Date: 2008-04-15
From: Lewis Mountain

To: Saw Mill Overlook and then some
Miles today: 0.0

BACKPACK DRAMA, ANGRY DEER AND TRAIL ANGELS.In the middle of SNP, after much trail magic from friends, we finally put on the full packs on at Lewis Mountain and started backpacking not slack pack. At Mile 11, my left lower back was starting to hurt. Mile 12, my back was a defined back ache. Mile 13, I was in pain. Mile 14, I was in need of 800mg of Vitamin "I". Mile 15.5, we finally stop. I was not communicating and I was not capable of doing anything but putting up my tent, swallowing my vitamin "I" and moaning in my tent at South River Park. This night was not easy since we stealth camp. (Stealth Camp is when you are not at a designated camp site...and you are not sure if your site is legal or illegal. Therefore you work to you avoid the rangers. If you are illegal, the ranger will make you move your site in the middle of the night.)The next morning Tammy/Rabbit recommends that we hike 7 miles and maybe call our trail angels. I think she made this recoomendation out of worry for me since I could not stand up straight. I make the 7 miles because I carried my pack in my hands and on my shoulders. Lydia/Owl at the 7 mile markers switched packs with me and I carried her Wild Thing AT pack. What a wonderful pack...to bad Wild Thing has discontinued this gem. Thanks to Lydia and Vitamin "I" I manage the whole 14 mile day. But I am still incapable of doing anything at camp. This pattern became our routine for the next three days. We would rotate carrying my 6 Moon Design Pack with everyone else'spacks. The only problem , Tammy/Rabbit also "had" a 6 Moon Design and was starting to struggling with her pack also. We developed a pattern that when a leg went numb or the lower back started hurting, it was time to switch packs. ** The 6 Moon Design Pack is rated to 28-30 lbs. Since it is winter and I hate freezing my full pack load with 5/6 days of food was 32/33. In addition, the 6 Moon Design Pack probably works wonders for those under 30..since I am significantly over 30....well it was plain to me this was not work.On Friday, I texted the Montoya's to reconfirm the pick up place and time for Saturday. Their response was do you need a ride now? With 10 miles to go before the scheduled pick up on Saturday, we (my back) response....YES. They drove an hour to pick us up at Saw Mill Overlook on the Skyland Drive. The family treated us to grilled ribs, beans and rice, garlic bread and a salad from heaven. For dessert, they introduced us to grilled donuts with ice cream! We showered, did laundry and picked up our drop boxes. What a family! Then to top it off, they offered to drive us to Wayneburo, drop off our backpacks which enabled us to slack pack that last 10 miles in the SNP. My back let out a song of joy and actually let me sleep a few hours that night. Our zero day was Sunday. I took some serious drugs and laid in a hotel room in an effort to get the muscles in my back to release. Wayneburo trail angels came and picked us up and drove us to the ROCKFISH GAP OUTFITTERS!. What a store! To all my Maryland/VA friends...if you are looking for a new pack, take a day off, drive to Waynesburo and go to this store. They are true experts and put REI and Hudson Outfitters to shame. We are getting ready to hit the trail again and plan to enjoy the Blue Ridge Mountains.On a side note (story) before the injury. It was pouring rain and we were traveling from Thornton Gap to Skyland Lodge, approx 8 miles. After climbing the two miles in the rain, I came to a conclusion. I could hike slow all day and struggle to stay dry and warm or I could strip down to a long sleeve shirt and light pants and "put the leather to the trail." I opted for the later and River/Roo the Retriever joined me. We quickly left the rest of the team as we jogged/fast hiked through the clouds and rain. We rounded a bend in the trail and not more then 10 feet in front of us was a herd of deer. River-roo, who had never been this close to deer, was startled and jumped behind me before she remember she was the dog and the deer were supposed to run. Her next move was to be in front of me with that deep bark. As the deer bolted she glanced at me with this cocking smile that only trail dogs can give. Ah but this was short lived. Two miles later, in the same rain storm and the same clouds, we burst out of a dense cloud to surprise another herd. This time the mother deer was 10 feet away and not giving ground. Bambi's mother stared at us with much angst, snorting, and stomping her foot, as her head swayed back and forth. Both River-roo and I stood there completely dumb-founded. I quickly thought about flashing my red rain jacket and saying "ole", but decided that Bambi's mother just might charge. I glanced down at River-roo worried she might provoke the deer to attack. I kid you not, the very confused look on River-roo's face was comical. I could see the thought flashing through her dog brain....what is this thing. The deer finally decided we were not worth the effort and led the herd off at a easy pace. River-roo and I slowly scooted on by. Gear Heads - I have switched to a Granite Gear pack and will post an update in a week or so on the back issues. Keep bouncing all - Sincerely Tigger