Date: 2008-04-19
From: Wilson Creek Shelter

To: Bryant Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: overcast clouds

At 6:30a, I woke up to the noise of Yeti and Toddy Bear packing up. For some reason, I was "out cold"...I'm glad that I slept so well last night. As usual, my packing up session was interrupted by the "call of the privy." By 7:25a, everyone had used the privy and we began to head north. Halfway up to the Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP), we passed a day hiker--he was around my age--who was wearing a winter jacket, leather mocassins, long pants, a camel back pack, and a beanie...we, however, were in shorts and a T-shirt because it was in the mid-50's. It's kind of funny how "light" we dress in comparison to day hikers/weekend warriors!!! So, we pressed on and had our first encounter with the BRP at mile post (mp) 97.5, but didn't actually cross it until mp 97.Crossing the BRP means a couple of things: 1) We're getting closer to the SNP and 2) we have switched maintaining groups...RATC-->NBATC. After a couple more crossings, we made it to the Bobblets Gap Road, right before the shelter and we all stopped to make "Yellow Snow" (we still call it Yellow Snow even though we haven't seen snow in such a long time). Well, as we were doing this Toddy Bear calmly informed us about a "situation" that had arisen and we hustled to the shelter for water and so that he could remedy this "situation" in the privacy of the shelter/privy, right T. Bear?!? I'm very impressed with the Privy here...it seems to be Handicap accessible. I find this odd because the sidetrail to the shelter is down a rocky trail...how can a wheelchair get down there? I decided to gather 1L of water because our next listed water source was 10 miles further north--Jennings Creek.While reading the Appalachian Times, we found out that Dr. Small Pot has changed his name to Indian Summer. This decision came after he read a poem, entitled INDIAN SUMMER, which was written on the Wilson Creek Shelter wall, but it was rubbed out when we got there. At the Mills Gap Overlook, we got our first glimpse of the James River! At 12:30p, we arrived at the Cove Mnt. Shelter, which has no water, and ate lunch. I had 2 cheese tortillas and a Big Texas Cinnamon Roll. When I read "The Times," I found out that Roundhorse and Brandon (we want him to take the trailname MINI-VAN because he sounded like Roundhorse's mother when we said, "Richard, I was worried sick about you.") have a little bit of whiskey for me which expires on 11:59:59p on April 20th as a birthday gift. I really appreciate their gesture, but I'll probably have to pass because I'm not a fan of liquor! When we got to Jennings Creek, we saw 5 vehicles and a father and son fishing. While gathering water, some guy came out of his truck and chatted with us. When he learned that we were college grads, he asked if any of us are Sigma Chis. I told him that I was from the Zeta Omega chapter and he told me that he was from the Zeta Upsilon chapter. Then, he slipped me "the grip" and bid us farewell. As we were climbing Fork Mnt., we passed 2 girls, guys, and Golden Retrievers. I kind of got excited because I thought this was foreshadowing some weekenders at the shelter, which might mean *TRAIL MAGIC* and some new faces--VA gets somewhat lonely! As we arrived at this huge shelter, we were sadly faced with the truth that we were all alone. The shelter is really nice: There's a HUGE porch, 2-levels, an amazing privy and a nearby water source. Just as we arrived, it started to rain/drizzle and it's still going. Listening to the rain is quite peaceful and very relaxing when trying to lighten your food bag for tomorrow's big climbs!!! I can't wait to get to Glasgow, VA! Even though I'm getting there a day before schedule, and my packages might not be there, I can't wait to get my water pump and 2 birthday packages--1 from home and the other from Briana. Man, I need to take a Nero soon...my feet are KILLING me. It feels as if somebody is cutting the muscle under the arches with a knife and as if million of needles are stabbing the balls of my feet! Also, I need to have a new journal mailed to me because I only have 4 pages left. Well, it's close to 8p and I'm very tired. Oh! I saw my first snake today. Granted he was a black snake, a kind one, this tells me that these "vermins" are coming out of "hibernation" and we need to be more careful when we tread now!!!