Date: 2004-08-17
From: Saunders Shelter

To: Thomas Knob Shelter
Miles today: 18.6
Weather: light rain

A good night's sleep, probably over >10 hours. But I am on the trail by 7:30 walking in a slight fog. I am thinking the morning should be relatively easy hiking but the trail will ascend over 2,500' in the afternoon as it gets to the Thomas Knob Shelter. I plan to bag Virginia's highest peak, Mt. Rogers(5,729') which is near the Thomas Knob Shelter, my 18 mile away goal today. I pass the Minnesotans tent near a pond. No one is stirring yet. I come upon the Virginia Creeper Trail again. It runs next to an inviting stream so I stop and have a bagel health bar with crunchy peanut butter for breakfast. A couple of young guys pass me carrying fishing poles. Finally, after crossing a long footbridge, I leave the Creeper Trail. In the next few miles, I run into two groups of hikers. A young couple are filtering water. The other group of about 8 is spread out over about a mile. It's always nice to say hi and chat a few minutes. As I walk, I really enjoy looking at the slices of sun light that make their way into the thick forest. It's not always easy as the trees are quite thick in many areas. At a trailhead at Summit Cut on US 58, two Virgina fellows are enjoying a bite to eat. They are heading to the Thomas Knob Shelter too. But, ahead I can see it's a treeless, wide open trail that ascends a rise. I proceed on with lunch plans for Buzzard Rock. Wow, the views are nice. I speak to some cows grazing in the field that the trail passes. Soon I am at Buzzard Rock on Whitetop Mt(5100'). Nice large rocks and lush grass. I sit in the soft grass and enjoy nuts, dried fruit and a granola bar plus the long distance views. I don't see any buzzards tho. Just past Buzzard Rock is a wonderful water source, a pipe coming out of the ground and cold water is surging out of it. Could any water be purer? And someone has cut the hay in this area recently and the air has a sweet, fresh perfumey odor to it. Or is that just the smell of truly fresh air? As I approach Mt. Rogers I run into a number of day hikers. They are never as friendly as multi day hikers. A lovely dark haired young lady for some reason has covered her arms and shoulders with deep blue tattoos. About 4:30 I reach the Susan Spillane Trail that leads about a half mile to the top of Mt. Rogers. I leave my pack by the trail and with just some water and camera make the trek to the top. The heavy moss covered trees are much more interesting than the high point. There's a survey marker but not much more including no view, to signify this state high point. I visited Kansas' high point this year and even that lonely western Kansas spot had more going for it. So after a quick photo, I return to my pack and proceed about a half mile to the Thomas Knob Shelter. Surprisingly two brothers and a solo girl hiker are there. Since I know two others will join later, I consider moving on another mile. But, one of the brothers thru hiked the AT last year and is a good source of information when any of us can get a word in edgewise. A constant, high volume talker. The shelter tho is a good 2 story home for the night. And with some large flat rocks behind it to lie on, I leisurely enjoyed the panoramic vista after supper. The view overlooked a large open pasture that had some horses and a deer wandering around. The talker continued until about 9:30 when he tired and we all were soon asleep.