Date: 2003-05-18
From: Niday Shelter

To: VA 624 and Catawba
Miles today: 15.9

Today was one of the more interesting and might I add more uncomfortable days I've spent on the trail. It poured relentlessly last night and we were happy to be in the Niday Shelter. It stopped when we got up around 6:30 a.m. but it was very cool/cold in the low 40's. Something else, I could hear a roar coming from a tiny little creek that we obtained our water from the night before which told us we might have some problems at some crossings. Beekpr and I hit the trail at 7:15 a.m. with the intention of getting to Catawba, VA to spend the night to dry out our gear and especially our boots that have been wet for 3 days.In just a little over a mile we hiked down to our low point on the trail that day at a road crossing VA 621/Craig Creek Valley and came to the bridge spanning Craig Creek. The only problems was the creek was in flood condition and raging and 200 feet beyond the bridge was completely flooded with fast moving muddy water. The choices were wade through from the other side of the bridge or go back to the shelter and wait for the flooding to subside. We chose the former. Beekpr put his sandles on and I put on my New Balance 805's and carrying our boots very carefully felt our way through rushing cold water that came over my knees at times. Beekpr got to the other side first and had me stop in midstream to get a picture-hope it comes out. After we crossed the flooded section we walked another 100 yards to another section of the river where the foot bridge was flooded on the far end and hit by a log which appraently caused a small dip in the middle of the foot bridge and turned the steps on the other end to the side. We made our way over this bridge very slowly and eased ourselves down into the water on the flooded side and sloshed our way out. We walked about 1/2 mile further like this just in case we had to ford another flooded area and when we finally started to ascend the 1,300 feet up the next mountain we stopped and put our boots on. About this time it started to rain. With the vegetation so close to the trail it was near impossible not to brush against it, and get wetter with each step. For most of the day we walked in the clouds with no views, but we knew that Catawba would be at eh end of this wet day. On the first mountain we climbed we cane to a sign pointing to a memorial for WWII's most decorated man, jAudie Murphy, who dies near the spot in an airplane crash many years ago. round the memorial were folwers and American flags, and in a tree just over the monument was the texaas state flag, his home state. It was good to see people haven't forgotten our heros.We came off this mountain and immediately went up the next one, which goes up to the popular Dragons Tooth area. The rain at this point really came down hard for the 7 miles this portion of the hike would cover. The top of this mountain stretches along a ridge for a few miles and the trail runs along a knife edge in many spots, and goes from one rock climb to the next higher one as you're hiking the ridge. The wind picked up and the rain was soaking us, and at this point we were both rather miserable and wanted to get down from the mountain. After crossing what seemed like endless rock climbes we started our descent over some huge wet rocks making going down hazardous. Most of the last 7 miles our boots became totally saturated again, and for most of that part of the hike water was squishing out of our boots with every step. We were never so happy as when we finally came out to VA 624 and walked about .4 mile to a grocery store. We looked like 2 drowned rats going into the store and we both poured a cup of coffee. It felt great just wrapping our hands around the warm cups. We didn't know where we would stay and tried to call a local B&B, but no one answered. Fortunately for us there was a trail angel in the store buying gas when we arrived. He offered to drive us where we wanted to go, nd when we found out he lives in Salem, Va., about 10 miles away, we asked about accomodations there. He told us they have many motels and took us to one of them to dry out. We're taking a zero day tomorrow to resupply and finish drying out our gear. God, that shower felt good!Our trail angel, Dave, is picking us up Tuesday morning on his way to work and will drop us off at the trail head. ll we can say is thanks Dave, we can't tell you how much we appreciate your help.