Date: 2017-08-30
From: The Priest shelter 

To: Hog Camp
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: mist

I got up with the lights sometime between 6 and 6:30. Joey got a good night's sleep I think and woke up around 7 a.m. thinking it was 1:45. We filtered some more water and made breakfast and completed a normal morning routine and were on the trail sometime around 8:30 a.m. The sky was just barely starting to become a little bit blue when we left the shelter. By the time we reached the first viewpoint we could see fairly clearly across the valley to the south although the top of the mountain in the distance was still shrouded in clouds. Pictures.Sometime around 10 a.m. we passed the group of hikers from W&L College who had stopped along the trail to make breakfast. And shortly after that we met four northbound hikers. First were two elderly gentleman, one who I noticed was wearing a shirt with three 2000 miler rockers on it under and Appalachian Trail patch. He said his real name was Lee Boner and his trail name was Loner Boner. We chatted with them for just a few minutes and then continued hiking South. We came to the actual Spy Rock area right about 10:15.We dropped our packs at the base of the big rock and followed the instructions we had received from Junkyard Jim and Russell a couple of days ago. They had said it was easier to climb to the top of the rock by going around to the left of it, so that's what we did. After about 10 minutes of scrambling we were on top and had a 360 degree view of the surrounding mountains. Some of these were still shrouded in mist. But we could see quite a distance and took several pictures. I then contacted Stanimal, our shuttle driver who would pick Joey up and deliver my supply box near the fish hatchery north of the trails on Spy Rock Road in the town of Montebello. We confirmed a 12 noon link up planned. Joey and I then climbed back down the rock, put our packs back on, and continued hiking south on the Appalachian Trail.At about 10:50 we reached Spy Rock Road and turned right in order to go downhill to the north. We followed the nicely labeled blue blaze path along a gravel road all the way to and beyond a gate across the road, which was labeled foot traffic only no public vehicle access. About 20 minutes later we came to the intersection of Spy Rock Road and Fish Hatchery Road. Here there was another gate from our side, which basically said no trespassing but was traversing a public road. On the other side of the gate was a National Forest hiker parking area specifically provided so that hikers could use the path we had just come down in order to access the National Forest. However on the downhill side of the gate were several warning and no trespassing signs, including one that was a picture of a hiker with a circle slash, and another that read "no public access to the National Forest". Anyway, Joey and I went into the hiker parking area and waited for Stanimal, the owner of the hiker hostel in which I had stayed in Waynesboro and the operator of the shuttle service that would bring Joey back to his car. While we were waiting we finished cross-leveling food and trash. Joey was kind enough to take my three days of food trash from me so I wouldn't have to carry it anymore. And he gave me the remainder of his food supply, which he didn't need anymore. That included several packets of instant oatmeal, a tortilla wrap, and one packet of pre-cooked bacon. The shuttle arrived about 1145 and Adam gave me the box of supplies I had left with him in Waynesboro. Joey loaded his things into the truck. We said goodbye. I put on my backpack. They waved as they drove away. I was sad and a little tearful, and the back of my throat hurt. I waved back and when they were around the corner, I started my hike back up past the no trespassing signs up the long hill and back to the Appalachian Trail.I was back at the intersection with the Appalachian Trail at about 10 after 12. I was pretty sweaty at that point and I was glad I had changed from the long sleeve shirt I started out into my short sleeve shirt while we were at the parking lot below.I stopped at the trail intersection to drink some water and enjoy the cool breeze. Then I continued hiking South.About 1245 I passed several apple trees and noticed that ripe fruit from them had fallen onto the ground. Pictures. I stopped and picked an apple and ate it.I arrived at the Sealy Woodworth shelter at about 1:15 p.m. Morocco Mole and Lil Woof were already there. The dog barked at me initially but warmed up quickly. I sat and talked with Morocco for a few minutes before he headed down the trail. He told me that he knew John Hedrick and that he had been John's vice president of the Potomac Appalachian Trail club when John had been president. John had also been vice president when Morocco had been president of the Potomac Appalachian Trail club. I also reviewed my plan for the day. I had intended to stop at this shelter but it was very early in the day, and having dropped Joey off with his shuttle, I was feeling a little melancholy. So I decided I should just keep walking a little longer today. I also decided that I should fill up on water before leaving here. So I hiked the additional .1 mile down a side trail to find a pipe spring that was gushing. This was the nicest water source I had seen in over a week, and I was happy with my choice. Picture. After filling water I hiked back up past the shelter to the trail and continued south.About 2:30 I passed the W&L group of students for a third time as they were stopping to take a bio break. Earlier they had told me they intended to stop at the Sealy Woodworth shelter, but evidently they too had decided to take advantage of the nice weather and hike further today. No more than 10 minutes after I had passed them I ran into a different group of W&L students who were northbound. I stopped and talked to them for a few minutes. Then I continued South. Around 3 p.m. I caught up to Morocco and Woof.  At about 4:30 p.m. I reached Tar Jacket Ridge Peak and a viewpoint. I took a picture of the nice vista to the east.I got to the hog camp at about 5 p.m. Rachel was already there. I helped her hang a bear bag. I then set up my tarp and made dinner.Morocco and Woof arrived around 5:30 p.m. as it was starting to rain. I finished my dinner and got under my tarp. The W&L group arrived sometime between 6 and 6:30 p.m. after the rain had stopped. Everybody chatted and compared notes on the day, and then the W&L group moved off to set up camp. Soon enough, bed time.