Date: 2012-04-24
From: Big Walker Motel, US 52, Bland VA 586.9

To: Jenny Knob Shelter 599.0
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: few clouds

We felt great after our zero day in Bland, even though we the Big Walker Motel was a mile or so from downtown Bland, so we still put in some miles. Also, it was great to avoid yesterday's snow! (Two random thoughts: When we got our new shoes at the PO, we asked the clerk if she could find a home for our old hiking shoes. She assured us she would. Well...when we were paying for our resupply groceries five hours later, a woman came to us, recognized our new hiking shoes and our description, "an older couple" and thanked us for giving away our old shoes. She and her husband operate a "cowboy" church" in the area and give clothes and shoes to homeless folks. It's not often you find out where your donations go. It left us with a good feeling. Secondly, Gary brought an error on this blog to my attention: the total mileage listed is INCORRECT. As of this morning we've actually hiked 586.9 miles from Springer, not counting the approach trail to Springer Mountain. Rest assured, we've hiked past EVERY WHITE BLAZE. It's something I'll fix after the hike. I think I probably listed some daily miles incorrectly. Anyway, please disregard the total miles for the present.) We got up early and met Duffer at 6:45, walked for breakfast, then got a shuttle from Bubba at 7:15. We were on the trail by 7:30, starting on the road, then crossing the interstate, before following the white blazes down a steep trail and across a stream. We then hiked to the top of the ridge in a strong wind. It was really windy and cold, but we warmed up quickly with the uphill hike. We didn't see many flowers, but those we did see were spectacular. We passed a "lady's slipper"...a flower I hadn't seen since childhood. There were also many green, one and a half inch diameter green fruits on the ground. We didn't know what they were, but they were pithy inside, and dimpled on the outside. We also saw a two foot long garter snake on the trail. I took a picture of it before it slithered away. We arrived Jenny Knob Shelter by 12:30, and found "Gorp" reading a book. After awhile, he left to hike on to the next shelter, fifteen miles north. (Random thought: Young people like Gorp were able to start their day's hike much later than we were, yet still hike their 15 miles. We never would have made it to the next shelter, starting at 3:00 in the afternoon, but the twenty somethings hiked much faster than we did, even if they were hiking the same distance as we were.) Duffer was also at Jenny Knob Shelter, and also hiked on, as did "Greenbush." "Just Mike," a section hiker who had thru hiked in 2000 came in, and spent the night, as did "Kittens," "Tickle Monster," and five or so others. (Random thought: Kittens had earned his trail name talking to his dad before the hike, and his dad advised him not to get a silly trail name like "Kittens," so he got this trail name just to tease his dad. At least that's what we remember. He even wore a pink T-shirt with a picture of two kittens on it! "Tickle Monster" was always playing around, and always had a smile on his face.) After laying out our sleeping pads and bags, we went for water, not an easy task. The blue blazed trail wasn't well marked, and deteriorated from there, but finally reached a nice little stream. (Random note: It turned out that there was water on the other side of the shelter, down another blue-blazed trail, much closer, and easier to find.) A nap was also on the schedule, since we'd arrived so early. Later on, we enjoyed a campfire with Kittens, Tickle Monster, and the other young guys. We knew they'd soon be far ahead of us, but it was nice to camp with them on this pleasant evening. The day's hike seemed short, but Gary was hoping that a short day would help heal his sore leg. Life is nice on the Appalachian Trail, especially when you get in early once in awhile.