Date: 2015-11-25
From: Reservoir Road, Pedlar River Bridge 

To: James River Foot Bridge
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: overcast clouds

My husband dropped me off back at the suspension bridge early in the morning. It promised to be a beautiful day, but boy was it cold!The day started with long climb after long climb - an elevation gain of close to 2400 feet over about 6 miles. I needed the climbs to stay warm, but the cold air burned my lungs.My husband met me at a road crossing mid morning to check on me. I think he was concerned because of the cold, but I assured him I was fine. It was a great day to hike. The sky was clear and beautiful shade of blue, and the views were wonderful. As long as I kept moving, I was comfortable. Other than a nice couple from Utah out day hiking, I saw no other people. I had the AT all to myself, and I tried to soak it all in.I skipped stopping at the Punchbowl Shelter because it is .2 miles off the AT. The final climb for the morning, about 1 mile from Punchbowl Mt. at 2850 feet to the summit of Bluff Mt. at 3372 feet, was much easier than I expected. I took a snack break, enjoyed the view at the summit, and soaked up the warming sunshine. I sat on the steps apparently left over from a tower which once occupied the summit. Just past the summit I found the memorial to Ottie Cline. The small simple plaque explains that many years ago the small child wandered away from a school and was later found dead in the woods. It is a sad tragic story.Unfortunately, immediately after the memorial, the AT began a steep rocky decline off the mountain summit. Eventually the descent became easier and, in places, followed the sides of the mountains. While less steep, the trail required careful attention to avoid tripping over rocks or stepping off the narrow tread and sliding (or tumbling) down the side of the mountain.It was on one of these mountain side stretches that I saw yet another bear. As I was diligently watching the trail I happened to glance up just in time to see a little black furry rump running on the trail just a little bit ahead of me. Just as I realized it was a BEAR, it disappeared around a curve in the mountain. By the time I reached the same curve, the bear had disappeared into the bushes.I stopped and looked to see where the bear went. Then I tried to remember the size of the bear. Was it small enough that it was still a cub? Was mama coming down the trail behind me? Was mama in the brush somewhere nearby? Perhaps she was on the trail just around the next curve. I felt around in my pants pocket for my bear whistle. I just wanted to make sure it was there. I also started to sing. The last thing I wanted to do is surprise a mama bear with a cub, especially on a narrow trail carved into the side of a mountain with thick brush on both sides. Not only would my singing let her know I was there, but it would probably cause her to run - I am a terrible singer.I hoped that the bear was not a cub, but was instead full grown and long gone. Then I started to laugh. I was actually hoping I had run into a BIG bear, the BIGGER the better!For the next mile or two I sang, kept my eyes up, and stopped often to look behind me. Eventually the brush thinned out and then disappeared. I figured I was safe and I could stop torturing the wildlife with my singing.The hard earned elevation I gained all morning was lost all afternoon - roughly 2600 feet over about 9 miles. I knew Rod was concerned about the cold, so I also skipped the John's Hollow Shelter and kept going. Rod met me at VA 812/ USFS 36, again just to make sure I was OK.The last portion of trail for today - s little more than 1 mile, switchbacked through a ravine and followed a stream. At one point it appeared that a dirt road dead ended within a stones throw of the AT. There was a white paneled van parked (backed in) at the dead end, and a man was wandering around the back of the van. The whole situation seemed odd, so I kept an eye on the guy. As I got closer he pulled his sweatshirt hood up over his head and did not make eye contact.My imagination started to run a little wild, and I began to hike faster. Thru hikers are repeated warned to be cautious anywhere the AT comes close to a road. This guy could grab me, throw me in the back of his van, and drive off. My husband, who just saw me and knew I was fine at that point, would have no idea what happened when I failed to emerge from the woods at the pick up point. Fortunately nothing happened. But I quickly realized that I felt MUCH safer in the woods with the bear than I did close to a road with a man acting strangely. Animals want our food, or are trying to defend themselves or their young. I know animals do not otherwise stalk or intentionally harm/kill hikers.   While the vast majority of people on the AT are friendly and harmless, I also know that very occassionally hikers have been harmed or even killed - but not by fellow thru hikers. I just have to be careful, especially in isolated areas with road access. I was VERY glad to see my husband hiking in to meet me. I told him about the strange guy with the van. I am sure it just made him worry about me more.We walked together to the James River footbridge, where he left Maggie, my Subaru. Next to the parking lot there is a kiosk where someone posted a very nice invitation for thru hikers to come to their house for Thanksgiving dinner, spend the night, and have breakfast the next morning. The hikers just had to see the invitation and be in the parking lot at a specific time on Thanksgiving day to be picked up. What a generous gesture - true trail magic. I immediately thought of Andrew and hoped he saw the invitation.We had a nice dinner and then hit the sack early. Tomorrow I need to be up early so I get some miles in before enjoying Thanksgiving dinner.The AT is calling. I had another great day on the trail, and I am looking forward to tomorrow.