then stop. I hop up to see if I can see it, but all I see is the eyes reflecting off my light. Once I got a clear look at it, it was a doe. We had a stand off moment then it started coming towards me. It took a few small steps and got close. I¢m not sure what to do but remember I have a giant log in one hand and my knife in the other. It started coming closer, than stopped. Maybe I was going to get to touch it? But all that I could think of is a clip on the internet of a guy getting attacked by a sweet looking deer. So I yell at the same time she ran off. 23.2 miles, a re-supply and several other crazy unforgettable events, it¢s just another day on the Appalachian Trail.