Date: 2006-04-13
From: Cow Camp Gap Shelter

To: Seeley-Woodworth Shelter
Miles today: 10.2
Weather: few clouds

13 Apr 2006 - Destination: Seeley-Woodworth Shelter(10.2 Miles)Before leaving the Cow Camp shelter I reviewed the Dutch Haus information (540-377-2119, they will pick you up at the Fisheries Road Trailhead in Montebello, $25.00/night including breakfast,...) and thought about that as a serious break. It has been a long haul so far. I left the shelter about 09:00. David left about 08:45. I reached the trail intersection, about 1/2 mile up the path around 09:27. It was a gentle but tiring uphill walk. Pack off break for a couple of minutes, water, etc.11:15 - A couple of locals passed me going south. About 15 minutes earlier "Red Ranger" passed me going north, slack packing, after taking a break from the trek from Springer. I am sitting, pack off) at the top of Bald Knob at the US Geological Survey benchmark, where the actual elevation footage seems to be worn down so much that it is unreadable. BAld knob is misnammed. There was lots of growth, grasses and bushes at the knob. There is a gentle breeze and it warm, with lovely mountain top vistas. At 11:25, just as I was stsrting up again, there were contrails as several jets whooshed across the sky, and the distant sound of chainsaws and trees falling to the left.12:36 - Pack off Break for lunch and small nap. I actually left the grassy hilltops around 12:00.12:56 - Trail Magic: A group of Rockbridge Area ladies were coming back from a day hike, apparently doing some trail maintenance and flower observations, when they saw me napping, and until I moved, weren't sure what I was. I got up and we talked. They were on their way back to the parking area several hundred feet behind me, wehre they had theuir cars parked. I was very low on water and had just passed several signs that said there were springs to either side of the trail, but about 0.5 miles away, and had made the decision to keep on going. They did not know of any other water, and were not sure of the springs either. One of the ladies was nice enough to give me a COLD lemon water soda, and the others gave me about a liter of water which should be enough to comfortably hold me to the Piney River.14:00 - 14:15 pack off break & nap. The terrain was a nice (local) 2% downgrade. After the break I pushed hard for about 30 minutes, and then it was back to normal slogging. The ascent was not too bad, and I continued to take pack off breaks every hour or so.19:03, at Piney Creek, finished last of current water and filled (and treated) a two liter bottle, which should last the 2 miles to the shelter. Most of the walk to the shelter will be in the dark. Very real thanks to the Rockbridge ladies.21:15 - Got to the Seeley Woodworth shelter, and it was full. The fire was dimming and everyone was in bags. They squeezed out a space, and by 10:30 we were all bagged. Interesting night with several snorers and people getting up for nocturnal peregenations to the privy. I lost the rest of my dead tooth during the night, when I snacked on some gorp. In the morning, I got up early, and was heading out as they got up. Before I left They named themselves "Joe Liebman, Bill Preston and "The Shockers".