Date: 2015-05-12
From: Marion, VA

To: 549.2 campsite, VA
Miles today: 17.7

Even in the warmth of a somewhat comfortable hotel bed, my internal clock had me awake just after 6:30am. Rock Boat was already up and struggling with something fierce in the bathroom. I turned on the TV and found myself relieved that I won't have to put up with the worthless garbage that is the Patriots/Brady ordeal. It's just a game and this next season is the Colts and Packers to lose anyways. Prayers are with you, Nepal.After another round of showers, Rock Boat placed a call for a shuttle back up to the trailhead at 9:00am. The shuttle finally arrived at 9:30am and we were being dropped off at the Mt. Rogers Recreational Area visitors center by 9:45am. Despite running late this morning and delaying our return to the trail, all trail towns could learn something from the transit system offered by Marion, VA to both its residents and hikers alike.Back on the trail again with heavy packs, it took a couple of miles for my body to kick back in to trail mode. Luckily the morning temps were in the 60's with a decent wind, helping to keep me cool and prolonging the enjoyment one receives with smelling fresh on the trail. The only decent climb in the morning would come climbing up and over Glade Mountain which offered the day's only high view. Rock Boat and I stopped for a moment to take in the farms sprinkled in the green valley below, I-85 snaking its way through, and the towering ridge rising above the opposite side. Glancing up I noticed the speed at which the clouds were passing by and how close they seemed to be rolling by overhead, just out of arms reach. Usually I would've referred to them as low-lying clouds, but today it was more appropriate to say that we were high-trekking hikers.We continued over the relatively flat ridge line before dropping down into a valley, rounding a corner, and seeing Moosehead's lifted kilt and exposed butt. He and Hobble had heard us coming and thought the moment appropriate. We began catching one another up since it had been over 3 days since I had seen them last. It turns out they had went into Marion, VA, taken care of their chores, and ended up spending hours at a downtown bar. Through a series of trail magic, they were able to return to the trail late last night where they stumbled back into the woods a couple of miles before passing out around 2:00am. We would spend the remainder of the day hiking as a group once again.After passing Chatfield Shelter, we eventually exited the woods near a road where, ~30 yards before on a fence post, a small sign promised trail magic up ahead. Already passing several empty trail magic "stations" left by various trail angels and churches, we didn't think much about it. However, we approached an old, wooden, one room schoolhouse, the Lindamood School, where a single teacher taught 1st-7th graders during the mid-1700's. A group of fellow thru-hikers sat along the porch outside - a good sign. Entering through the doors, I first noticed the rows of small, wooden desks facing a blackboard along the front wall, a picture of George Washington hanging above, an American flag on the right wall, and a central stove once used to keep children warm between October and March when classes were held. Behind the door tucked in a corner was a vast selection of trail magic including drinks, snacks, fruit, and miscellaneous toiletries. I was quickly sitting at a desk with the other guys enjoying a Coke and pretending to enjoy a lecture given by Hobble. I took a second Coke to lug to camp tonight, a couple of snacks, some q-tips, hand wipes, and a small plastic comb to help maintain my ever lengthening facial hair. The secret to a nice, shiny coat? 100 brushes every night.An interesting story to be shared here. A couple of miles before reaching the schoolhouse, Hobble was sharing his experiences over the last few days where he "asked" the trail for magic and it continued to appear. I contributed this to lucky timing plus the fact that hikers are wanting pretty much anything at any time. However, just for giggles, I secretly asked the trail for another Coke. Two miles later and I'm sitting in an old schoolhouse enjoying one. Contribute it to chance, but I'm gradually becoming a believer that the trail listens. If you continuously give back to the trail - picking up trash, burrying poop, leaving no trace, passing on trail magic, etc. - the trail will take notice and reward you.After our snack we ventured outside to walk up a nearby path that led to a nearby Settlers Museum, an old home housing a variety of old tools, clothing, history, and several unknown objects used by early German and Irish-Scotts to the area during the 1700's. As we grabbed our packs to head that way, a snake slithered across Hobble's pack as he lifted it. Something just short of feminine screams came from both he and Moosehead as the snake fell harmlessly to the ground. We spent a relaxing ~30 minutes looking around the museum and sitting on the porch swings outside, the passing of the clouds more important than the time of day.We eventually returned to the trail, cutting through an open field, back into the woods, and exiting into another large open field. We stopped to admire the view of a gentle bowl-shaped valley to our right, thick woods on each side representing the rim. Just as we did, a lone deer exited from one side, hopped gracefully towards the center of the valley where it stopped to eat. Another trail reward. After seeing nothing more than squirrels, chipmunks, and birds for the first month, I've now seen 3-4 deer in as many days. Back in the Grayson Highlands area I stood within 20ft of one as we eyed one another for several minutes. Two creatures caught in the same, shared moment. It continued on in an unhurried, yet cautious semi-circle pattern around me before finally disappearing behind a thicket of rhododendron.Knowing I-81 was nearing and, with it, The Barn Restaurant, we ventured on. We eventually exited the woods as we climbed down off the ridge into the no-mans land between the interstate and the ridges on either side. People that say Virginia isn't beautiful must be comparing it to the terrain they've been hiking through over the past month. Though lacking in the number of scenic views from high mountain tops, it offers what the first 3 states lacked in - walking through large fields and valleys soaked in sunshine, offering open scenic views looking back into the mountains. The sun was warm on my skin, the clouds danced across the blue sky above, and the wind rolled through the grassy fields like waves in the ocean. It was something else.As we neared I-81 we even came within ~100 yards of a beautiful barn sitting atop a rolling hill. Tucked away in one of the corners of a pasture, the unmistakable outline of an animal I know well came into view. Half a dozen alpacas, freshly buzzed from their recent once-a-year haircut, stood munching on grass. It brought me back to my years living and working on an alpaca farm and made me miss it. We eventually hit I-81 and walked to The Barn Restaurant, best known by hikers for its hiker burger - a burger consisting of a solid 16oz hunk of ground beef. Packs lined the exterior wall of the building, meaning many pastures were most likely now cowless. The burger was decent, though lacking much flavor, but provided plenty of calories to hungry hikers. We ran into 2 Bad Dogs again who had also stopped for a quick lunch. My only negative comment about The Barn is that, though wise, only offer 1 free refill on Pepsi products. Knowing I had a Coke in my pack for later, I went with a sweet tea which offered unlimited refills. Can't win them all.Back on the trail we passed under I-81, entered a large flowering pasture, and were soon climbing the opposite Rodge we were earlier looking down on from above. A few smaller climbs, including topping out on Little Brushy Mountain, was all that remained over the final ~7 miles to our current campsite. Still plump from our late lunch, dinner was a simple pack of Scooby snacks. Cowboying it again tonight, my camp was set up in a minute. Our campsite is filled with a dozen or so hikers, all preferring to begin with Walker Mountain in the morning rather than end with it today - a 900ft climb over ~2 miles. The goal tomorrow is to basically cover as many miles as our feet will carry us, anything in the ~18-22 mile range would be great, but the terrain tomorrow consists of many ups and downs and will simply depend. Should we reach at least ~17 miles, the high point of Chestnut Knob awaits at 4,410ft. No blister issues today. Maybe I'm on to something with the pantyhose. Tomorrow will provide a better test.Here's to Virginia being an early pleaser, burgers needing 2 hands to enjoy, and sailing through wind-swept hillsides.