Date: 2010-04-27
From: North of Pearisburg

To: Bailey Gap Shelter-entry two of three
Miles today: 21.0
Weather: light rain

04-27-2010Fraser FirSection HikerGeorgia to MaineYear Six-Day Five of Section Hike-Entry #2You know, as I sit here at Rice Field Shelter and study my profile map, the next ¢crack¢ at water, according to this map is not going to be until later in the day at Pine Swamp Ridge.The water that I filtered and drank around 8:00 a.m. or so this morning; is long gone.After a few snacks, I decide to get over my water deprivation situation and just take in the views.After passing Rice Field, I enter my fifth state: West Virginia. (take me home..to the place¢¦. I belong¢¦West Virginia..) We all know and love this song.Now, I am hugging the WV-VA line. Similar to TN-NC except this is an afternoon affair, not a couple hundred mile walk as in the states to my south.I act silly as I have one foot in West Virginia and one in Virginia. I cross back and forth over barbed wire fences and stiles that I assume are the ¢exact¢ state line.The up-close scenery is spectacular. There is a small pond (tea colored) and open meadows with views to the north into West Virginia and views to the south and east back toward Angels Rest. I have my umbrella close at hand as I walk in mist, sunshine and over cast.Between Rice Field and Symms Gap, I find a ¢surprise¢. Guess what it is? It is a blue blazed trail to a small spring. I do not have to descend, thus having to climb back onto the AT. First things first: I filter enough water to immediately re-hydrate. Thank goodness, it must only be fifty-five degrees or so today and the sun only sneaks out periodically.After I get my fill, I decide to pump up a couple of liters to carry onto Pine Swamp Ridge.Bad news: my filter system breaks. No, I did not ¢strong arm¢ my pump or anything crazy. There must have been built up pressure inside the tubing, I suppose. The blue nipple piece literally snaps off. Folks, duck tape cannot save this one.I stand dazed and confused but for some reason, never panic or get angry.There are two options here:1)        Hike back to Pearisburg; drive to Roanoke and buy a new water filtration system and call it a day.2)        Keep going and take what could come to me: ¢the crud¢.I have iodine tablets and I can boil water. I decide to move north. Maybe I will start to see more hikers and I can borrow their systems at camp or whatever. This may actually cause me to be social and intermingle with any hikers that I see along the way, right? (deviate from my anti-social ways..)I decide to physically and mentally ¢move on¢ from this situation. I turn on my cell phone as I absorb the views along Symms Gap Meadow.My mom answers when I call. She too, is in Virginia. Mom is in Arlington with Mr. Dick-her husband. We chat and I figured that I should return her call from a few days ago and I tell her where I am .Mom thought that my hike did not start for a couple more weeks: my bad for not communicating to her.After a quick chat, I continue to move across the Peters Mountain Ridge encompassed in two national forests and two states.There are scenic views along some power lines. As ridiculous as that sounds, the views are awesome. I lay down on the green forest floor and take a picture of the naked hardwood tree tops. The sun is peaking out and the sunshine feels marvelous.I wonder if I should start shedding layers?Once back into Virginia, I turn to the southeast. The Allegheny Trail is to my immediate north.I know that I am headed south without my map because the sun is in my face. It is cool. A cold front must be on the way.The water at Pine Swamp Ridge is anything but appealing. I decide to push onto the shelter and boil my water. As I descend, I find a pair of black military style boots neatly placed on top of a rock on the trail.The boots look very painful to wear. I suppose someone else may have thought that as well. They are heavy things, for certain.Too bad the hiker could not carry them out. I do not have the room to carry the boots and I am some ways from a road.I discover Pine Swamp Branch Shelter just in time for an early dinner. It is a very cool but beautiful evening. And guess what? the water source is just seconds away!!I take all of my foot and cookware out and take off my shoes. Since it is so early, and I plan to hike on to dark, I take my time of this meal.(to be continued¢¦)