Date: 2008-03-19
From: Rte 635

To: Rte 641
Miles today: 17.6

Wednesday, March 19, 2008Stony Creek Valley 635 to 641, hiking south, solo, 17.6 milesGoodbye and thanks to the Asst Mgr at WalMart.We set the Element at 641. It¢s a wild and blustery day. Temps in 50¢s.Goodbye dear friends Purple Rose, Purple Sherpa and Dixie. See you Rose in another month when we tackle the Smokies with Randy, Memere and Gray Feathers. This has been a great hike! Thanks for putting up with my funny food choices as I try to lose some more weight before I have to buy that ¢Mother-of-the-Groom¢ dress.Start 8AM.More trailside wintergreen. A beautiful spray of berries, I can¢t resist getting down on the ground to photo.A tree fell on the roof of the Pine Swamp Branch Shelter since I was last there, closing it until repairs are made later this year. No register.Winds are stronger, coming in thunderous gusts. A front must be coming through. Sky is ominous.Fresh trail work in the Wilderness area. Looks as if hand saws and axes were used.10AM in a rocky area I lose the blazes. Then I find one which is oriented as if the trail goes to the right. I walk all around to the right and find nothing more.Blowing leaves obscure the treadway. It seems to dead end. Finally I decide to explore ahead and a little to the left. There¢s the trail.In this section, to my eye, some blazes seem to be painted off to the side of the line of travel instead of perpendicular to it. Confusing me. Or maybe I'm confused and the blazes are fine.Crosswind from the left is now so strong I have to tuck my poles under my right arm or carry them in my right hand because if I hold one in my left hand, it blows in front of my legs.Crosswind from the left is blowing me into the trees on my right. I stand against a tree until the wind dies a bit, then walk to the next tree, waiting again for the wind to abate before walking again.It¢s started to rain, ambient temps are not cold but the driving water is.Sky to the east is now black.4 turkey buzzards fly off at my approach, circling until I pass by where they were, then landing.It¢s not until noon that I reach the Groundhog Trail, which means I¢m making terrible time. I¢m carrying my sleeping bag etc in case I have to stay the night at Rice Field Shelter.12:25 I reach a grassy wide path. Symms Gap? Maybe I can make up some time here.Another which-way-does-the-trail-go dilemma. No blazes that I can see. Last time I chose to go right and was wrong. This time I choose left and I¢m wrong. The law of averages says my next 2 choices will be right. Remember this! 2:15 at the powerline. A great photo of the blaze, tower and weather. I¢ve got the sound of thunderous wind-rain blasts on my recorder. Wish I could somehow attach this dramatic audio to the photo.2:35 I¢m at a stile that has an open area next to it.3:15 I¢m at Rice Field Shelter just as the downpour starts. Reminder to me to look up smallish birds, black backs, white undersides, not juncos.This shelter has a register and it contains a gem!2-24-2008 3:42PM Arrived Rice Field Shelter. I thru-hiked in 2001 and did not stay here. Went on to campsite north approximately 5 miles on. Very good mountaintop spring. This site has a very special meaning to me. My great-great grandfather owned this land prior to the Civil War. He enlisted in the Confederate army, serving in Co B, 30 Virginian sharpshooter. Saw action in the valley in 1864. After the war he returned and due to heavy taxation, occupation, etc, he eventually lost his land. My great-great grandmother was born here, Lou Rice. My great grandmother, Minnie Lou Rice, was also born here. I remember her. My great-great grandfather was born 1845 and died 1882. 37 year old. He is buried on this mountain. I can surely see why they loved this mountain and more especially this farm.This day was great. Windy ¢ cool ¢ overcast but a wonderful day to hike and be at this place at this time. I wish you a safe and wonderful adventure. ET on the VA AT.South of the shelter I hear a loud, YO! HELLO! I look around. YO! It¢s Tabasco, one of the cheeriest, handsomest hikers I¢ve yet met on the AT. He wants his wife to understand what he¢s experiencing on the AT. I take a picture of him with his own camera, and one with mine which I¢m posting. Safe travels, Tabasco.Out safely at 6-something. I call Purple Rose and Purple Sherpa to let them know that. They arrived safely home about 2:30.Heading out tonight to Troutville for 2-3 zero days. Then I¢ll hike solo from Troutville to Fish Hatchery Rd. Probably won¢t get to a journaling place for another couple weeks. Thanks for following along. Happy Hiking!