Date: 2008-04-12
From: Knot Maul Branch Shelter (2280')

To: Campsite near VA615, Laurel Creek (2460')
Miles today: 24.0
Weather: clear sky

Last night was really warm. I just slept in my underwear and sleeping bag liner with my sleeping bag unzipped. It was a first. As I was falling asleep Matthew from Saunters shelter showed up and had also hiked 25.5 from partnership shelter. I had not expected anyone to show up and if anyone possibly Dynamite but it had been a couple of days since we had seen CJ and even longer since seeing Matthew. I got some good sleep and woke up pretty early. It wasn't cold out so I was able to pack up right away. The warm weather has been a pleasant surprise and a taste of what to look forward to later on.I was hiking at 7:45 after 4 pop tarts and soon afterwards ran into Matthew and hiked with him for a little. Its funny how when someone talks about a story from the trail you are able to think of where you were at that time by comparing what the weather was like that day and night. The climb up to Chesnut Knob was the biggest we have done in a couple of days but it was still very nice. Everything in the sky had cleared by the time I reached the top and there were beautiful views as the sun was shining on the stone shelter with a front door and the large valley a few hundred feet below with green farmland lit up by the sun. I took a half hour to 45 min break to enjoy it and eat in the unusual shelter. It was nice but had no water. The next 10 mi to Jerkins Shelter was gradual mostly but very rocky so it was slow and you had to be careful. Right before Chesnut Knob I had seen 4 or 5 deer run away from me (I was able to count 4 white tails heading down the mountain but there could've been 1 more) and after chesnut knob there were 2 deer that ran up the ridge above me. I got a good look at these 2 as they hung out above me looking down. I reached Jerkins around 3:30 and drank 2 liters of water and put another in my camelbak. I anticipated calling it a day but I wanted to camp further out to make tomorrow and the next day shorter. I was at Jerkins for an hour and didn't see anyone and the mosquitos were biting (a first so far for this trip) so I decided to keep moving. It was about 1 mi up and then 4 mi slowly down. It was very nice and gradual and when I reached the road there was a 1/2 mi detour along the road. I saw a hawk flying above and a ribcage in the woods by the road. The ribcage was weird and there was trash everywhere as well as some blazes that were painted over. All together it was unsettling but when I finally did turn into the woods on the other side of the road I came across campsites with picnic tables and a stream. It was nice and I checked ahead and grabbed a second spot a little further up the trail. I set up my tent which was still wet from the night I camped at the highlands, got some water, and made a fire. There was a lot of good wood around so the fire was easy and big. I eventually boiled water over it and ate a mountain house like meal (the brand was "natural high" but it had almoust exactly the same calories and servings as a mountain house) which was turkey gravy and mashed potatoes which I missed with a medium bag of beef jerky. I eventually ate a butterfinger crunch, and Reeses nutrageous (both king size) as well as half a Hersheys special dark bar. I felt pretty good and my fire was still going I could turn off my headlamp and use the moonlight pretty well. Moonlight is eerie but very cool once you get adjusted. Its clear but windy but also not that cold. I'm in my tent which is dried and I'm out of the wind. I have it raised up in the back higher than usual which makes it much larger. Tomorrow might be another 20+ miler to have shorter mileage to the food resupply.