Date: 2021-08-20
From: Big Walker Creek campsite

To: Saunders Shelter
Miles today: 24.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Last night¢s rain tapered off about 8 o¢clock and stayed away the rest of the evening. It did get a little chilly around 3 and I pulled out my top quilt for the first time since I was in Maine. Quiksilver and I both woke up with the same idea: quick pack up and hike one tenth of a mile to the Wise Shelter and their handy privy!Morning ablutions completed, we hiked out at 6:45 for the climb up to 5475 feet in the Grayson Highlands. The trail this morning put me in mind of other places on my hike: we had Pennsylvania rocks, Vermont water sources, Connecticut/New York waterfall trails, New Hampshire mossy woods, and Maine rock slabs and cloud walking. It rained on and off, either that or the clouds were so thick it was like walking through the rain itself. My beard was dripping most of the morning from the accumulated moisture. We did get our pony encounter, though!  There was a mare with two foals standing in the middle of the trail as well as a few other ponies just off trail in the brush. They were pint-sized cute and didn¢t seem to fussed with our presence. Later I saw more ponies as well as some grazing Longhorn Cattle in a pasture above 5000 feet. So I left the highlands feeling like I got to check the trail experience box with gusto. Quiksilver and I split up shortly after, as he hiked a side trail to the summit of Mt Rogers, Virginia¢s highest point. He¢s been collecting state high points along the trail in a semi-competition with a neighbor back home. Being as there was no views from the summit (clouds or no: it¢s tree covered) I declined the extra 1.2 miles and hiked on. The afternoon trail descending from the highlands was mostly annoying. A mixture of rocks, green tunnel and stinging nettles overhanging the trail. Ah well, bad trail makes the good trail even more appreciated and I still was able to see the wild ponies. This is fine. I stopped about 1:45 at Lost Mountain shelter after hiking just shy of 18 miles, where we had agreed to rendezvous and determine if we were going to hike anymore. Quiksilver arrived at 2:15 and after cogitating for 15 minutes, we decided to tack on another 6.5 miles so as to be closer to town Saturday. Thankfully, most of the last 6.5 miles was on good trail (thanks, contrast!) so I covered the distance in two hours and 15 minutes. There was even a little sun shining down when I arrived so I was able to pretend to dry my clothes out a bit. Hammock set up and water retrieved from about .1 miles away, I sat down to a repast of a peanut butter tortilla wrap, mixed nuts, and a chocolate almond butter packet. I also chatted with Rocket Man, a really late starting NOBO lad who seems serious about completing a thru hike. He¢ll have to flip up to Maine eventually before they close Baxter State Park in October and then hike south. But I like his chances. Third day in a row I don¢t have enough cell signal to post any pictures, but I should be able to put some up when we get to Damascus tomorrow morning. Hope everyone reading this is well, and I really appreciate that you are taking the time to follow along. We passed the 500 miles to go mark today as well as the 1700 miles hiked. Soon, we¢ll be in our last month of hiking. We¢re not counting our chickens just yet, that¢ll wait until Georgia!