Date: 2007-11-18
From: Brown Mountain Shelter, VA

To: Glasgow, VA
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: clear sky

We got away today about 6:45 as soon as it was light enough to see. The plan was to go 20 miles today to Glasgow from Brown Mountain Shelter. Climbing was 1457m (1648m down) in temps ranging from 3-19C. Strangely, we don't seem to notice the climbing that much, though it¢s really a lot and we've been doing it for several days in a row now. The packs were light today as we have run out of food and have to stop for re-supply in Glasgow. The trail was really good except for very deep leaves in places. They are slippery and conceal lots of hidden dangers so they slow us down a bit. There was a lovely spot for lunch on the top of Bluff Mountain so we sat in the sun for about an hour and had hot chocolate. Water supply was the usual problem so we had stopped at the Punch Bowl Shelter on the way up Bluff Mountain where there is a pond. It was not very nice-looking water but I boiled it to death. We've had worse and not expired yet.Photo by Sasquatch!Dave tried to call the Tired Feet Motel where we had planned to stay but was told the number had been discontinued. I must say I had felt very keen to shower and stay somewhere tonight so was really discouraged at the thought we would have to re-supply late in the day and return to the trail to camp. In fact, I had black thoughts about getting off the trail. Funny how little things going wrong can have such a big effect. As it turned out the motel had been taken over by new owners and was open under another name. We got a ride from the third car that passed us and I was in the shower before 4:00 pm!The motel has an attached restaurant with all-you-can-eat buffet, and this goes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. What a paradise for hungry hikers! The rooms are a bit cell-like, but quite adequate, with TV, microwave and fridge. The general store is just across the road, the library within walking distance and the laundromat two doors down the road. It is ideal for hikers. I must find out what they call themselves now as there is no name on the sign yet.Longest foot-bridge on the AT over James River into Glasgow ¢ photo by Swan/Jan MatsonWe have permission to post this great art work of Bluff Mountain by "Postcard" ¢ Mark Hughes His caption: "Bluff Mountain is not as tall as Everest, it only feels like it is!"When Lipstick asked permission to post his sketch, he wrote: ¢You may use my humble sketch of Bluff Mountain for a small fee. The fee is that you list me (Postcard) and my new site - www.theartfulhiker.com - The Artful Hiker is about to open, its actually behind plan, but will be open any day now. I'm offering my nearly 200 illustrations from my time on the AT and PCT¢. -- We're very happy to let everyone know of your fantastic talent and upcoming site! Thank you Postcard! He has a great book out too: My new book and shameless plug. It's a whimsical account of thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail through both words and pictures (Over a hundred drawings were done each night while on the trail). It's a story of equal parts Norman Rockwell humanity, New Yorker Magazine cartoon wit and Indiana Jones adventure. It also includes an important Have More Smiles In Your Miles section on what worked, what failed miserably and other techniques that helped me and the few others to pose for a photo at a sign called Katahdin. The photo was taken in the Hundred Mile Wilderness of Maine.Thank you!