Date: 2013-04-22
From: Niday Shelter

To: Route 785
Miles today: 18.4
Weather: clear sky

The data book calls it "Dragon's Tooth," but I think the seven mile stretch should be called "Dragon's Teeth." Here's why:Imagine the bottom row of a dragon's teeth. Each tooth is pitted and ragged and comes to a point. Between each tooth is a significant gap. That describes the ridge I hiked this afternoon. I would scramble to a peak then make a rocky descent of 100-150 feet before climbing up to another slightly higher rocky peak, only to go back down 100-150 feet and repeat the whole thing again. The views into the valleys on each side were spectacular, which is a good thing. The views allowed me to pause frequently to catch my breath,and blame it on my desire to take in all of the beauty. I was alert to snakes that might be warming themselves in the sun on the rocks. I didn't see any, but I did scare away a bunch of salamanders. Two day-hikers from Virginia Tech said they saw a diamond-back rattler on a rock where I sat just five minutes earlier. I helped lighten the load of their day packs by eating one of their snacks. It was a successful job of "Yogi-ing," a term that comes from the always-hungry Yogi the Bear. Thru-hikers "yogi" whenever they see day-hikers. They act as if they are starved and then pounce on any food that the hikers offer. Of course, for many thru-hikers, it's no act. I thought the Dragon's Tooth section was demanding and amazing, but then came the descent, which forced me to add the words "treacherous" and "dangerous." The steep descent on huge boulders was by far the most precarious of the hike so far. There were even iron rungs in some of the rocks to aide your progress. I kept thinking it couldn't get any better (or worse, depending on your perspective), and then there would be more. Great fun! This dragon had a big bite! (Pun intended.)I had not seen any thru-hikers or section-hikers since early in the afternoon yesterday. I did keep seeing Inertia's mom at crossroads. She says she is going to call me "Joyful Hiker" because whenever she sees me I have a smile on my face and a bounce in my step. When I got down from Dragon's Tooth, she gladly offered to drive me four tenths of a mile to a gas station/convenience store. I was able to plug in and recharge my phone, and enjoy a hamburger and snacks while sitting on the "sidewalk" right in front of the store. When I hiked the four tenths of a mile back to the trail, I had trouble spotting where the trail crossed the road. It wasn't well marked and I hiked right past it on the road. I ended up having to backtrack and went over a mile out of my way before getting back on the trail. I was a little irritated with myself because I had hoped to push on another 5 miles. But it was impossible to stay frustrated as I hiked through a farmer's field. The sun was setting and casting long shadows. It was all so peaceful and the spring air smelled fragrant and clean.I crossed a small creek, and there was Blue Moon. He was just setting up his hammock as he was stealth camping next to the creek. He was glad to see me, and urged me to stay with him, not just for the night but also to join him for coffee in the morning at a little place he knows four miles down the trail. After I few minutes I accepted and set up my tent for the night. We had a meaningful conversation as the moon rose and we sat and ate alongside the creek. Now I am thankful that I got "lost" finding the trail so that Blue Moon and I could meet up again. I almost hiked right past him, and it took some persuading on his part to get me to stop for the night since I already had another plan in mind. I wonder how many times in my life I have failed to connect with other people because I had my own agenda and plans and rigidly stuck to them? I almost did that again tonight. I'm glad I didn't. I'll try to do better in this area when I am off the trail and back in the "real world".