Date: 2018-11-02
From: Laurel Creek Shelter

To: AT and Allegheny Trail junction
Miles today: 21.0

The wind died down before midnight and only a few sprinkles overnight. When I packed up this morning the rain fly was dry. It was warm enough out that I didn't have to wear a jacket. I saw someone packing up at the shelter's picnic table but couldn't see who it was. I was on the trail at 6:12. Right away a thousand foot climb in the dark. Near the top of Kelly Knob it was foggy. Using the headlamp in the fog made it look like I had glasses on and they were fogging up. But soon enough I was on top and it was daylight. I had to take my long sleeve shirt off coming up the hill but on top it was a little breezy and had to put it back on. Once out of the wind I was back to just the sleeveless. The trail was well graded for miles since the shelter, and travel was easy. After 10 a.m. the sun was out, despite the weather report that it was to rain today. I crossed VA 632 and was coming close to the next shelter. Then in the thick Rhododendrons I saw an archery hunter walking ahead of me. I was concerned he might get mad at me hiking while he was hunting but when he saw me he was very friendly. He let me go by. I went past the War Spur Shelter without stopping. Then a long well-graded 1,800' climb up the mountain. On top of the mountain the trail traveled through open woods for a few miles. A doe stood near, watching me as I went by. I arrived at Wind Rock just before 1 p.m. As I stood on the rocks I could see to the west rain was approaching. Just after I returned to where I placed my backpack it started to rain but didn't last. A short time later two men in their 70s came up the trail with backpacks and muzzleloaders. One guy told me they are too old to get up early enough to get here to hunt so they are going to camp out. Muzzleloader season starts tomorrow. Around 2:15 the rain started again. I put my rain gear on. I didn't use my rain pants nor my poncho. I thought if it got bad I'll get the rest of the rain gear out at the next shelter in 45 minutes. The rain got heavier about the same time the trail got rock bound. It was slow and slippery walking. I came to Bailey Gap Shelter about 3 p.m. I hung up my wet gear. Schooner is finishing this section near here and I was expecting him to go by me as he usually does. Since I didn't see him I left a nice note in the shelter's register. I left a note for Charm and Screech Owl too. Rain was heavy and loud on the steel roof. I got all my gear on and headed out. I wanted to get beyond the next shelter. My plan is to reach Pearisburg tomorrow afternoon so I needed to get as close as I could. The rain slowed in the two hours it took to get to the next shelter. At Pine Swamp Branch Shelter three guys were there. A fire was going in the shelter's inside fireplace. Two guys were going north and Smitty was going south, though I don't know if he is a thru hiker. It was 5:30. I continued up the Peters Mountain through the thick Rhododendrons. The trail was covered in multicolored leaves as well as the rocks in the stream nearby. The trail climbed on short well graded switchbacks up the mountain. As it began to get dark the climb eased off. I waited as long as I could to use the headlamp. It was foggy and a light mist was falling. A breeze chilled my gloveless hands. I finally had to turn on my headlamp and again it looked as if I was wearing foggy glasses. At 7:11 I came to my destination at the junction of the Appalachian and Allegheny Trails. It seemed hard looking in the fog and mist and dark for a flat place to camp. I finally started putting up my tent. I quickly got in and took my boots off. My socks were steamy. I pulled out my stove and began to warm some water as well as heat the tent. It was 7:35. I made mashed potatoes. I'm now keeping a bag of instant mashed potatoes handy in case of a cold day or being short on food. Water dropping from the trees and a wind are the only noise I hear. Tomorrow a town day and Sunday a zero day. Something to look forward to on this raw wet evening.