Date: 2016-05-30
From: Stealth campsite on Floyd Mountain

To: Marble Springs Campsite
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: scattered clouds

We woke up to blue skies and sunshine after a long night of rain. Uncle Spider and Reptar were climbing out of their tent about the same time I climbed out of mine. Everything was soaked so there really wasn't anyplace to sit down. I shook off my tent fly and then took it off drying to get it to dry a little bit. I started packing up and decided I would eat breakfast at the Cornelius Creek Shelter on the other side of Floyd Mountain, a couple of miles away. I packed up and strapped the wet tent fly to the outside of my pack. The last 700 feet of Floyd Mountain was a tough climb, so I was glad I hadn't tried to complete it in the rain last night. I got down to Cornelius Creek Shelter and there were still several hikers there packing up to leave. I hung up my tent fly to dry and got some water from the spring. Relaxing in the the sun I nibbled on some snacks for breakfast and pulled out food for the day. I signed the shelter log, packed up and started on my way again. I planned 14 miles today to Marble Spring campsite. A couple of miles down the trail I came to Black Rocks Overlook. I climbed to the top of the rocks and got some nice pictures of the mountains with clouds hanging over the valleys below. I had good cell signal up there so was able to update a couple of Trail Journal logs I was behind on, post a picture on Facebook and send some text messages.Onward and upward I continued on to Apple Orchard Mountain, the big climb of the day at 1000 feet. The lower parts weren't too bad but the upper parts got steep and rocky which killed my sore feet. I was still fighting blisters on my right foot. On top of Apple Orchard Mountain was an FAA radar site, a reminder of my former career. Unfortunately there weren't any great views for the effort of climbing to the top and the trail immediately descended down a rocky path to the Guillotine, a large boulder suspended between two rock faces. Continuing down the trail crossed the Blue Ridge Parkway again and had a nice overlook for the tourists. I met Sticks there, a southbound Australian. I asked if he had met Down Under and he said he had met him a couple hours before. In fact he hadn't seen any Australians for months and had just met four in the last day - Down Under, Gently, Scarface, and WunJenna. The trail wound up for a short climb before descending 1100 feet to Petites Gap. I was able to get water from a spring on the way down as I had run out after the long dry stretch from Cornelius Creek. One final climb of the day stood before me, 700 feet up Highcock Knob. Once again the bottom parts weren't too bad but the upper parts were steep, rocky, and narrow. At the end of the day, 700 feet felt like 1700 feet. The climb seemed to go on and on. At the top, there was no view due to the trees, but the trail developers made sure you went to the absolute top of not one but two small rock formations at the top of the knob. The campsite was only a mile and 700 feet down now. My feet were screaming with all the rocks, but I hustled down and got to the site as quick as I could as there was thunder in the distance. I set up my tent just before the rain hit and shoved all my stuff inside. The rain came down and I munched on a few snacks for dinner in my tent, exhausted. Only 8 miles tomorrow and then I meet a friend at the James River who had generously offered " a soft bed, good food, and a place to relax". I can't wait!