Date: 2008-06-07
From: Damascus, VA

To: Lost Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: scattered clouds

First off, I would just like to thank everyone for all of the messages and words of encouragement. We have some pretty rough days out here, days that make you laugh at the rough days you had at home. So it really adds a lot to my day to get to hear from you guys. I've also finished putting up all of my pictures from the trip so far at www.flickr.com/photos/hippoalman   (It's kind of weird not to have had some one call you by your real name for over a month) Anyways, back to the day at hand. I got up about 8:30 and finished up my packing. I went by Conductor's to drop off his ice packs that I had borrowed and say farewell, but he was not home. Cornelius and I then took our shared bounce box to the post office to mail to Pearisburg - it's up to 31 lbs now! Stopped back by the outfitters to pick up some Mountain Hardwear Canyon Shorts, all my TNF shorts have developed holes in the pockets. I stopped by the Inn to pick up my pack and say goodbye to Suzanne and thank her for taking care of me. We all decided to meet at Mojoe's before hitting the trail, and we ran into Conductor mountain biking on the Creeper Trail on our walk to Mojoe's. We said goodbye and moved on to the coffee shop. He is going to try to drive up and meet us somewhere in the next few weeks to leave us some trail magic. I had my last iced latte at the coffee shop and finally left around noon. It's about 95 degrees outside. The Virginia Creeper Trail and the AT parallel each other for quite a ways, and cross each other at several intervals. Dr. Z is hiking some of the Creeper today - which is a much easier grade, and a much smarter choice on her part. The climb out of Damascus was really tiring and boring. I ran out of water on the huge climb up to the largest of the viewless summits. Then it was a half a mile walk to the closest water source, which was very misleading according to the sign distance. So let me give you an idea of the AT on days like today. We descend off a large mountain -which offered no views in reward for the climb- when we hear a faint glorious sound, the rush of water. Most of the creeks we cross are too small to actually get your whole body into, so when we hear a large rushing body of water it is a very exciting deal. You feel your pace begin to quicken as each step brings the sound of this water nearer and nearer. Then finally you see it, a large deep creek, with children along its banks actually canonballing into the deep water. I consult the guidebook and inform Cornelius that there is a water source coming up soon, so we must cross the creek and some point, which means a swimming pitstop. In fact, we can see the Creeper Trail running alongside the creek, which means we must cross it at some point. However, just as we get close enough to almost break into a sprint to the water, the AT turns back away from the river and heads straight up the side of another mountain. Why do you tease us so? And there's even a diner located on the Creeper Trail. Dr. Z had the right idea today. We finally made it to the shelter around 8:20, just before dark. We were able to squeeze everyone in the shelter - it was quite a crowd which always makes it fun. Had some Ramen and the last of my Dunakroos.Too tired to really work on the journal or read. Rewind got everyone out of the shelter with a possible bear sighting. Remy was sure to grab his deadly throwing knife to protect us, but there was no bear, so we all just went to sleep.