Date: 2021-08-19
From: Trimpi Shelter 

To: Big Walker Creek campsite
Miles today: 19.97
Weather: scattered clouds

It¢s still an adjustment for me to not be up at 4:45 like I was on the trail in New England. At 5:45 this morning it was still pitch dark in the Virginia woods and wasn¢t light enough to hike until 6:45.  I put on my still-wet clothes and shoes from yesterday and took down my camp set up.  Quiksilver was having a blister issue, so I warily unpacked my pack by the shelter (keeping an eye peeled for early rising bees) and gave some moleskin to him before packing back up and getting trail bound at 7. We agreed to meet up at Old Orchard Shelter about 15 miles away just to make sure we were both feeling good and were on target for our planned 20 mile day. I chose not to wear sock liners today, hoping that just having my merino wool hiking socks on would allow my feet to dry better during the day, if given an opportunity. I won¢t go into groddy detail, but my toes aren¢t looking so fine between nail issues and blisters from the previous two wet days. My left achilles is still a bit tender from stepping in a hole in the front yard of the Weary Feet hostel a few days ago. Something upon which to keep an eye. It was a green tunnel day on the trail with no views to be had and the trail was quite rocky at times, requiring my full attention on each step. The three climbs on the day were not strenuous at all with good inclines up all three. I only spied one deer today as it ran off to the left as I approached it. Not much other wildlife to be seen, either. I was able to send out yesterday¢s journal entry at the top of climb number two, so that was a relief. I reached the Old Orchard Shelter at 1:15 and had my breakfast/lunch. I had only stopped briefly up until then to grab a liter of water from a stream, not even bothering to take off my pack. I munched a peanut butter and Cheetos wrap (variety bring the spice of life) along with a few odds and ends from my food bag. Two SOBO section hikers arrived and I chatted with them for a bit before Quiksilver arrived.  We both were feeling good and agreed to hike another 5.4 miles to the campsite we had picked out. This last section (after finishing the climb to 4952 feet) brought us into the Grayson Highlands area of Virginia. The highlands used to be a big ranching area and the US Forest Service now owns most of it and has stocked the area with ¢wild¢ ponies that serve to keep the vegetation chewed down. I crossed a few different gated areas designed to keep the ponies in place, and much like the Moose up north, the trail was littered with signs of their presence. I didn¢t see any ponies today, but will have one more chance tomorrow as I hike on. We arrived at the Big Wilson Creek campsite just about the time the scattered showers and thundershowers did. I set up in the rain, had dinner in the sun, and then packed up my food bag in the rain once more. Pony ¢sign¢ is littered all over the ground here and it¢s possible we may get a visit during the night. I can hear more thunder in the distance as I write this, not sure what the weather has in store for me tomorrow, but I¢m hoping for some clear skies as we climb up over 5000 feet twice before starting the downhill into Damascus on Saturday. Sometime in the morning we will pass the 500 miles to go mark.  That seems like a pretty big number still!