Date: 2008-10-19
From: Harpers Creek Shelter

To: .6 miles past Dripping Rock Spring
Miles today: 13.3

I would have liked to stay and chat with the people at the shelter. Actually they were the kind of people I would have been delighted to hike with for a few days. They might even have liked Holden Evening Prayer which I carry with me. However I got in too late last night to do it: they were not continuing on the AT and I had many miles to go today so I packed up and said goodby and hiked up the hill.It was quite a hill, not quite as high as the Priest but almost, and even steeper in spots. It reminded me of hiking to lake Mildrd in the Olympics although it wasn't quite that bad. I actually made pretty good time and was on top by 11:00. There was another boy scout troop there preparing to go down what I had just come up. I am glad I went up instead of down some of those rocky parts.It is in going down hill that I am slower. It seemed to take me forever to reach Maupin Shelter for a late lunch. I was wondering if I was going to make my intended destination for the day.I met a few weekend hikers and while I was at the shelter for lunch a group of exchange students? from many countries showed up. They were somewhat amazed that I was going to hike to Pennsylvania and had been on the trail since September 25. They were fun to talk to.I headed out somewhat worried about getting to Dripping Rock. Then the trail really cooperated for a couple miles and I did 2 miles in one hour which is really good for me. I began to think I would make it to Dripping Rock easily.The profile on the map which visually shows elevation gain and loss made the next 4 miles look pretty easy. But it was a teaser. It all depends on how many rocks are in the trail. They can make a relatively level looking trail very difficult. And there were A LOT of rocks. I clambered over and down and up again over rock after rock.I think I read somewhere that the AT used to go where the Blue Ridge Parkway now goes. But in the game of politics, the trail lost. It was displaced by the parkway and now runs through some less desireable areas like the mountains of rocks that were mine to climb all over today. I walked along mentally cussing out the rocks and the politics that resulted in such a challenging trail.Both going down hill and walking over lots of rocks makes me slow as I am trying very hard to be carefull and not fall and break anthing. I need no more injuries.In this section I met 2 SOBO thru-hikers, Bear Walking and Cripple. Cripple was a very healthy young red haired, red bearded guy. I did not ask how he got his name. I had seen Bear Walking's journal before starting this hike so it was fun to meet him on the trail. He wondered if we were in Virginia or Pennsyvania because there were so many rocks. (The AT in Pennsylvania is infamous for all its rocks.)I finally reached the road and a spring right at the road. I filtered my 3 liters of water and then walked on for about 20 minutes and look for a place to camp.Off to the left of the trail in the woods I saw 2 people I thought were cowboy camping. I called out to them to say hello and they invited me to take their spot as they were about to leave. They were dayhikers. And they had built a small fire in a fire ring.Taylor and BJ were a very nice young couple and we chatted as they got their things together and I started unloading mine. They will even call the Tree Streets Inn for me and let them know I am coming and to come to Rockfish Gap to get me at 6:00 if I do not get to the visitor center to call them before it closes at 5. Thank you, Taylor and BJ!So I had a place for my tent and my water and even a cozy little fire to sit beside while I ate my macroni and cheese. I really lucked out. And now to sleep.