Date: 2012-04-30
From: US 58 North of Damascus

To: Elk Gardens
Miles today: 18.1
Weather: broken clouds

Two things first......First, I would like to thank all of my family, friends, and others who have been following along on my journals. Your comments, advice, and encouragement mean so much - you have no idea! Connectivity has been a real issue lately, even with Verizon service, which allegedly is the best to have on the AT. While I would like to respond to each of you personally, it is just not possible. But know that your messages get replayed in my mind as I hike each day. Thank you!Second, the goat mystery is solved. When I hiked into Damascus, I ran into a number of hikers that I knew. I was telling a couple of them about the goat and they informed me that the GOAT is hiking the AT! He is the pet of a hiker aptly named Goatman and his name is Buddy. They are hiking southbound - you gotta love it!Today's hike was long and hot - beautiful - but long and hot. The temp was already 67 when I began my 1000 ft ascent. I was whipped by the time I got to the top of that mountain. Fortunately, there were lots of water sources, as I was sweating out as much as I was taking in. By midday it was in mid-80's. To think that a little over a week ago, it was below freezing and I was hiking in snow!Another first today - I met my first Ridgerunner, Regina. A ridgerunner is a seasonal employee hired by the Appalachian Trail Conference to hike a specified portion of the trail - to meet and talk with hikers, explain info about the trail itself, and to generally assist hikers as needed. They are great people. She and I chatted for some time, and then we parted ways as she was headed to Damascus, and I was headed for points north.There sure seemed to be a lot of UPs on the trail today, but perhaps it was only the heat that made it feel that way. I passed up the first shelter (Saunders) as it was 1/4 mile off the trail and trekked on to Lost Mountain shelter. I passed several southbound dayhikers, and 1 northbound thruhiker along the way. I do have to say that Lost Mountain has the nicest privy thus far on the AT. It is strange how such simple things become so much more important out here!From there, I headed UP yet once again toward Whitetop Mountain. This section of the trail was very, very rocky. Big rocks - so I had to do a lot of rock and boulder hopping. I was getting close to Buzzard Rock (aptly named) when I had the bejeezers scared out of me. I was just hiking along when all of a sudden I spotted a RATTLESNAKE! It was coiled, but never gave me any warning. No idea how I did it, but I backpeddled so fast, I am lucky that I didn't fall down the mountain. It just stayed there for awhile and eyed me (thought I might be buzzard food for a bit) and finally slithered off into the grass. From then on, I was overly cautious, which really slowed me down. But I finally made it up to Whitetop.As a finale, I decided to do the next section to Elk Gardens. This section also was pretty rocky, at least for the first half of it. I was really glad when the trail levelled out. Once I cleared the trees, I could see some pretty ominous clouds to the north. So Tagalong and I opted to camp at a lower elevation, in the hope to avoid whatever was brewing.It was a good day, except for the snake!!