Date: 2013-05-14
From: lost mountain shelter

To: wise shelter
Miles today: 17.6
Weather: clear sky

5.14.13 day 44Lost mountain shelter - Wise Shelter17.6 miles - 9.5 hoursAviator is first out of shelter bright & early while we are starting breakfast. Cold sunny morning, warms up once we start hiking. Steady climb through forest then cow pastures. Then up White top mountain, sensational views of green hills and tree covered mountains in the distant. Once near the top, i am recognized by a couple hikers, they are Whistler & Strawberry Donut, both German hikers who are acquaintances of Roadrunner. They wait for pauses in the wind then pose for pictures with the sweet view as a backdrop. Up at the top i see same hills from different perspective, equally impressive. Roadrunner catches up at the summit then i lead the way for descent. We pass a southbound day hiker who is barefoot, says he doesn't want to get footwear because he doesn't want to sell out to the major corporations. Further along, some guys are picking some plants off to the right, tells me they are ramps, green football shaped leaf, red stem, white bulb and roots with onion and garlic taste and odor. Recommends cutting them up and adding to ramen. he points in all directions, i see they are growing everywhere, says they are a regional thing, can find them here on the east coast. I catch up to Blitz, down to VA600 road. Trail magic! It is Co-pilot, who's wife Tyedye is a current thru hiker who we meet at dinnertime and their son Polaris who thru hiked last year. Sodas & sweets, perfect for long sunny day. Blitz is with us, as is Whistler and Strawberry Donut. Brook Trout & Laces arrive also. As we sit on the sunny grass and enjoy the treats, we can see the grassy hill across the street. wooden fencing lines the whole road, a double gate is on the trail footpath. We see a lone tan colored pony appear from the top of the hill, come down to the fence for few moments then zigzag uphill then out of sight. Up to beautiful Grayson highlands through forests of barren trees with buds starting to come out, and floor covered with small wild flowers of white, yellow & purple. We exit forest into cleared pasture land. We see ponies grazing about 200 yards away so we go up to them and see about 8 nearby including 2 mares with foals. Wander off path to where the ponies are, they are unafraid, some even walk up close and inspect us with their nose and lips Up to rocky summit with remarkable views. Snack break at the Thomas Knob shelter, despite wooden fence and turnstile, a mother pony and youngster hang out near the shelter. Behind shelter on rock is nice wide view, can see where we hiked not long ago as well as the highest peak in VA not far away. More ponies along the way, all different colors, sizes and ages. Lots of climbing up & over rock piles. Enter into Grayson Highlands State Park. Some areas of evergreens, other times in open area with grassy fields and hills with white and gray rocks protruding. Pretty tough descent through rocks, clean footwork needed. zig zagging downwards over and around large white rocks. Really unique views looking up and downhill, so different than anything we've seen thus far. down to gravel road, out of the rocky grassy hills. reroute around large rock formation then back into forest along stream, around some fences until we reach the Wise shelter late in the afternoon. Mother and son Tyedye and Polaris are here, as is Aviator and most others seen throughout the day. Dinner on the picnic tables in front. sun goes down behind the hill off to the right. What a magical, memorable day, one of my favorite days thus far. On top of that, another milesone: 500 miles!!!