Date: 2010-05-13
From: US 60 Buena Vista VA

To: Spy Rock
Miles today: 16.3

¢Behind every cloud is another cloud.¢                                    - Judy GarlandThe day was cloudy when Gerda and I set off. We had had the usual large breakfast at the Dutch Haus, and then Lois dropped us off as close to the Trail as she could. We had to walk up the steep, rutted road the last mile or so. Perhaps I should say Gerda walked. *I¢ve* been eating enough of Lois¢s cooking that maybe I should say that I *waddled* my way to the top.We met a couple of section hikers who had been out in the storm yesterday afternoon. Sounded like it was pretty scary to me.   I¢m just as happy to have watched the storm from lower down and inside a house. Lightning on a ridge is not my favorite trail experience.Starting off I was feeling a bit ¢under the weather,¢ but felt better as the day improved. We passed Gideon, from Georgia, who was northbound and heading for the Dutch Haus. We looked forward to seeing him again later in the day.Throughout the day the skies looked like they might clear, but then would close in again. It didn¢t rain hard, but from time to time it would sprinkle a little. It was nice enough not to rain on us as we paused to eat an early lunch. We paused again at Hog Gap for a short break. I took a little swing on the swing there, see photo.It was hard to know when we actually got to the top of Cold Mountain as the clouds had closed in again. I was a bit disappointed in this. I remembered the views from here to be spectacular. When I hiked this section a few years ago I had thought that on my thruhike I would spend the night below the summit (in the non-restricted area) and get up early to see the sunrise from here. I¢m glad I didn¢t bother trying that last night, but I was sorry that there were no views this afternoon. Another time, perhaps.Coming down off Cold Mountain, it was clear that the trail maintainers had been out fairly recently. There were a few obviously recent blowdowns, but the older ones had been cleared. Even the undergrowth on either side of the trail had been cut back. There were no tendrils of poison ivy lying in wait to brush up against bare legs, no vines or canes reaching in from the sides to catch an errant ankle. It looked like someone had mowed or weedwacked the area. The only things uncut were occasional stands of spiderwort with their blue-purple flowers, obviously spared the blade. Thank you, trail maintainers, for all your work!After Cold Mountain Gerda seriously outpaced me and disappeared from sight. I took my way picking my way down to give my right ankle as much of a break as I could. It doesn¢t hurt most of the time, but tipping it down requires a little more range of motion than is comfortable. But it¢s much better than it was.I got down to the rest area where Gerda was waiting and immediately pulled out warmer clothes against the breeze. I knew that I would chill down quickly with the inactivity of waiting. Within a few minutes, however, Earl and his father showed up to whisk us back to the Dutch Haus, showers and tea. A relaxing evening followed. We made plans with Gideon to hike from Spy Rock Road to the Tye River tomorrow. His car was in the parking area by the river, and he said he¢d be happy to shuttle us back to the Duch Haus as he had decided to stay there another night, too, and take advantage of the slackpacking option. I sure find that slackpacking is much easier on my knees. I don¢t go too much faster, but I feel better when I get to wherever I¢m going!The day may have been filled with cloud behind cloud, but the silver lining of staying at the Dutch Haus was obvious.