Date: 2004-04-13
From: Jenkins Shelter, VA

To: Day 37: I-77 crossing near Bastian, VA
Miles today: 12.0

Since the plan was to do slightly over 24 miles on AT Day 37, I set my alarm for 4:45 a.m., but when I awoke the first thing I noticed that my sleeping bag and jacket were if anything even wetter than the night before ¢ an omen of things to come. I packed and ate as quickly as I could, but because I was trying to stay warm in my sleeping bag while making breakfast, I didn¢t hit the trail until 7:15 a.m., just in time to wake up Mello who only needed to hike 12 miles to a highway where he would hitch a ride to Bland. The rain was very light at the start so I was optimistic that I would make my mega mileage goal, but after about four miles I came upon a sign ¢High Water Trail¢ that clearly destroyed this foolish notion. Why? Well because thinking that by Florida standards the 2-3 inches of rain we had had in the past few days were not all that much, and because I did not want to be considered a pansy for not taking the official ¢white blaze¢ trail, I ignored the optional trail ¢ BIG MISTAKE.The trail immediately started a rather steep descent, a good thing I thought, but it wasn't long before I could hear a rushing river and I started to get worried. However, bull headed I am, so rather than turn around and loose all the time I had already put into this route I pushed on. After perhaps another mile on this trail I was forced to come to a complete halt because the trail ended in a river, well actually it was the rain-swollen Little Wolf Creek. I¢ve never mentioned this before in this journal, but before I start each day¢s hike I say I silent prayer that I will not have to use my water sandals ¢ today my prayers clearly weren¢t going to be answered. So I put my pack down, took off my boots and socks, rolled my pants up, unhooked my hip belt (so the pack could come off easily should I fall in), put on my water sandals, and using my hiking poles for balance I waded across the freezing water. On the other side, while I reversed the process it started to rain again and I started to shiver. Rushing along so I could warm up and get back on my mega mileage schedule I dashed down the trail only to find a second and this time even deeper and wider creek crossing. Realizing that I had to get back to the original side of the creek where the High Water trail was, I wasn¢t too concerned ¢ only cold ¢ when I repeated the water fording process, but within another 50 yards or so, I came upon my third, and then after another short distance my fourth fording and each time the water was getting deeper and faster since I was hiking downhill. By the time I got to my fifth water fording, I knew I was in trouble, so this time I decided to not redress and instead hike in my water sandals ¢ my feet were numb by now anyway.After finishing my sixth fording the trail took a steep upturn and I thought the drama was over, so I stopped to put my socks and boots back on. While I was doing this, much to my surprise up came Mello who told me that he hadn¢t bothered to remove his boots with any of the fordings so he was able to make up the 45-60 minute head start I had on him that morning. I wished Mello good luck with the rest of his hike and finished dressing. Less than 10 minutes later the trail turned downhill and I found Mello standing there staring at the now increasingly dangerous looking creek. He solemnly told me that I should put my sandals back on as he was going to try and cross barefooted since he was convinced that removing his heavy boots would give himself additional balance. I of course concurred and allowed the much larger Mello to attempt the fording first while I watched. He succeeded so I followed. Realizing that we each had at least one more fording we went on ahead without redressing and soon our reasoning was ¢rewarded¢ with our eighth creek fording. By now we were both getting quite concerned about our personal safety so we agreed to hike together in case we needed to help or rescue one another.By the time we finally did reach the end of this challenging watercourse we had crossed and re-crossed it at least 12 times and on several the ice cold water was half way up my thighs, both Mello and I had had to help each other once, and I slipped and got my boots, socks and half my jacket soaked. Needless to say I was also quite cold and resigned to the fact that my 24-mile goal was now impossible. Thus, by the time I crossed I-77 around 3:00 p.m. I realized that I would have to call my wife to change our pick-up schedule. Luckily I had cell phone transmission, but since her phone was in roam mode I had to leave a message telling her where I was and that I would be at least five hours late in arriving in Pearisburg on Thursday. Then came the biggest surprise, my wife immediately called back. I was surprised since this was our first successful cell phone conversation since I left Amicalola Falls State Park in GA. Listening to my condition, my wife quickly offered to come pick me up immediately since she said the weather was supposed to get a lot worse before it got any better. Standing there, soaking wet, this offer was too good to pass up so even though I had only hiked 12 miles, I agreed and I naively thought this cold wet week had finally come to a close.I say ¢thought¢ because when we reached our recreational trailer parked along the ¢New River¢ in Pearisburg, it was clear that the river was rising and that our home was in danger. My wife¢s trail journal will have more information on this last challenge, but suffice it to say that by the middle of the next day we had been wading around in the ice cold river water of our now swamped trailer which had to be pulled out by a more experienced truck driver and re-parked in a higher area of the same ¢Riverview Campground.¢ As I sit here typing this journal, I note that the river is still rising so I may take a second zero day in order to be available should I need to help my wife make an emergency evacuation. Besides, I also note that there is now a fresh layer of snow on all of the mountains around here, snow that I will have to cross should I leave tomorrow. Either way, I am sure there will be more interesting adventures to come ¢ now to prepare for a quick three-day hike into Pearisburg to get back on schedule.