Date: 2005-05-02
From: Laurel Creek Shelter

To: Audie Murphy Memorial
Miles today: 18.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Miles hiked today : 18.117.5 AT miles + 0.6 miles of side trailI woke up this morning at 7:45 a.m. and took my time getting ready, finally hitting the trail at 9:05 a.m. I reached VA630 at 10:30 a.m. after passing through a pasture with grazing donkeys. I also saw a wild rabbit right on the trail, though it scampered away before I could get my camera out.0.4 mile after VA630 is the Keffer Oak, a white oak 18 feet around and estimated to be more than 300 years old. I hadn't looked in the data book to determine when I would pass it. As such, I completely missed seeing it. Amusingly enough, it has a stile attached for crossing a wire fence. I remember crossing a very wobbily stile and using the tree next to it for support, so while I didn't see the Keffer Oak, I did touch it.I knew that I'd missed the Keffer Oak when I reached the side trail to Sarver Hollow Shelter at 12:05 p.m.   I decided to eat lunch there, but soon regretted my decision after I descended nearly 300 feet over 0.3 mile, especially after the 1,300 foot climb I'd just done from VA630. At the shelter, I had a lunch of pb&j tortillas before returning to the AT at 12:55 p.m.The next 3.6 miles were along the crest of Sinking Valley Mountain. The terrain was fairly level, though much of it was huge slanted rocks that tested my ankle strength. Thankfully, it wasn't raining, or this section would have been much more difficult, as the rock faces would have been very slippery.After the crest walk, I had a steep 1,650 foot descent over 2.4 miles to Niday Shelter. I arrived at 3:25 p.m. and my left knee was aching a bit, so I took some Vitamin I and filtered water for an early lunch. While my lunch was cooking, Frenchie headed out, as we'd earlier discussed hiking another 5.1 miles to the site of the Audie Murphy memorial. I finished my dinner, packed up, and headed out at 5:10 p.m.I covered 1.5 miles to Craig Creek, arriving at 5:45 p.m. I stopped to take off my fleece jacket and ended up staying for 10 minutes. Not because I was enjoying the creek, but because I had an emergency call of nature to deal with. Such is life on the trail.Moving on, I had a 1,600 foot climb over 2.0 miles, which seemed to last forever. The dificulty was compounded by the fact that I had to ration my 2 liters of water, as the next available water was 3.8 miles past the Audie Murphy Memorial. After the climb, I reached an old, grassy woods road. On the other side of the road, I was surprised to see a wooden bench, as it's out in the middle of nowhere. I continued on for 1.6 miles, arriving at 7:30 p.m., and was happy to see Frenchie sitting near her tent. If she hadn't been there, I probably would have pushed on for a couple more miles.The Audie Murphy Memorial is on a short side trail from where I camped. Apparently, Murphy, the most decorated WWII veteran, died in an airplane crash near this site. The memorial is fairly remote, which makes me wonder how many people, besides thru-hikers, visit.I'm looking forward to tomorrow, as I'll be visiting Dragon's Tooth and then I'll be eating ice cream and drinking soda at Catawba Grocery.Bedtime at 9:30 p.m.