Date: 2007-05-23
From: Damascus, VA

To: VA 603
Miles today: 23.6

Woke up this morning early because my Dad had to go Tennessee for some business meeting. My brother has to go with him. Hahaha! I get to go hiking! We grabbed a few biscuits at the gas station and ate them on the way to the trail. We got to the trail and took some pictures real quick and said our goodbyes. It sucked so bad saying bye to my Dad and brother because I won't see them until Katahdin. It was heard to do but I was at peace with it. I headed up the trail and they pulled away honking the horn. What a great send off, I love how my Dad does that. I immediately shot up the trail at over 3mph. I knew I had some serious miles to make to catch the guys but I was confident that I would catch them tonight. In only a couple of miles I came into farmers field filled with cows and a couple of big bulls. That was cool. I climbed really hard for a bit going up Whitetop Mtn. At buzzard rock I had an amazing above the clouds view. I stopped there and took a couple of pictures. I was totally overrun with longing for my brother. I was at that moment staring at the view that he had always described as the one he wanted to see. I fought back most of my tears and said a little prayer for him. After moving the trail skirted some of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. I passed a female hiker named Peach as she was getting water from a spring. I hauled ass to Thomas Knob for lunch. I encountered some beautiful views on the way and got a couple of pics. After dodging a little ran shower duing lunch I headed out of the shelter towards the Grayson Highlands. I hiked the highlands the other day as you already know but I had wanted to hike them again. They are beautiful. Just after the shelter I encountered Peach having an up close and personal encounter with the famous highland ponies. We hung out there for a bit and gome good pictures. After that I went over the coolest ridge on earth. I can't even attempt to describe its beauty. Soon thereafter I entered the highlands proper and enjoyed seeing the same trail my brother and I hiked only a few days ago. I stopped for an half hour break at Wise Shelter. Ive been listening to thunder all day and was quite concerned about it while on the exposed ridge but other than a few sprinkles the weather held off.I made it to Old Orchard shelter and cooked dinner. I was so tired when i got there i didn't want to walk another mile but I wanted to catch the guys. I was sure they were at Hurricane Mtn. Shelter so I pushed on after dinner. I go to VA603 where our dayhike ended the other day and there were some people I knew camped there. They bore bad news. They told me that the rest of my group hitched into some hostel almost 10 miles ahead. They skipped this section we had hiked the other day and slacked 8 miles ahead to Troutdale, VA. So the guys were 8 trail miles and a hitch ahead of me. It was almost dark when I got to camp so I decided to hold up there for the night. There were some southbound section hikers there that shared their whiskey with me. We had a good time until around 9pm. It's hiker midnight so I'm off to bed. Hopefull I'll catch the guys tomorrow. I WISH YOU COULD HAVE SEEN IT AUST! Big Shanty