Date: 2014-05-05
From: Vandeventer Shelter

To: Iron Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 6.8
Weather: clear sky

I did 6.8 miles today and I am tempted to say did "only". But in real time when hiking there is no "only". If it's only a mile and uphill it may be only an hour. With up-and-down hills, sun, full pack and 4,000 feet altitude, it has been a full day. My hat shaded my face from the sun and a nearly constant breeze made an enjoyable hike.The grass is growing by the trail and mayapples are springing up everywhere, now with buds hanging getting ready to bloom. Very few other bushes have leafed out at this altitude.I tried sleeping late and having a lazy day but I was wide awake by 8. The sun rose early on top of Iron Mountain and my shelter mates were gone by the time I rolled out. I ate a couple of Nature Valley sweet and salty bars and started my hike.I began to notice Iron Mountain is a long mostly straight ridge with a valley on the east side and assorted ridges on west side. This open valley on right is unusual for what I have experienced so far. From my vantage point on the ridge I passed some houses and businesses at upper end of the lake, the a farm, a factory and then more farms. Whenever I see those remote farms and homesteads at the base of a tall mountain, I think that would be a neat but rugged place to live.I stopped at a spring to refill my bottles since today was a high water consumption day and saw McGiver who also stopped for a break. The location was a nice camp sight with nice logs to sit on and relax. He had been going about the same pace as me but I had not seen him since I took the week off at Hot Springs (for my Aunt's funeral). I would have expected him to be in Virginia by now but it turned out he took off a week for illness. A bit of trail magic for him, a hiking friend's mother who is a nurse and lives in the area helped him out.Since I knew he was acquainted with one of my favorite couples, B-Man and Jo Cool, I asked about them. He said they were ahead of us in Virginia. It would be worth making it to Trail days in Damascus just to reconnect with them.I planned on a quiet afternoon at the shelter so I could write my trail journal but people keep stopping by and chatting--some on break and others calling it a day and setting up camp. One of the things I mentioned in my confession to Father Matthew yesterday was about being too busy trying to make miles or write a blog to slow down and be more friendly. ByPass and Song Bird were good inspiration for me the day we slack packed because they stopped and spoke to everyone that would give a second. They already knew most of them, but if not, introduced themselves and got the hiker's story. So, I have spent most of my afternoon visiting and enjoying it very much. Staying in the shelters provides good opportunities to get acquainted and then as I hike they become traveling companions at least to the first mountain. My friend Donna sent me a quote today that says according to an old African proverb, "If you want to go fast go alone but if you want to go far, go together."Just so I can remember, some I have met or got better acquainted with are Ufda, Hobe, Mosey and Jungle Jim, Matt aka Everton, Beans, Bama, Kokopelli and probably more by dusk.