Date: 2015-05-20
From: past Trimpi shelter

To: Chatfield shelter area
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Campsite past Trimpi shelter to Chatfield shelter area. 13 MBusy day today. Woke early and had a cold breakfast. On the trail by 7:15 am. Only 5 miles to Partnership shelter. This shelter is very close to a National Forest Visitor Center. The shelter is also supposed to have a hot shower. One of the largest shelters on the trail. At the visitor center I can catch a shuttle ride to Marion, VA. I reached the shelter about 10 am. Everyone has left for the morning. Guess they must have used all the hot water, because the water is cold for me. Also the shower stream was just a trickle. Made the most of it and had an invigorating "shower". Nothing like cold water on a cool May morning to wake you up. After cleaning up I went to the visitor center to catch the town shuttle. For only fifty cents they take you down the mountain 7 miles to Marion. What a deal. I got dropped off at the library where I got the contact info for Black Diamond, the manufacturer of my trekking poles. Called their customer service and described my issue. They were great and are shipping a new lower pole section to a location in Pearisburg, VA. I will be able to pick it up when I go thru the town. Also checked email and did some Trail Journal updating at the library. About 12:15 the shuttle picked me up and took me to the laundry. Put some clothes in to wash and walked to a Wendy's for lunch. Then went to a grocery store for restocking, and headed back to the laundry. Had to have everything done and ready to go by 2:30 pm to catch the last shuttle back up the mountain. All of this would have been easier if I had not had my backpack with me. But there was no place to leave it. I must have looked like the Unabomber walking around in my baggie black rain pants, long sleeve black shirt, hiking boots, backpack and carrying a bag of laundry with me. The regular clothes all needed washing. Got the clothes cleaned and put away and the new food put away and got the shuttle up the mountain. Left the visitor center about 3:15 pm hiking to Chatfield shelter, 7 miles away. Passed a couple of nice views on the way. Not as many big views in this area due to lower elevation and more tree canopy. Had another fall late in the day. Was stepping over a large tree across the trail when my pack swung around and caused me to fall. Luckily landed on the backpack and no damage. Got to Chatfield shelter about 6 pm and set the tent up, fixed dinner (oriental ramen noodles with a packet of salmon) and sat around talking to the other hikers for a while. The father and daughter pair from Ontario came in. There is also a mother and son pair. The mother had to end her hike last year with an injury, so she is back to try again with her son. The son is hiking barefoot most of the trail. Yikes!! The young Army vet and one more guy are also here. All but me are in the shelter. Discovered that we are only 4 miles from the town of Atkins and the trail goes thru one side of town. Should get to have a restaurant meal tomorrow. That's always exciting. Will try very hard to keep my feet under me tomorrow. The fall on the rocks the other day still worries me. That fall could have ended my journey. All for now. O'RYAN