Date: 2008-05-01
From: Rock Spring Hut

To: Thornton Gap-Luray,VA
Miles today: 14.1

Thur May 1 Day#67am Happy May Day! The hut/shelter faces West...so, the Sunrise crept in gradually this morning. We stir slowly...It was cool again last nite (40 degrees)with some breezy conditions...but, not too bad."Strides" & "Spruce" were in the hut last night too. We all get up @ the same time. "Strides" is also heading into Luray,VA for re-supply (he'll get there hours before us!).."Spruce" is heading NoBo for 28 miles today (WOW!!!)I start the day with a rather large heel blister on my left foot...after some Doctoring..it seems okay.We all head outta the Rock Spring hut @ about 8:30am.Jigsaw 7 I hike by a picnic shelter 7 up Hawksbill Mtn & then back down to the gap. We're seeing so many white tailed deer...we've stopped counting.We cross Skyline Drive a few times again today...we then hike up to Crescent Rock Overlook....Sweeeeeet scenery...nice views today. Sunny & projected to be in the low 70s....but, as we hike on past SKYLAND (combo restuarant, lodge horse stables) it starts to rain...(cant predict the weather in these mountains!)..we throw our rain gear on..& continue on...we cross over a couple service roads in the area & then up Stony Man Mtn summit (3097ft elevation)...we see lots of day-hikers out today...then down thru Hughes River Gap we hike over to the Pinnacles picnic grounds...(where we take a 1/2 hour break or so) I call "D-bird"...YES! CELL SERVICE here!woooooo-hoooooooo! "Spruce" joins us for the break...we all talk & take on some H2O & food.After our break its back to the trail...Up, up & up over teh Pinnacle (3370 ft elevation)...lots of unique rock outcroppings on the peaks. Great vistas from the summits.The Sun is now shining & probably low 70s this afternoon...We head down the mtn & stop @ Byrds Nest Shelter #3...where we call our shuttle guys to confirm our shuttle into town from the Gap ahead...(theyre picking us up @ 5pm @ Thornton Gap...just outside of Luray,VA)We confirm & hike on...thru Meadow Spring & then climb up & up to Marys Rock (3514ft elevation)...more unique looking rock formations..large boulders on top of others (weighing probably thousands of tons each)From here...all down...(with the ample supply of rocks on the trail to make it a bit un-comfortable for me as my foot is aching)"Spruce" passes us (he was on top of the summit making phone calls)...after a couple of "rocky" miles downhill we make it to THORNTON GAP (Panorama Parking Lot).....YEA!!!We wait for our shuttle ride (Rodney of Mountain & Valley Shuttle Services)owned by Jim "Skyline" Austin. We met "Skyline" a few years ago near Thomas Knob Shelter. He is also a member of WhiteBlaze.netRodney gives us a tour of Luray,VA as we ride into town...showing us places to eat, ice cream shop (info ALL hikers need to know! hehehehehehe)We get to Budget Inn & check in & actually had to wait on our room to be cleaned! (I guess that reserving the room 2 months in advance thing just wasnt enuff time for them!)The place is a bit disappointing!They charge us $55 for the nite (thats with my AARP card & hiker discount?)(I find out later that the Best Western is $80 per nite)We get to our room (#116)..i turn on the A.C...Jigsaw hits the showers..I re-pack my food bag & take off my shoes...YIKES!...BAD NEWS...I take off (more like peel off) my smelly hikin' socks & my left heel looks like 3 layers of skin has been peeled off & blood is everywhere 9my socks, shoe & my dirty feet)Interestingly enuff...it doesnt hurt..but, it looks horrible.(dont look @ the photo if you have a week stomach)I had a small bandage over my blister all day (with duct tape over it to keep it from slipping) but, they both apparently came off..irritating the blister & doing further damage to my heel (actually cutting it open).My turn for the showers....ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh...HOT water & soap...a magical combination!I get out & dry off & examine my heel wound again...looks bad.We were gonna walk to a restuarant but have opted for pizza hut delivery.We watch TV & eat pizza & talk about whether I can go on or not...I'm gonna let it stay dry tonight & elevated. Tomorrow, I'm gonna carefully wrap my foot & hope for the best!   We have 14+ miles slated for tomorrow & i'll be taking it super slow.I'm tired & hurting...& STUFFed with pizza!Goodnite.......................14.1 miles today!