Date: 2006-04-26
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: light rain

Day 51   Wednesday   Today I'm hiking for my Mom. This is her last full day in the house that she and Daddy bought in 1955. Tomorrow is moving day. It is ironic that the last time I was in that house and the last night I spent there was the day before I started at Springer Mountain, March 7, 2006.            Piece of Work and I walked from the Rendezvous Motel up to Hardee's for breakfast, where we ran into Alexander (now Toasted Almond Alexander) and his father, who is hiking some with him and slackpacking him some. We got away about 7:55 AM and headed toward the New River Bridge and the ridge beyond.   GEAR REPORT: The new mesh backband is so much more comfortable than the disintegrating old one. Having that made the long day a lot easier.      WEATHER REPORT: Cool and overcast when I started. Within 30 minutes it was drizzling, and as I climbed out of the New River Valley I got into clouds and drizzle and cold wind. At the 7 mile mark I stopped at Rice Field Shelter to rest, warm up, dry off, and eat. I changed into rain jacket and pants over tee shirt and undershorts, and it was the right combination as long as I kept moving-not too many clothes to cause sweating, but just enough to stay warm and dry and to block the wind. The weather was actually perfect for making a lot of miles-nothing to do but walk, because the fog/clouds prevented any scenic views. And the temperature was cool enough to avoid excessive sweating and frequent water breaks. Also, the humidity was high, so I didn't seem to need as much water in the moist air. It is cool now (at the Shelter) and supposed to get down into the 30's tonight. I kind of wish I still had my heavier set of long johns, but at least I didn't swap out my sleeping bag for the fleece blanket. By the way, the drizzle is continuing at 7PM.         NATURE REPORT: Saw my first trillium today and lots of crested dwarf iris. From the top of the ridge above Pearisburg to almost 2 miles for this shelter, there were no evergreens-just large and small deciduous trees- and lots of rocks. About halfway I went through an orchard (abandoned recently, I guess) with dozens of apple and cherry trees in bloom. In the sun it must have been a real sight. In the fog the colors were muted and camoflaged, but the scents were great.                                                               HIKING REPORT: Piece of Work and I hiked together all day. Usually he'll go ahead on the long uphills and I'll go ahead on the level or slightly downhill sections. The rocks had a lot to do with us staying together. That terrain forces you to slow down and pick each step carefully-very difficult to get a consistent pace going through rocks.                                       When we arrived Grizzly and Jebus were already here, but Jebus decided to go on to the next shelter 4 miles north. It looks like there will be only be 3 of us. I expected TINS and Trooper, but they're not here yet-must have stopped at Rice Field Shelter, which is an excellently designed and built shelter - better than this one. For one thing, the porch roof extends over the picnic table there. Here the table is out in the rain.