Date: 2015-05-24
From: Trout Creek/VA 620

To: Four Pines Hostel, VA
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: broken clouds

Angie made everyone a breakfast of scrambled eggs and sausage medley with baked bread. As we ate we began watching Super Troopers with the intention of watching for aw long as we ate, we finished off the entire movie, forgetting how funny it was. Moosehead and I were given the task of throwing out the remaining half of the watermelon that wasn't finished yesterday. With the approval of Angie we took it outside onto their second story balcony and tossed it over, laughing at the sound and sight of the exploding watermelon below.With gear packed I only had 1 final item of business to take care of before leaving - listening to the Baywatch intro theme that had been stuck in my head over the past few days. Satisfied after a flashback to the 90's, we said our farewells to Angie and loaded into Andy's vehicle and began making our way back to the trail ~45 minutes away. It's a good thing the view of gentle rolling hills, grazing cows, and farmers bailing fields of hay in the sunny weather was a good one because Safari realized he had left his wallet behind as we neared the halfway point. Turning around to retrieve it, we would see the same views a total of 3 times. After over an hour in the vehicle, the sun warming my skinvand cool air blowing through the windows, I dozed off for the final half hour of the drive.When we reached the trail, we met Harley who informed us that Burnsides was ahead of us and was planning to stop at a hostel 8 miles up the trail. Our destination was set for the afternoon. With it being around ~4:30pm before we started, we had some miles to make before dark. As we crossed the creek that ran just before the trail began running uphill, we found a dozen Coke's floating in a small pool of water - trail magic when we least expected it. Though I was tempted to pack a couple out, I thought it'd be best to leave some for future hikers. Safari and I quickly downed one for the sugar boost and then hit the trail. We immediately began climbing up Cove Mountain and would rise ~1,500ft over the next ~5.5 miles past Pickle Branch Shelter until we reached the summit at Dragon's Tooth, a large stone monolith jutting around ~30 out of the ridge top. Moosehead and I climbed up to the top, balancing on a ridge no wider than 3ft with steep dropoffs on both sides, and grabbed a few pictures of the ridges and valley's below. The sun was beginning to make it's final pish towards the horizon and, knowing we had just over 2 miles to go, we were quickly back on the trail that would take us down ~1,200ft to VA 624.Within half a mile of leaving the summit we crossed the 700-mile mark. There was nothing noting the exact point so it was a milestone celebrated silently to ourselves. Past Lost Spectacles Gap and Rawie's Rest, I reached VA 624 ahead of Moosehead and Safari and headed along the road just over a quarter mile to Four Pines Hostel, a donation-based hostel held in the three-bay garage of its kind owners. The garage is filled with couches, chairs, several "beds," refrigerators, a microwave, a radio, a pool table, books, a few board games, and a bathroom/shower. Though not the cleanest or most well-kept hostels, for a donation-based place it offers everything a hiker could want, save phone signal or access to 4G. Most importantly, though, might be a giant cooler outside filled with a variety of soda's. This place will do. Four Pines Hostel also offered a free dinner for tons of hikers last weekend at Trail Days so stopping in for a night and leaving a donation goes a long way in returning the favor.Sitting on a couch as I walked in was General Burnsides who we haven't seen on nearly 3 weeks when he hiker ahead on order to attend a wedding in Connecticut. It was nice seeing him again and it'll be nice to have him in the group again should our plans continue to align. A free shuttle to a nearby gas station was offered and several hikers went along to stock on the evening's dinner - mainly pizzas, hamburgers, and wings. Not being super hungry I made myself 2 chili dogs and had a Fat Tire offered by Burnsides. It hit the spot.Lights out was supposed to be at 10:00pm, but it currently nears 11:00pm and hikers are still hanging out and chatting, music playing in the background. I played a round of pool with Burnsides and was quickly humbled.Tomorrow brings McAfee Knob, the most photographed part of the trail. Soon after waits Tinker Cliffs, a ridge you walk along with a steep dropoff on one side. For now I conclude this in good spirits. No matter how nice taking zero days in towns can be, getting spoiled in food and beverage, the mountains continue to call and it was nice to return to the trail today.Here's to feeling like Gallagher, standing atop the Dragon's Tooth, and the return of the General.