Date: 2010-04-29
From: Sarver's Cabin

To: north of the Dragons Tooth (entry three of four)
Miles today: 24.0

Fraser FirSection HikerAppalachian TrailGeorgia to MaineYear Six-Day Seven04-29-2010 Entry #3Sarver¢s Hollow to parking area near Hwy 311 north of the Dragons ToothAs quickly as I went up Brush Mountain, I came right back down the other side.I want to push on to a store that is seven miles away off of Hwy.311.The convenience store is seven plus miles away and it is around 5:30 p.m. as we speak.There is a very good chance that it will be closed when I arrive; I decide to stop here at Trout Creek, use the precious water supply and cook lasagna for dinner. After filling up on fluids and mixing the rest of my electrolyte powder with water, I do not feel so good.I lay down on the north side of Trout Creek. I am dizzy. I notice salt ¢deposits¢ on my backpack straps and on my shirt. It is very hot today. Reluctantly, I eat. I am not hungry at all and I should be very hungry. I make myself eat my entire meal and then I get up and ponder whether I should stop at Pickle Branch Shelter for the evening.I am starting to wonder if all of the unfiltered water is getting ¢a hold¢ of me as well. No reason to sweat it. This part of the trail, like everything that I have experienced is just absolutely amazing. The trail in this section moves in an almost ¢V¢ direction. I start out hiking south east, then head north and then south west as I yearn to get to the top of the Dragons Tooth. Every time that I believe that I am near the Tooth, I am only fooled into believing that I am almost there. The climbing becomes technical as soon as I am headed in a south by south west direction.The dinner must have done me good because I am feeling better. The fluids are catching up to me as well because my heat exhaustion, whatever has appeared to subside.The climbing is tough, but the views are certainly rewarding. My feet are aching somewhat and when I get to the summit; I am going to put on my crocs.Overall, my feet have been behaving over the past few days, so I have no complaints.Especially considering many people in the world do not even own one pair of shoes. Many children ¢share¢ shoes amongst each other in third world villages while I have several pairs at my disposal. We got involved with a group last year that collected shoes for youngsters in Mexico. The group of people went on to visit the kids, wash their feet and put their new shoes on. talk about awesome??The sunset going up the Dragons Tooth is simply spectacular. As it is getting somewhat darker, it is starting to cool off and the views are commanding of the Catawba area. Virginia is so beautiful. No wonder the trail travels 548 miles in this wonderful state!As I continue south-west toward the Pinnacle, out of no-where, literally like out of no-where there is a young lady- probably in her upper teens out walking on the Appalachian Trail. I look at my new watch and it is near 7:30 p.m. It is cooling off and it is getting dark. She has on high-top shoes with a short sleeve shirt and Capri pants. The young lady has no back pack; no water; no food and no flashlight or head lamp. I am telling you this brief description because she would end up missing later on in the evening and I would have to re-call how she appeared.to be continued on final entry of 04-29.