Date: 2007-04-17
From: Jenny's Knob Shelter, Va

To: Doc's Knob Shelter, Va
Miles today: 23.5
Weather: clear sky

20, 20, 7, 7, 9, 10 , 23.5 mile days in the books and going for 23.5 miles today. We definitely feel like hikers now. We wanted to wake up when we heard the birds chirping; but, it was so windy that we did not hear anything, until a buzzard, sqwauked; and we got going. We knew we had a big day ahead of us. We were even talking,"no sleep till Pearisburg"(33 mile day) or "let's rest with the angels at Angel's Rest"(30 mile day)! We would just see how we felt. It was down, up(over another Brushy Mtn), and then down to a road that goes west down to a convenient store. The guide book says .8 miles, which we will take; but, we thought it was about .3 miles, instead. We raced down there and back very quickly with cheeseburgers, fries, and a beer. We ate them ate began the 10 fairly flat miles along the Dismal Creek bottoms. I usually like this section; but, today I noticed my pack weight for the first time since Elk Garden. We did finally get to Wapiti Shelter after 30 different foot bridges along the Dismal Creek and it's tributaries. I thought a bit about how the Elk used to run through here. It was perfect habitat for that type of animal. They lived all through this area into the 1950's. They were studied by Tillie Wood's deceased husband. She said that the local farmers complained so much about the elk desroying their gardens that the local wildlife officials had a one day open hunt and completely wiped out the elk. Not one left! She confirmed for me last year over biscuits in her kitchen at her hostel(Wood's Hole Hostel) that the word Wapiti is pronounced, "Wah-puh-tee" not "Wah Petey". Her hostel opens later in the spring; so, I missed her this year and her grand daughter, Neville. Neville is going to run the hostel now that till is 86(?). Alright, Mo had to get my "Momentum" back! I did not want to do the next 9-10 miles as my feet hurt for the first time since way back in Damascus. I took two Advil for the first time since I got sick on coffee and Advil coming out of Damascus. We did well, climbing the 2.5 mile climb to the ridge that gives the first lighted view of Pearisburg, Va. We did this in the dark with headlamps and it was spectacular. We made some big climbs and descents with the wind blowing. When we stumbled into the Doc Knob Shelter around midnight; we quickly decided to stay there. I took the lead the last hour or so; Mo was losing his "Mo" and jokingly complimented me on my night hiking. He said, "now I know what all of the talk is about!" I was like, what does that mean? But at night; I do hike differently. As I told Mo, " I sell out". What I mean is that I kind of throw my feet out into the dark and adjust my balance as they land as opposed to a much more controled hike of carfully positioning where my foot lands. Which I do in the day light to keep from stubbing my toe, over and over. So night hiking to hard on your feet; they get beat up. When we arrived there were two sobos: Marvin & ?. Mo was continually doing Comedian Will Ferrels comical mimicking of singer Neil Diamond. So I gave him the name "Mo Lassus, The Diamond". Why is he the Diamond? Because he is," Neil Diamond & I will smack you in the mouth".