Date: 2016-07-12
From: VA 623

To: VA 625, USFS 222
Miles today: 10.6

(Sorry, but Wildlife Tuesday is just not as catchy)I saw wildlife almost all day. On the main paved roads we saw a deer,a duck, a groundhog, a rabbit, and a turtle.On the long windy drive on the side road to the trailhead we saw 2 medium size bears along the road. One ran across the road just in front of us. The other stayed back in the trees, just at the edge of the road. They were about the same size. We looked, but did not see any cubs with them.Shortly after Rod dropped me off at the trailhead, just to the right of the trail, I saw what looked like a piece of black hose. I stopped, thinking it was a piece of trash I could pack out. Instinctively, before i bent down to pick it up, my eyes followed the "hose" through the thick green plants. Eventually I saw the head of a VERY large black snake. The head was just a few inches from my right boot!Surprisingly, although I came very close to stepping on him, the snake remained relaxed (and so did I). The snake was non-venomous, but I still did not want to get bitten. So I very slowly took a few steps back down the trail. Then I took out my phone and waited for the snake to come out of the thick foliage and slither across the trail so I could snap a few pictures. I was amazed at the size of the snake. It was about as thick as my wrist and several feet long. I snapped a few pictures, and then we both went our respective way.A little further up the trail several, what I assume were grouse, suddenly took flight. Unfortunately they took me completely by surprise, and I did not get a good look at them. A little further up the trail I looked over the ridge and down into a little revine just in time to see two spotted fawns bolt from a jumbled pile of tree limbs. They ran from the hiding place where their mother had left them and scattered in opposite directions. I hoped that I did not scare them, and that their mother finds them.A minute or two later, a ittle further up the trail, I looked up just in time to see a bear run off. Now I wondered whether the bear, instead of me, had spooked the fawns.In addition to all of the wildlife, I also ran into 2 nice NOBO thru hikers from Florida. We chatted briefly, then I moved on. Rain was coming. I was hoping to reach the Chestnut Knob Shelter before the rain hit to avoid getting soaked yet again.For about 6 miles the AT stayed at about 4,000 feet, with only relatively minor fluctuations in elevation, before dipping slightly into Walker Gap. Then the AT started the approximately 1 mile climb to the shelter. The elevation change was about 800 feet. The area was very rocky with few switchbacks. The smooth tread, with gentle ups and downs I saw around Pearisburg was gone.Chestnut Knob Shelter is on a bald with beautiful views. As I approached it, I saw Rod, aka "The Goat", standing in the doorway of the shelter, waiting for me. Yes, I said doorway. This shelter is made of concrete blocks, and has 4 walls and a door! I scooted through the doorway just as the rain hit.Fortunately the rain did not last long. After a brief break, we headed out. Rod told me about the beautiful views coming up on the exposed ridge. I was glad to see that he was enjoying the AT. Just as we reached the meadow it began to rain again. I did not hear any thunder or see any lightening, but I felt exposed and did not want to press our luck, so I picked up the pace. Of course the grass was wet, tall, and thick, almost obscuring the trail in several places. So our legs were quickly soaked.By the time we reached the treeline the rain was coming down pretty hard, and the trail morphed into a stream. Fortunately, the trail was very easy (an old dirt road) and all down hill from the shelter to the road crossing. But by the time we reached the road crossing we were soaking wet from head to toe.We then had an extremely long ride back to the hotel. The road was so twisty that it took us 1 & 1/2 hours to go just 28 miles. We were soaked, tired, hungry, stinky, and dirty, but we had a great day on the AT.The AT is calling. I am so glad I was able to share at least a portion of it with my super supportive and good sport husband, "The Goat."