Date: 2017-05-08
From: Campsite on Cove Mountain

To: Campbell Shelter
Miles today: 15.7
Weather: few clouds

Big day planned. Started at the tent site before sunrise - no rain overnight so I had an easy time. My tent site was about three miles south of Dragon's Tooth, a series of stone monoliths - broken bedrock tilted up into the air on the spine of the ridge at the farthest and highest point. I was excited to see it, so the tough hike over smaller stone monoliths to get there was not able to dampen my enthusiasm. So far Virginia is about three things - long high ridge lines, beautiful valleys in between, and creeks through picturesque forest creating quiet dark settings. The Dragon's Tooth ridge line is rugged and gets more rugged as you go, and the valley off its steep side is too beautiful for words - I'll cross it later today. I took the short side trail to Dragon's Tooth and got pictures and videos to send to Marlene. Off in an open grassy field at the farthest edge of the valley in the distance I could see a faint pencil line curving across the open space to the forest at the far edge as it started up the steep mountain over there. I wondered if that could be the trail. (Later in the day as I crossed that field on that very line, like a half mile long in the open grass, I turned and looked back across the wide valley at Cove Mountain and saw the Dragon's teeth like a thin line of stone at the sky line of the mountain - so cool to see from both perspectives). Then a very technical descent down the cliff face (literally). I would study the way to go and carefully place my feet for each step. Narrow ledges - the width of one shoe - in a puzzle-like fashion to figure the way to the next one and on down the cliff. Several places had metal rungs drilled into the rock face to use as a ladder. It was fun, but I had to forget about speed and concentrate on accuracy. A couple of miles later I hit Virginia highway 624 where there is a half mile walk to Catawba Grocery, known to be hiker-friendly. I went there for a real-food lunch - a huge cheeseburger, fries, Gatorade, and double scoop ice cream cone - not once worrying about the calories. Yummy!! I tried to hitch back to the trailhead but had to walk - worth it though. Next about six miles of creeks, footbridges and ups and downs on rocky trail to Virginia highway 311. Then began the climb up to the iconic McAfee Knob. One mile to John's Spring Shelter, one mile to Catawba Mountain Shelter and then anticipating the final climb to the knob. This was a rocky climb. I should know better than to ask other hikers, especially local hikers, "how close am I?". Thinking I was close I asked and they said only 1/4 mile. I hiked a half mile and the next one said about 3/4 mile. Finally I arrived as most visitors for the day were leaving to find shelter or get back down to their car. Four young women were still there and took pictures for me. This is an iconic trail location. A huge chunk of rock juts out into the open air from the cliff and every hiker gets their picture taken with their legs dangling over the edge (you have to, else you're not a real hiker). I got great late-afternoon pictures and videos and sent them to Marlene - apparently my sanity is in question for the leg dangling pose. The wind was very strong so I did not get as close to the edge as some do. Day was ending so I hurried to Campbell Shelter, about a mile ahead and set up for the night. There were several hikers in the shelter and tents set up also - I enjoyed the company after four nights completely alone. So, two famous iconic AT locations in one day. One more to follow tomorrow - Tinker's Cliffs. Lots of fun to see them and share. Goodnight Sweetheart.