Date: 2015-05-30
From: Brown Mountain Creek Shelter, VA

To: The Priest Shelter, VA
Miles today: 22.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 61, Brown Mountain Creek Shelter, VA to The Priest Shelter, VA - 22.6 miles:General Burnsides and I began our morning slowly, officially waking sometime just after 7:00am. We both ate breakfast, brushed our teeth, packed, and drank close to 2 liters of water knowing it'd be several miles before our first chance at water again. I had to put on all of my soaked clothes and boots, expecting a difficult day on my feet. With the General offering me to take the lead, we were off and heading towards Bald Knob, sitting 2,700ft above us. As we exited the river valley we had camped in, Burnsides pointed out a sign dating the historical significance of the spot that I had missed yesterday in the rain. The valley was home to a freed slave community during the early 1800's and a few old stone walls could still be seen lining parts of the valley.With me leading the way, I informed Burnsides of the pace I would keep all day which he seemed fine with. The climb up Bald Knob would prove tiring as well as underwhelming since the summit is neither a bald or knob, providing no views. Needing a sunny place to rest so I could begin drying out my socks and boots, we continued on another several miles past Cow Camp Gap Shelter to Cole Mountain, offering a series of large open grass meadows along its summit. With the most difficult part of the day behind us, we decided to treat ourselves to a decent break. In what would turn into an hour and a half, we ate lunch, enjoyed the weather, dried out our clothes, and watched the clouds pass lazily over the valleys and ridges in the distance. We were even able to just barely see the aerial radar on top of Apple Orchard Mountain that we passed by 2 days ago, close to ~30 trail miles away. We eventually realized we had both gotten sunburns from our time spent in the sun, butnas long as your feet and legs workz there are miles to be had.We continued along the open ridge, passing by a group of weekend hikers splayed out across a large boulder and the ground around it. They had passed us earlier as we ate lunch, each wearing some form of cotton sock, converse shoe, or had a knife hanging from their hip that gave away their weekend warrior status. They must've all be exhausted from their ~3-4 mile hike from the parking lot below for we saw no movement as we passed.Onward we pressed through Hog Camp Gap, Tar Jacket Ridge, and Salt Log Gap, our bodies becoming more exhausted with each passing mile. Needing water, we unknowingly crossed over the north fork of the Piney River, just above a running trickle, and would have to continue several miles to a stream just past Seeley-Woodworth Shelter before we were able to drink again. Other than the balds along Cole Mountain, the day's other highlight would come at Spy Rock, a large outcropping that requires scrambling to reach the top. The summit provided a scenic 360-degree view of the surrounding mountains including our destination for the day, The Priest Mountain, located ~4 trail miles away. With Spy Rock being easily accessible by the public, we shared the moment with several weekend warriors as well as a local group who spend 6 Saturday's each summer leading a hiking trip of young kids to the top. When Burnsides and I reached the top and were pointing out the direction we believed we were heading, one kid unknowingly commented, "You don't want to go that way. That's the Appalachian Trail. It's rugged." ...cute.Burnsides and I continued the final 4 miles in just over a snail's pace, my body running in autopilot, simply putting one foot in front of the other. We climbed our way up to 3,903ft where The Priest Shelter sits. We were greeted by a handful of weekend warriors who offered us the last of their hotdogs which tasted excellent. Darkness soon came since it was just before 8:00pm when we rolled in. We quickly set up our tents, hydrated, and ate. It's currently 10:00pm and I'm rushing to complete this entry so my body can do what it yearns to do - rest.Once again the most challenging part of tomorrow's hike will take place soon after beginning. After summiting The Priest at 4,063ft, hopefully with beautiful views to be had, we'll descent ~3,000ft only to then climb right back up ~3,000ft to the summit of Tree Ridges Mountain. Hopefully a steady pace will be key once again. Once the summit is reached, it's relatively smooth sailing into Waynesboro on Monday where I look forwards to taking my next zero. It can't come soon enough.Here's to lunches on mountaintops, ice cold water sources, and the continuing questions as to whether Burnsides and I are related .