Date: 2007-07-18
From: Elk Garden, VA (VA 600)

To: Mt Rogers NRA HQ (Partnership Shelter).
Miles today: 40.0
Weather: light rain

Section Hike 07-17B - Elk Garden, VA (VA 600) to Mt Rogers NRA HQ (VA 16). Four days - 40.0 miles - Northbound.   Wednesday, 18 July 2007 - My hike over the next four days was exciting. I experienced wild ponies; mountain balds that looked like Alpine meadows in Europe and interesting rock scrambling. My arrival at Elk Garden was to a very foggy bald where visibility was only forty feet. All the Thru-Hikers have gone past this point by now and the hikers I encounter are Section Hikers or Day Hikers.    The fog gives the trail a refreshing feel with a moist forest aroma. I did not go up to the Mt Rogers summit as it was foggy. Took a break at Thomas Knob Shelter. Fog is lifting and I am up on a nice mountain meadow. I can see that I will be doing some rock scrambling today. Trail is a combination of rocky and exposed wet tree roots. A good falling environment.    Sun starts peeking out as I reach Wise Shelter, where I find a church group mostly of young teenage kids. They set up their tents near the shelter and I have the shelter mostly to myself. In the evening around dinner time, it starts to rain and I am joined by most of the church group.   Thursday, 19 July 2007 - Off before the church group is up. Hike over Stone Mountain. Not sure why they call it Stone Mountain as it actually a very grassy plateau. Fog drifts across the grassy meadow in sheets and gives a mystical effect to the landscape. Stop at Old Orchard Shelter for a lunch break. Pass a family of four from Tampa hiking south to Damascus. Steep climb up Iron Mountain, but switchbacks make it easy. Followed an old logging road and then come to Hurricane Mountain Shelter, my home for tonight. This is a recently (2005) built shelter in a level area. At about 7:45 PM it starts to thunder and soon it is raining hard. I am very glad to be in a shelter where I stay dry, warm in my sleeping bag and still enjoy the rain storm.   Friday, 20 July 2007 - Off and down a nice wide logging road. For a change, there is no fog this morning. Even though it is the end of July, there are very few bugs. I spook a bear and hear it running down the ridge crashing through the undergrowth. Reach High Point, the highest point on my hike, but no clear view. The trail now follows a level ridge spine and hiking is easy. I drop down 1140 feet and arrive at Trimpi Shelter. This is the first shelter that I have been in that has bunk beds. I was alone again in the shelter, but it was nice.   Saturday, 21 July 2007 - I will meet Judy at Mt Rogers NRA Headquarters this afternoon. On the way I pass a herd of cows grazing in a wet pasture. Cross over a wooden bridge on the South Fork Holston River. This is good trout fishing and as I look down from the bridge, I can see several trout swimming along the bottom. My challenge for the day will be my climb up Brushy Mountain. In early afternoon when I can make cell phone contact, I call Judy and confirm my pick-up time and location. I am running ahead of schedule so I want her to arrive sooner. Later, as on previous hikes, Judy is hiking back towards me and we join up about a mile from Partnership Shelter. Partnership Shelter is the best shelter I have been to so far on my AT hiking. I sign out on the Trail Register and we return to our motorhome.