Date: 2011-04-30
From: Tom Floyd

To: Panorama (final entry of the day)
Miles today: 30.0

Saturday, April 30th (entry four of the day)Fraser FirSection HikerGeorgia to MaineYear: EightDay: SixMiles hiked today: around thirty to thirty-oneI found water as I continued southbound near North Marshal Mountain. The ground was damp, thus I started to dig like a bear would dig.About three inches under the top soil, I found water flowing. I filtered enough for lunch and put the rocks back. Well, at least I tried to put the rocks back where I found them.After climbing Hogback Mountain and taking in some incredible scenery from the Masanutten region, I gazed down upon Elkwallow Wayside and the opportunities that lay therein.Around 3pm or so, I descended to Elkwallow and was happy and joyful to find the wayside open.There are crowds of people everywhere. I leave my pack outside near the door and go in and buy some postcards to mail home and some cokes and other goodies.I run into these guys who are Boy Scout Leaders. They are huffing and puffing. One of the guys looks familiar but they are from Natural Bridge; I do not know them. They are ¢training¢ for an outing to Philmont, or I cannot remember where. I encourage and thank them for their service.They ask me where I started-to make it simple I just say southbound from Tom Floyd Wayside. ¢Tom Floyd??¢ ¢is that not like at the entrance of the national park?¢¢yes sir¢, I say, ¢indeed it is.¢One of the guys takes it personal. He cannot believe that I have hiked that far in one day. I suppose it is around twenty miles so far; to be honest with you I have not kept up with mileage today because it has been easier than normal. I suppose that I want to ¢surprise¢ myself at the end of the day and not focus on the mileage but on the scenery. I will find out around 7:00 pm how far that I went.One of the guys barks, ¢Well, he (meaning me) has been on the A.T all day and the A.T. is easy compared to the trail that we have hiked. We had to hike up from that waterfall.¢I let them go on ahead and can only wish them the best as they look like they are miserable in their overloaded packs and boots. Believe me, I have been in their place many of a times. After my gluttony of soft drinks at the wayside, I hike along to Pass Mountain and go up and over the peak.It is all downhill to Thornton Gap and Panorama. I have no idea where I will camp tonight. At this point, I will stay away from a shelter. It is Saturday night. I want to be alone.I run into my first deer at Thornton Gap. Yeahh!! As I cross the road to Luray, I see two more!!Next, I go up to the visitor center at Panorama and want to fill my water container to the brim.There are signs that caution users to filter their water so I opt to get back on the A.T and continue south to the next reliable water source.I find a superb camp site that is nestled in blue berry bushes. When I go back out to find water, I lay my trekking pole horizontally with the trail as it is getting dark and I want to be able to find my tent and my food bag; which I did a great job of hanging: might I add!! After filtering water, I eat dinner and enjoy one of the best tent sites imaginable. The sun set is one of the best as well as the views from Panorama. I cannot believe that I hiked thirty miles today. The tread way has been good to me. So were the goodies at Elkwallow!!Thank you so much for taking the time to read my journal!!Final entry of the day 4/4.