Date: 2006-04-27
From: Saunders Shelter

To: Deep Gap
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: clear sky

An easy day and a good day for walking. The trail was level and the miles fell away. Only one small mountain at the end of the trail.I Had a leisurely start after my now customary hot breakfast & Sumo was out quickly as were Chow Chow and Hinds Feet, 2 girls in early 20s hiking together. The three of them are trail friends.The morning started damp, cloudy and chilly but warmed up into a sunny day. Much of today's walking was through old orchards and groves. No underbrush and the grass is green. The ground is blanketed with small white flowers and sprinkled with blues and purples. Spring is beautiful here.Six miles into the hike I stopped at Lost Mountain Shelter for lunch. I was in no hurry and wanted to enjoy the day. I pulled in and found Sumo sitting and talking with two guys I'd met briefly in Damascus, ParkBench and Lunchbox. Great guys. They're from Ohio, but the border part of Ohio with Kentucky and West Virginia, definitely southern mountain boys. They were drying tents, tarps and sleeping bags. They'd left town long after Sumo and me and got caught in last night's thunder and heavy rain. They'd thrown up tents adn slept beneath an overhangin rock. Hasn't happened to me yet, but I'm sure I'll get my chance.Sumo moved on and Park Bench told me to feel free to stay awhile. A nice invite and a good chance to get aquainted with more hikers. The guys are hillarious and both very experienced with the outdoors. Park Bench was telling stories about growing up in rural Ohio, raised in a place in a holler on a gravel road. I told him I don't know exactly what a holler is, but that a gravel road sounds pretty high class. He said his uncle was the mayor, a part time job, and saw to it that they had gravel while all the other hollers are on dirt roads.I'd heard these guys singing mountain hill billy songs, one about a chicken with a wooden leg. Lunchbox, named after Bob of Jay and Silent Bob, pulled a banjo out of his pack. I'd heard there was on the trail who carried one. I told him there another hiker called Banjo Man from Northern Maine also carrying one. He picked while Park Bench sang, a great way to spend an afternoon. They were in no hurry and neither was I. I made a cup of tea and one for Park Bench as well. He broke out some cherry Pop Tarts and we shared the best part of the day.I hiked on in a great mood and headed up the trail towards Mt. Rogers. At 5700 feet, Rogers is one of the highest we'll see for a while. Trail wisdom says hold onto your winter gear until passing Rogers and then switch out to lighter summer gear.The approach to Rogers climbs Whitetop Mountain to Buzzard Rock. It's treeless, an open meadow. The Virginia mountains spread out behind with a dramatic view from Buzzard. The wind was whipping and kept me cool. The day was humid and I was working up a sweat.My plan had been to reach Thomas Knob shelter on Rogers but after a 2 hour lunch I Decided I might have to alter the plan. Rogers is an uphill climb and I didn't feel like taking it in the dark. Last night's hike had been great, but I saw no reason to push through.The trail leveled out at Deep Gap where there was a wide open clearing, flat and with a fire ring. A sign and the guide book warned that there was no camping here so the environment could recover from heavy use. I was sure I had passed the 500 feet in recovery and found a perfect spot for my tent. As the dark set in I gathered fire wood, set up tent and cooking area and tried to get the going. I light good fires, usually with just one match. No luck tonight though with the wood still wet from the storm. No matter. I cooked and ate in the dark and then retired to my tent.I fell asleep right away and was disturbed only by a strange animal sound a few yards away. I'd not heard anything like it in teh past few months. It gave me the chills and I crossed fingers that whatever it was would go away. After 4 or 5 times it finally stopped. I relaxed again and drifted off.A terrific day.