Date: 2016-08-20
From: VA 600, Elk Garden

To: Luther Hasson get Memorial Bridge
Miles today: 9.9

We arrived at the trailhead to find a flurry of a activity. A road crew was resurfacing the road. The parking area was almost full, and there was a group of folks with large butterfly nets trying to catch something near the outhouse/privy. All week we had seen handwritten signs along the road about a "Naturalist Rally." Apparently this was part of that rally.On the walk to the outhouse/privy I checked out the stickers on the cars. I found a sticker for the hike 100 miles program to celebrate the National Park anniversary.   Now we know what Rod's sticker will look like!While in the outhouse/privy I could hear the folks with the nets talking. I could not figure out what they were trying to catch but, whatever it was, they planned to catch, kill, and keep it in alcohol. I hope they were catching some invasive non-native species.Just past the parking area I saw a large web of plastic tubing strung from tree to tree. The trees were maples. Similar to what I saw in Vermont, these were maple syrup taps. I was surprised to see them so far south.The climb out of the gap was gradual and easy. Along the way I met some more naturalist rally attendees who were on a wildflower hike. They assured me I would see lots of beautiful wildflowers. They also said another group was on a mushroom hike. One lady recognized me - she was one of the women picking blueberries I met in Grayson Highlands SP. For a while I could hear the road crew working. The sound traveled a long way up the trail as it switchbacked up the mountain. I felt sorry for the poor animals who lived in that area. They were probably scared and hiding, preventing them from finding food. At least I knew if I kept hiking I would eventually get away from the noise and be able to again enjoy the sounds of nature.Near the mountain top, the road crew noise long gone, I heard what I thought were goats. Instead it was a family picking blueberries. The children were making the goat like noise while playing as their parents picked berries. I stopped to pick a few blueberries, which were large and juicy, but still did not have much flavor.It looked like it could rain, so I kept moving. The AT skirted a high grassy pasture. There was a side trail through the grass into the pasture with wildflowers. I stopped to take a few pictures, and I watched a bee working very hard on a large purple thistle blossom. He was very focused and did not even notice me.The AT temporarily ducked back into the trees, then opened up on a bald. I could see Buzzard Rock off in the distance. The views were beautiful, but I kept a close watch on the weather. I did not want to be caught up here in a thunder storm.I skipped the side trail to the summit of White Top Mountain, but I took a short break at Buzzard Rock. It looked like a beautiful place to check my BG.Shortly after Buzzard Rock the AT ducked back into the trees. The descent was gradual and easy, following the side of the mountain. There were only occassional rocky stretches. I met 3 guys wearing nothing but shorts out trail running NOBO. The last guy had a very long beard - sort of a cross between a hardcore hiker and a trail runner. He reminded me of Forest Gump.I met Rod before the VA 601, Beech Mountain road crossing. There were lots of interesting mushrooms in this area, and I took plenty of pictures.   We stopped at Lost Mountain Shelter for a break. Rod had stopped there earlier and talked with a trail maintainer. He told Rod about a bridge that washed out and had not been replaced. New design requirements drove up the replacement costs significantly. Although the gentleman was clearly frustrated with the government red tape, he loved the AT so much that he still came out frequently to work on the trail. (THANK YOU!)The shelter was clean and well maintained, but Rod said he earlier heard something chewing under it. Unfortunately I could smell the privy well before we reached the shelter.When I signed the shelter journal I also could sense the trail maintainer's frustration.   Someone wrote that a critter had gotten into their food at night. In the morning the person left food - some trail mix, in the shelter for the critter. Obviously the person did not realize he had TWICE contributed to the critter problem.In the journalthe trail maintainer left his own entry. He explained, nicely, that food should be properly secured overnight and never left behind in the shelter.   I could definitely sense his frustration with the whole situation.The last 1.7 miles were very easy. Shortly before the parking area the AT joined the Virginia Creeper Trail - a beautiful rails to trails bike path. The AT/VA Creeper Trail crossed over an old railroad bridge. Access to the parking area was either a mile on the bike path or down a steep embankment at the base of the bridge. Rod was extremely concerned about my going down the embankment - he has never been to the Whites. The embankment was really not so bad. It began to rain, but we reached Maggie before getting soaked.The AT is calling. Tomorrow Rod and Maggie head home, and I will be on my own.