Date: 2004-08-26
From: Ridge on Peters Mt

To: War Spur Shelter
Miles today: 22.0
Weather: overcast clouds

The slight breeze continues as I hit the trail about 7:30 munching on a trail bar. I'll have a bagel and peanut butter at Pine Swamp Branch Shelter down the way. The AT runs along the Virginia/West VA border. I'm not sure if it actually crosses into W. Va so at a junction with the Groundhog Trail, I hike down it a short ways presumably into W. Virgina. I don't believe I have ever set foot in that state so now I can add it to the list. Also, I have decided to end this year's AT hike on Saturday just past the Audie Murphy Monument at Trout Creek. He's the WWII hero who I remember when I was a kid as being in a few movies too. And my-take-it easy plan goes out the window as it will take two solid hiking days plus a half day to reach Trout Creek, just past the monument. Pine Swamp shelter has water and a fireplace, mmmm a neat spot to spend a winter night. And even more interesting is that it is dedicated to the memory of Robert Trimpi 1951-1969. A Vietnam casualty I believe. There for the grace of circumstance goes I. Wars are hell on young guys with a full life ahead of them. We like to think they didn't die in vain but like today's Iraq fighting, I am not sure what Robert died for in Nam. George Bush like Lyndon Johnson sure didn't face any bullets when he was young. Why do we listen to them and their bravado? Sorry, enuff of that. After an >1,000' foot climb I come to the waterless Bailey Gap Shelter. But I take a break, use the privy and read the shelter book. Then I set out for the oddly named War Spur Shelter. I figure it's only 9 miles away so I'll make it in less thant 4 hours as the elevation profile looks pretty level. Oooh was I wrong. The trail turns very rocky. A great area to turn an ankle. The trail runs across some rock outcroppings as it winds along the side of the ridge. And just when I think I am thru with the rocks, there are more. The soreness returns to my feet. And I don't find much water along the way. A campsite 3 miles before War Spur only has a drip of water from a pipe. I pass on it. This is very un ATlike for me. Conversely, as the trail drops to War Spur, I am quite impressed with the excellent condition of the trail. Thanks, I think, to the Roanoke AT Club. And I know this has been a long day as it seems I will never complete the last three miles of today's hike, even if it is good trail. And like yesterday, I haven't seen any other hikers today. But, while I sat by a road taking a break earlier, a car passed and the people waved so I have had my human contact for the day. While hiking, I start thinking again about those Olympic beach volleyball players. Plus, I know I am a couple of days behind a hiker called Denebola, and her hiking stick Arcturis, who faithfully write in most of the shelter's journals. I begin imagining that she is a beach volleyball player and hikes in that uniform. Unfortunately she seems to hike at my speed so I can't catch her. It's amazing the hallucinating effects of fresh air. At War Spur Shelter after supper, I very much enjoy lying on the picnic table, enjoying the cricket and frog sounds, and watching the fading outline of the trees as night covers the forest. I often walk too hurridly during the day so these waning minutes of the day are savored. Everything is done and I can just relax. It's much better than Miller time (tho one would be welcome).