Date: 2018-04-22
From: Stealth Site At Base of Whitetop Mtn

To: Massie Gap
Miles today: 9.2
Weather: clear sky

What an eventful day! So glad that we decided to make this a low mileage day, as it was not the kind of stuff we wanted to rush through. Elk Garden and VA Hwy 600 were barely a mile below where we camped. With a parking lot, trash cans, and a restroom, it was the perfect place to stop and stretch. Only one thing could distract us from our stretching routine¢Trail Magic! A couple who had hiked the AT a few years ago were revisiting some of the highlights with their daughter. They were just about to do a day hike into the Grayson Highlands, but were taking a few minutes to hand out goodies. As luck would have it, we showed up just as they were about to shut the lid on their Subaru. Never mind that we just finished breakfast, ¢I¢ll have a brownie and a Mountain Dew please!¢ Three other thru hikers who we saw yesterday evening camped towards the top of Whitetop Mountain were already partaking in the trail magic when we showed up. Blackbird and Crafty hiked the PCT last year and are now engaged to be married. They are hiking the AT this year with a friend named TNT. I would categorize the hip threesome as ¢ultralight¢ backpackers. All three were carrying packs weighing under 15 pounds. Anyway, they were a super friendly bunch of young adults. Across the highway we crossed through a gate and walked a short distance to a wonderful hilltop meadow. It was a perfect place to stop and do our Sunday worship. Looking out at an expanse of mountains stretching as far as we could see, there was so much to be thankful for. Before entering the field, there was a sign that read, ¢Welcome to the Jefferson National Forest.¢ This is the fourth National Forest we have hiked in¢Cherokee, Nantahala, Pisgah, and now Jefferson. The next several miles were through the Lewis Wilderness Area of the Jefferson National Forest. D2 and Crazy Brit (from Nature¢s Inn and the Apiary in Erwin) passed us by (going north) and I commented that it was good to see them finally hiking in the right direction. D2 replied that people were staring to call them Tinkerbell 1 and Tinkerbell 2, so they figured it was time to do some real backpacking. They looked to me to be in great shape for their ages and we played leap frog with them the rest of the day. A little further along, I picked up a stray glove laying on the trail that turned out to belong to Crazy Brit. They were taking a break at the Thomas Knob Shelter when we caught up with the two of them. Crazy Brit was only wearing one glove and was happy to get its mate back. D2 welcomed us to the ¢Finders Club¢, stating that Crazy Brit is constantly losing gear. As we walked off, D2 was ribbing his hiking buddy. Crazy Brit¢s only defense was,¢ That¢s the first time in three days...¢ Soon after the shelter we hiked into a very rugged section characterized by open brushy fields with large rock formations protruding from the surface. All of the rocks made for pretty tenuous hiking, but it was worth every step. In addition to some amazing views, this stretch of the trail is home to wild ponies. Some speculate that they are descendants of Assateague and Chincoteague ponies. Nonetheless, the equines were released by the U.S. Forest Service into the area surrounding Mount Rogers National Recreation Area and Grayson Highlands State Park in 1975. The ponies are used to keep the brush along the balds in check. The herd has thrived and multiplied in the scrubby terrain. I was told the herd numbers about 150 in total. It wasn¢t long before we came into contact with the carefree equines. We intermingled with them as they were busy doing their job (eating). A chance to get up close to the ¢wild¢ ponies marked a milestone on our journey. A second milestone came in the form of reaching the 500 mile mark. Of course, we paused to celebrate and take a picture. Just below the 500 mile mark we came to a rock tunnel known as Fat Man¢s Squeeze. From that point downhill to Massie Gap, the rocky trail traversed through more open brushy terrain, bringing us by more ponies. Once we came to Massie Gap it was another .6 miles off trail to a parking area, where Dennis waited for us in a white van that would carry us to the Grayson Highlands General Store and Inn. Crafty, Blackbird, and TNT were already waiting in the van. D2 and Crazy Brit piled in with us. When we arrived at the neat little country store, we made a beeline for the deli and grill, where we ordered cheeseburgers, fries (onion rings for WW), and milkshakes. That would tide us over until dinner in three hours. There are a few rooms above the store. Heartburn had already made reservations for one of the queen rooms. He graciously gave WW and me the bed. Since there no more rooms in the Inn, the plan was for Heartburn, Butter Knife, Finn and Happy Feet to sleep on the floor. Dinner was served at 5:30. On the menu was Chicken Parmesan, pasta, salad and fried bread dough. We ordered up a meal for Heartburn and Butter Knife, who rolled in around 6:30. Finn and Happy Feet made it in after dark. Happy Feet came in smiling. She really enjoyed her time with the ponies. The lights in our snug little room were out before 10 and we were all fast asleep after another exhausting, but rewarding day on the AT.Peace & Blessings - Next StepElevation Data:               Weather:Ascent ~ 1,590                  Day ¢ 55 degrees / Partly CloudyDescent ~ 1,300                Night ¢ 49 degrees / Rain ShowersGrade ~ 7.1Over the Horizon: McAfee¢s KnobAnything worth doing, is better done TOGETHER--Which Way and Next Step!