Date: 2008-06-04
From: Reed's Gap 

To: Dutch House, Montebello, VA
Miles today: 21.0

Alrighty, then. This was a big one.    A day filled to the brim with Virginia summertime hiking features. Heat. 100% humidity. Black flies. The Priest, a 4K mountain starting from 970'. Thunder. Awesome stillness.    Earl's Dad shuttled V8, Rabbit and me to Reed's gap right after breakfast this morning. The Weather channel was issuing TORNADO warnings, for heaven's sake, but it was calm when we left, and we thought we could always bail at the 10 mile mark if necessary. So off we went to do a 21 mile slack pack, another opportunity for climate appreciation and adaptation.   Rabbit, whom we had met earlier, graciously hiked along with us much of the day, providing stimulating conversation which helped the miles go by. He can hike very quickly, as his name suggests, but took it easy today.   From the start, I broke into a sweat, and beads were forming on my forearms, face, neck and legs the entire day. Small biting flies had a field day with my legs, as I neglected to pack bug dope. The air was so close, it was hard to breathe. On my way up the Priest, I started feeling like I was going to pass out. My inner dialogue went something like, "This is not THAT hard, Mame, you had plenty to eat the last 3 meals, you have a DAY pack, you are pretty strong now, what's the problem?"    Turns out it was probably hydration deficit and not enough food and snacks. I had zero appetite, and just didn't eat enough to keep my blood sugar stable under that kind of exertion. V8 spotted the problem before I did and got me tending to fluids and snacks, and that helped some. But I sure am not a natural when it comes to southern heat.      We started at 8:30am, and at 1:30 were at the Tye River footbridge. This was where we could call for a shuttle if we wanted to. Did we ever want to! But, the storms were holding off, we COULD still walk, and it was only 1:30, too early to call it a day. I didn't know what to do, and Jan said, "Heck, either choice is a crappy one, so it doesn't matter what you decide." She was right, and I decided to keep going, if only to keep her company if it got bad out. Plus we would both benefit from having that 20 mile section behind us.       To make a long story short, we plugged along, up and down and across, then up some more, before arriving at the Fish Hatchery Rd and AT intersection.   Jeepers, we were cooked.    We heard a 4-wheeler in the distance, and soon saw one rumbling down the road toward us. The nicest guy, named Mutt, stopped to chat, offered us Pepsi and beer, and totally uplifted our collective moods. We hiked our last mile back down that steep, rocky road, and were met at the parking area by Earl,at that point truly a sight for sore eyes.    We soon arrived back at the Dutch Haus, and though it was 7pm, the guests waited for us to shower before starting dinner. Saints, I tell you!    Lois served up chicken parmesan with salad and pasta, and brownie sundaes for dessert. It was all I could do to sit up straight at the table, I was so beat. But now its time for bed, another strenuous day on the AT behind me.   Here's to beds with sheets and kind hosts at hiker friendly establishments such as this one.Marcia JamrogAuntie Mame------------------------------Tell your friend about PocketMail and let the savings start rolling in!