Date: 2007-05-21
From: Lost Mtn. Shelter

To: Wise Mtn. Shelter
Miles today: 17.3
Weather: clear sky

May 21, Longest Day YetGot up at 6:07 a.m. to 52 degrees in my tent. The birds had woken me up at 5:45 but I managed to fall back asleep for a few minutes. I got ready pretty quickly and had breakfast. Everyone was still asleep at the shelter so I was trying not to make too much noise. One of the highlights of my morning was the privy - someone had taken the time to copy the entire book "The Lorax" onto the privy wall. How cool is that? My favorite Dr. Seuss book right there in the middle of the woods!I got moving at 7:27 a.m., the earliest I've ever left camp. I knew that if I was going to try for 17 miles, I had better give myself plenty of time to do so. The first mile went fast and was pretty easy. The next three were all uphill but it was really gradual so it didn't even feel bad. I stopped to change my socks and Corker passed me. Shortly after that, Melk, Yellow Jacket and Take it Easy, Red'sMan and Nimrod, and JB all came up too. It was a shelter reunion. We all took a break at Buzzard Rock. I had some GORP and took some photos, enjoying the scenery and the company.The next section of the trail got pretty rocky - but still bearable. We went mostly up and down the whole time. I was hiking near Melk for most of this part. We all took another break at VA 600 and admired the hill across the road which we'd soon be climbing. So, we climbed that hill for about a mile, the trail flattened a bit for abother mile and then it was right back up. The trail was rocky and rooty and I was feeling pretty tuckered out, but not to worry - I had my ibuprofen close in hand. We were over 5,000 feet in elevation nd everything reflected that - very alpine.We got to Thomas Knob Shelter at 2:15 p.m. and stopped for a snack and rest. We met a guy who thru-hiked before and he shared bananas and Moon Pies with us. Mmm. It was here that we first encountered the feral ponies. There were about eight of them right past the shelter so Melk, Yellow Jacket, Take it Easy, and I went to play. Good times.Back on the trail and it was nice at first. My feet were already tired but it was only five more miles to the next shelter, my goal for the day. And the terrain looked like it should cooperate too. But soon the whole trail turned to rocks. Big rocks, little rocks. About two miles later, I was ready to be done. Too many rocks! Even with the ponies about, I questioned it. My feet, ankles, shoulders, knees and back were all sore. Ouch. I caught up to Yellow Jacket and Take it Easy and followed them in to the shelter. The last mile was pretty flat but I felt like I was crawling.I made it to the shelter at ten after 5 p.m. So thankful to be here. My book said nothing but the ATC book said tent camping is not allowed here due to the fragility of the area, so I decided to obey and stay in the shelter tonight - only my second night on the trail in a shelter. I am happy with that decision now because it's raining pretty steadily and I sort of don't feel like dealing with Wet Tent in the morning. I am here tonight with Corker, Melk, Young Eagle, JB, Yellow Jacket, Take it Easy, Red'sMan and Nimrod, and some guy that hasn't said two words since 5 p.m.It was a good day and I feel really good about doing over 17 miles. It was nice to hike and leapfrog with the same group from the shelter last night. We all got here and joked about Soot from last night - lots to joke about. All in all a good day but now I'm sleepy.-Sound of rain on the shelter roof, Melk snoring. Post Trail Thoughts:The week out of Damascus was probably the most productive week I had on the trail - and certainly a ton of fun. I seemed to fall in with the same crowd each night and the group breaks during the day were always entertaining. J.B. was a riot and just a hiking machine. He helped set the pace for everyone and we all had fun doing it.When we all set up in the shelter that night, Young Eagle sest up his TarpTent. He ended up choosing to come into the shelter because his tent wasn't working very well. Melk, who taught me all I know about shelter etiquette, told us all to move over - there was always rooms for one more!There was a really big rock past some trees in front of the shelter. It had great cell service.