Date: 2017-05-26
From: VA 606/Trent's Grocery 

To: Docs Knob Shelter
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: overcast clouds

5/26VA 606/Trent's Grocery to Docs Knob Shelter 17.5 milesTotal miles:  626.0I fell asleep listening to the rush of the swollen Kimberling Creek and woke up at 6:00 feeling well rested. The sun came up, and it promised to be a beautiful and rain-free day. Today is a bit of a landmark, as it is my 50th day on the trail. Gravity and I headed up to Trent's at 7:30 for breakfast. I had a ham, egg, and cheese biscuit and a tenderloin, egg, and cheese biscuit.  Both were delicious.  We were back on the trail at 8:30.  The trail was very muddy in many places. There are few water run-offs built into the trail in this area, so water runs down the trail for a long way and collects as marshes at low spots. In spite of the fact that our dry socks didn't last ten minutes, the hike to Dismal Falls went quickly. There is a 0.3 mile blue-blazed trail to the Falls.  I have no idea why it is called Dismal Falls, because it is an impressive sight.  The trail ends up at the top of the Falls, and it is possible to walk right out to the water. There is a campsite located part way down the Falls, but the only access I could locate required a drop of over five feet down a sheer rock cliff. Since I don't carry a magic elfin rope like Frodo and Sam, I contented myself to remaining at the top of the Falls.  From there, the hike to Wapiti Shelter was relatively flat and easy, with a good amount of trudging through more mud required.  I ate lunch with Gravity at the shelter, which boasts of an actual outhouse and not a semi-open privy.  There was then a very steep climb up to a ridgeline, most of which was walking up through what could pass as a creek bed with several inches of water running down it.  Since there was a rock bottom to the trail/creek, the water was clear, and I purposefully walked in it to help wash the mud out of my shoes, socks, and feet. Not that I had much choice, as there wasn't any way to really avoid the water.  Along the way, I came across the marker for 1,000 kilometers, for our metric friends.  Since this is my 50th day on the trail, it looks like I am averaging 20 kilometers per day. On the wildlife side of things, I saw a five foot black snake (who didn't want his picture taken) and another wild turkey. I will be staying in Pearisburg tomorrow night, and Gravity's wife will be meeting him there. I'm looking forward to meeting her, and they are going to take me to the outfitter shop, since my trekking poles need repair.  Because of this, we tented at Docs Knob Shelter, which is only 8.3 miles to VA 634, with Pearisburg a 0.7 mile walk down the road.  I really wanted to visit Woods Hole Shelter, however.  I read about it in the Appalachian Trail Conservancy magazine.  The hostel is in an 1880's Chestnut log cabin, and was originally run by Roy and Tillie Wood.  Their granddaughter, Neville and her husband, Michael, run it today.  The hostel is a working farm, with an emphasis on sustainable living through farming, organic gardening, and beekeeping.  Guests are often invited to share in communal, all-organic meals. Both Neville and Michael are massage therapists.  Neville was leading a yoga class when I completed the 0.5 mile walk down Sugar Run Road to the hostel. It is a beautiful facility, and I got a chance to talk with Neville after her class, and I hope to come back and visit someday.  I also saw Inasias there, and she wrote down her poem for me:InasiasThat's a long stick you sayAs I come into campAs if I hadn't noticedWhat I carry in my hand.So when you introduce yourself And ask how do you do,"It's not a stick, it's a staff," I'll say,"It's nice to meet you, too."That's a long name you say,But the acronym's less fuss.I-N-A-S-I-A-SMy name's Inasias.I enjoyed my added trip to the hostel and figured I would still get to Docs Knob Shelter plenty early, because it was only an additional 2.3 miles up the trail. I didn't figure on the rocks. The AT was at it again with long stretches that required scrambling over rocks and boulders of all sizes.  I have never encountered so many large rocks that still manage to tilt and shift when stepped on.  The going is very slow, and it can get very frustrating.  Gravity reminded me of a good piece of advice while we were discussing the rocks: "Remember to embrace the suck."  It's all part of the package.  I met Gravity along the way, and we made it to the shelter a bit before 8:00. We were able to find two suitable tent spots squirreled away amongst rhododendron bushes.  Getting water required climbing over some huge boulders and dipping the water from a natural stone basi I've never seen anything quite like it, and it was pretty cool.  We shared dinner time with Crayola, Scout, and Trail Ninja (who has decided to change her trail name).  Gravity had carried along an aluminum bottle of Budweiser that he received from a trail angel, and he was kind enough to share. It was dark by the time we hung our food bags.  I was ready for bed by 10:00.  I slept for two hours before waking up to write my journal. I plan on staying at the Angel's Rest Hiker Haven tomorrow in Pearisburg.  It is run by a friend of Dave's from the Roan Mountain hostel.  Gravity will be spending a few days with his wife, and I will get back on the trail Sunday morning with five days of resupply.  Now, it's time to go back to sleep and perhaps dream of relatively rock-free trail.