Date: 2005-04-22
From: Damascus, VA

To: Va. 859 / Grassy Ridge Road
Miles today: 14.6

We enjoyed another terrific hot breakfast at the Lazy Fox Inn. We went to the post office to drop off our resupply boxes. We then hugged Sandman good-bye. We were headed back out on to the trail and he was headed out for the airport to go home.We started on the trail in town heading north at 9am. It was 71 degrees and sunny out when we started. The hike was going well, although our packs were heavy with 5 days of food. This 5 days of food was heavier than our typical 5 days of food since Boston decided she needs more calories.About 11am we started to see some dark clouds rolling towards us. We picked up our pace as it got darker and the thunder started. We wanted to make it over Straight Mountain before the storm got too close. We did not quite make it over it before the rain hit. The skies opened up around 1pm. The rain came in sheets and buckets before we put our rain-gear on. It was still 70 degrees so we weren't cold, even though we were soaked. When the temperature started to drop, we thought we better put our rain gear on. The temperature dropped from 70 to 56 degrees in about 10 minutes, so on with our rain-gear. Just before we got our rain gear on though, we got pelted with HAIL. It is not fun to be soaked to the skin, 56 degrees out, and pelted with hail. We continued to hike, heading to Lost Mountain Shelter.At this point the trail was a series of great lakes joined by a river. Water was over our shoes on the entire trail. The water sources, such as springs, creeks, streams, and trickles that cross the trail were turned into fast running deep torrents of muddy water. Usually when crossing these water sources there are rocks or logs you can step on from one to another. Now, all of those rocks and logs were submerged. When it was time to cross, you just waded through shin high water. Our shoes were already completely filled with water from walking on the trail so it made no difference to walk through a river.The A.T. joined up with the Virginia Creeper Trail again and we crossed a long wooden bridge and a rock slide area. We did see the results of one new rock/mud slide.We continued on until we reached road Va. 859/Grassy Ridge Road. A nice fella in a pickup truck stopped and asked us if we needed a ride. We were only 1m from Lost Mountain Shelter at this point. Since our Mommas always told us "you should have enough sense to come in out of the rain," we hopped into the truck and headed back to Damascus.Once in town we called up Ginny of the Lazy Fox Inn, and we headed back to her place. After warm showers, dry clothes and hot chocolate, we felt much better.We should probably clarify the decision to head back to town instead of pressing on to Lost Mountain Shelter. The weather forecast for tonight was for below freezing temps, severe thunderstorms, followed by snow. Also, while it was pouring buckets, the temps dropped from 71 to 56 degrees in less than 10 minutes. We then had to duck for cover under some rhododendrums when it started to hail on us. All and all, it was a cold, wet, harsh day of hiking.We are happy to be at the Lazy Fox Inn tonight. After checking the weather channel, it looks like we might also zero tomorrow (Saturday, 23). We had dinner at the Baja Cafe tonight and went to bed. --Nice warm, dry bed. Ahhh!