Date: 2017-01-18
From: VA 611

To: VA 606 near Trent's Grocery
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: broken clouds

We left my car at VA 611, and Michael dropped me off at VA 606. All week we have left in the dark so I can start hiking as soon as it¢s light. Every day I¢ve driven my car to shuttle it¢s also been foggy. Today for the first time it was clear. I started up the hill in sunshine. At the top of the ridge it was sunny and clear. Clouds above the valleys made interesting patterns of dark and light spots. Because it¢s winter the sun was low in the sky with that special intense light. The trail was mainly small ups and downs on top of the ridge. It was easy terrain so I made good time. I started at 8:15 and finished at 1:15. The trail followed the ridge, which was narrow and wooded. There were great views of the valleys and farmlands on both sides of the mountain, although I was looking through a scrim of tree trunks. Had it been the normal hiking season the trees would have been leafed out, and there would have been no views at all. I¢ve heard a lot of pileated woodpeckers this week, but today I also heard chickadees, nuthatches, and hawks. When I set out the temperature was in the high 40s, but it was quite cold on top of the ridge. There was a steady wind, especially in places where there were pines. When the trail descended even a little it was a wholly different feel ¢ sunny, spring in the air, wildflower foliage coming up. The wind gave me a taste of what it must be like atop that ridge in normal winter weather ¢ cold and very dangerous. I lost the trail again today, this time for nearly 10 minutes. I was hiking down a slight hill and came to Jenny Nob Shelter. Momentarily I thought it strange that the shelter was located so close to the trail. I set my hiking stick down with the tip facing north (one of my strategies for avoiding getting turned around when taking a break) and headed to the privy. Afterwards, I picked up my stick and headed in the direction to which it was pointing. I quickly came to a blue blaze. A trail marked with blue blazes is a side trail to the AT and not the official trail. So I was headed the wrong way. I went back to the shelter and saw another trail. I tried it and soon came to another blue blaze. Finally I oriented myself in the same direction as when I first saw the shelter and headed back up that path. It too had blue blazes, but I thought maybe it would take me back to the last place where I¢d seen a white blaze. And it did. After about 100 yards I arrived at a signpost with mileages to the next road north and and the next road south. I headed in the direction of the road north and quickly came to a white blaze. I had taken a 90-degree turn, missed the sign, and missed the blue blazes the first time because the trail to the shelter was so well-trod that I had assumed it was the trail. Each time I do this I resolve to be more careful to follow the blazes rather than what appears to be the pathway. I always have a pang of fear when I realize I¢ve lost the trail, but I don¢t panic. Each time it happens and I figure out my mistake I become more confident in my own skills. Partway through the last descent the woods disappeared on one side, and the trail opened onto a wide open field. I stopped a minute to sit on a tree stump to enjoy the warmth of the sun. When I continued I saw hoof prints and cow flops on the trail. Cows are using the trail, too! A short way past this I heard the sound of rushing water, and the trail brought me to a substantial suspension bridge. It was sturdily built, suspended by thick cables. I could barely feel movement as I crossed. At the end of the bridge the trail continued to a a road. I walked about 50 feet and came to the small pull off where I¢d left my car. I drove half a mile west to Trent¢s Grocery for a hamburger, then headed to Pearisburg for some communication. I sat in the my car in the sun in the Food Lion parking lot and thawed out. I checked in with Diane, called Sharon to update her on the progress of the hike, and posted some pictures on Facebook. I was craving fruit, so I bought an orange and a banana to supplement my leftover snacks for supper. Then I headed back to the hostel. It¢s a little lonely here as I¢ve been the only guest for several days, and I spend the whole day hiking alone. Most days I don¢t see even a single hiker all day.