Date: 2010-06-04
From: Thorton Gap/ Cabin in Graves Mtn.

To: Little Hogback Mtn/ Front Royal, VA
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: broken clouds

- Slept in a bit and then packed up and had breakfast before heading back to the trail with Maggie and Traci. The visit was FAR too short, but it was absolutely wonderful to see them and to meet Bart and Bartley! Thank you all SO much for your amazing hospitality and support of our hikes! Braids and I both have an open invitation to come back up and visit, and I really hope to take them up on that offer within the next year or so. Thanks again for everything! We had a great time!- Got back on trail and started hiking around 11:30. Planned to hike about 15 miles to Gravel Springs Hut, then tomorrow I would get up early, leave by 6, and hike fast to get to the post office before 1:00. By the time we reached Elkwallow Wayside, we were both feeling pretty unmotivated. Braids' knee was really hurting, and I was not looking forward to hurrying to the post office so quickly.(Note- I'm clearly not sticking to the "bullet point" thing very well and must be in more of a narrative writing mood, so I guess I give up.)I got my requisite blackberry milkshake (good, but not quite as incredible as I'd expected). I had planned to get lunch, too, but somehow just didn't feel hungry enough to bother. While sitting there, Braids and I quickly realized that we could do as we did in Waynesboro- hitch in and get a hotel room for two nights instead of one, slackpacking the remaining distance to town tomorrow. We were discussing this plan at the Wayside and caught the attention of Seeker, another female hiker who I had just met, but Braids had met back in the Smokies. She quickly agreed to join us, and we formulated a plan. We decided to hike on until fairly near the shelter to give us a shorter slack tomorrow. We hoped to miss the coming storms, but this did not happen. About halfway to our hitching point, a light rain started up. Very suddenly, the sky just opened up and we all got drenched. Within just a couple of minutes, the trail had become a river! A bolt of lighting hit very close by. It was a quick, but powerful storm! I was really scared at first, but then started singing happy songs about beautiful weather ( like "Zip-a-dee-do-da", etc). I soon found myself laughing and kicking my feet through the water. Strangely enough, this was one of my favorite hiking moments since Springer. (Unfortunately, I don't think Braids had quite the same experience.)We were soon at our hitching point, worried that no one would want sopping wet, muddy hikers in their car. To make matters worse, there was almost no northbound traffic on Skyline Drive. We ended up waiting a while, but the second or third car that passed took pity on us. A very kind couple in an SUV welcomed us in. We felt bad putting our wet, muddy selves in their very clean backseat, but were insanely grateful for the ride. They took us straight to the door of the Quality Inn. Thank you!!!Soon we were once again warm and dry, and all getting in better spirits. Seeker (of whom I am already quite fond) and I split a wonderfully garlicky pizza, and have packaged some up for tomorrow's lunch. One other bit of major added excitement- Red Hat is here!!! Yay!Now I'm off to sleep for slackpacking and post office tomorrow.Postscript, June 4, 2011: Oh boy! This was an emotionally intense day, but also a wonderful one, for two main reasons- 1. we got through it and came out smiling on the other side, and 2. I met Seeker that day. We spent some wonderful time with her recently at Trail Days, and she will always remain near and dear to my heart.