Date: 2007-05-15
From: Wilson Creek Shelter

To: VA 614, Jennings Creek
Miles today: 16.9

Last night the wind blew through the trees making them creak and groan. I kept waiting for branches to fall on our tent. This morning it blew even harder. The side of the tent was blowing in. If we had not been in the tent or had it staked down I am sure the wind would have blown it away. As soon as the sun came up the wind died down. There was a lot of noise from deer last night. Toto said he heard them snorting. I heard them trampling through the leaves and felt the vibrations of their hooves through the ground. Around 11:30PM I saw a light shining near the trail to the shelter. Whoever came in late was still in their sleeping bags when we left before 7 this morning. Dude and Mike (previously Smiley) were also still in their tents. Mountain Mike hiked on last night at about dark--he said he felt too good to stop hiking. We did not see Stealth today at all. He may have hiked on but we did not see him today. In fact the only hikers we saw today were Mountain Mike taking a nap at the last shelter, Cove Mountain Shelter, where we stopped before coming down the mountain to Jennings Creek. There were 2 section hikers there also. They are hiking south and just started from VA 614 today. They gave us left over fried chicken that they packed.When we got to Jennings Creek we had thought about hiking another almost 4 miles to the next shelter but it was another climb and it was hot with not a lot of air moving. We could camp near the creek or go about 2 miles to a campground. So to the campground we went. Upon arriving we found Packrat and Lucky. They had come here to pick up a mail drop and were going to stay but they said they had to do more miles. They are pushing to get to Harpers Ferry or as close to there as possible in 2 weeks. So they were going another almost 4 miles to the next shelter. We had a bacon cheeseburger and fries and cokes when we got here. We were thirsty and very hungry. The cabin cost was $65 with a bed but no sheets. I would have settled for a tent spot but Toto wanted the cabin. I told the woman that $65 was too much and so she gave it to us for $35. It still is a bit much, I think. There is no water but there is electricity. The air conditioner is not cooling the small space too well but as the sun is setting it is starting to cool off outside so we will probably just leave the windows open. We are sitting at a picnic table right now enjoying the cool breeze in the shade. The woman is going to fix another bacon cheeseburger for Toto again as he is stil hungry. I am not hungry but he bought me a couple of ice cream bars anyway and another soda, making it my 3rd. There is a pool here but neither of us have gone to it. I think we are too tired. We've both showered and feel pretty good again. I was going to wash our clothes but they do not sell the single use boxes of detergent so I will wait until we get to another campground in 2 more nights. We are supposed to have thunderstorms tomorrow afternoon. We are going 14 miles tomorrow so we are hoping we get to the shelter before it starts. We will be dropped off at the trail in the morning just after 8:30 as the woman here takes her child to preschool. The trail was not bad today. A few more rocks than yesterday, though, and with less breeze to cool us. Tomorrow there is a lot of climbing all day so we're hoping that rocks are not part of the trail. We really would like to get to the shelter dry.We saw lots of beautiful 3-petaled flowers today with colors ranging from pink to lavender, to deep purple. I took pictures of them but I don't know what they are. Not much else to report on today that I can think of. The trail has been beautiful with lots of rhododendrums and mountain laurels blooming but the heat is beginning to zap our energy. I fell today with no serious injury---just a few scrapes on my arm. My toe caught a rock and I was not able to correct my fall. I think I was too tired. I had looked up from the trail to look at a sign ahead and so wasn't watching where my feet were going. Toto also saw a black snake and grouse today. He tried to get a picture of the snake by grabbing its tail but he or she coiled and Toto reared back almost tumbling over the bank.Life is Great!Dorothy & Toto