Date: 2018-10-20
From: Charlottesville

To: Frazier Discovery Trail Junction
Miles today: 16.3

Before sunrise Heidi and I went to a bagel store for take out breakfast sandwiches and three bagels for my hike. Back home Clark joined us for breakfast. After breakfast I thanked Heidi as Clark and I headed back to the trail via US 33 about half hour away. I had trouble with my leg all morning and when I got out of Clark's SUV at the park entrance I wasn't sure I could even walk that far. Clark suggested a leg stretch for me and I did it. The leg felt so much better. I had to do the exercise several times during the day. I thanked Clark and headed for the park entrance. At the entrance I was asked if I had a pass so I showed the AT permit. She said that's a permit not a pass. I had to pay $15 to reenter the park which was fine with me because I have enjoyed my time there. As I crossed the bridge over US 33 I saw it was 8:30 a.m. Clark said he'd get me on the trail by 8:30 and he did. The sky looked like rain could occur at any moment. When I reached the vista on top of Hightop Mountain the sky was clearing. The trail was excellent all day as it went up mountains and dropped through the gaps. The sun even came out for most of the afternoon. I was hiking in shorts and a sleeveless top. People commented how beautiful the day was. Though being a Saturday, I didn't see many people. I saw a few backpackers and a few day hikers. At Simmons Gap I saw a biker going down Skyline Drive with another person on the front. I thought it was strange. But later at Pinefield Hut a section hiker there named Lost and Found said the guys on the bike were biking to Argentina. Somehow both can pedal. After Ivy Creek Overlook I met Josh and his dogs. One a Doberman Pinscher and the other a little tiny thing. Josh was a Nobo on the AT this year and finished September 1st. The little dog hiked the trail with him but not the Doberman. A short time later I met Judy, a day hiker. She gave me a persimmon cookie. I never had persimmons before but it was good. After dropping to and crossing Ivy Creek the trail followed along the creek's banks for half a mile. Though the ridge walking was beautiful, this was a pleasant change. The trail left the creek and headed up Loft Mountain. The wind had picked up significantly. I stopped at a spring off the trail. The water was gushing out of the white PVC pipe. I like piped springs because of the ease in filling up the bottles. I went another mile to Frazier Discovery Trail junction. The cement post read it was 1.3 miles to the campground. It was 5:30. (These cement posts have a stainless steel band wrapped around it. Information is indented on the band. The lettering is small so I have to get real close and squint to read it.) I wanted to get to the camp store because I had a craving for milk. But I thought once I got to the store I'd still have to continue a half mile beyond the campground and it might be dark by then. So, a few hundred feet beyond the intersection I found a campsite out of the wind and settled in for the night. I've used bear boxes and bear posts before but haven't bear bagged on this trip until tonight. My method in getting the food bag up on the branch is to tie the bear rope around a rock and toss it over a branch. For me it takes several frustrating times to do it. After three attempts I was successful. I pulled the food bag up and secured the other end of the rope to another tree. Despite the leg issue it was a very good day. I am grateful beyond words for the help and hospitality Clark and Heidi provided. The weather was great especially with the warm up. The trail was gentle and beautiful. And I met a few nice people along the trail today. Another blessed day.