Date: 2004-04-07
From: Knot Maul Branch Shelter

To: VA 683 (Relax Inn, Atkins, VA)
Miles today: 13.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Atkins5PM - Relax InnLast night was one of my best sleeps on the Trail: not too cold, not hot enough for insects, even the full moon being out all night didn't deter from my sleep.But I did have two animal encounters during the night. Around 2 I heard a scratching noise on the side of the shelter next to where my pack was. I coughed and spoke up, in general letting whatever it was know that a human was around. The noise stopped and when I poked my head out I couldn't see anything, but from the smell I think I had a close encounter with a skunk.Then, just as I was beginning to wake up for the morning I heard quite a commotion. It was probably half a mile away or so, and the sound had the quality of a dog's sound, though the pattern wasn't a bark or a wolf or coyote howl, or even a growl. In my imagination it sounded like a pack of something picking on one of its individuals. After about 10 minutes the sound abated somewhat, as if they had gone behind a hill, then increased for a few minutes and finally faded away. You can believe that when I went a couple hundred yards for water an hour or so later, I was all ears.I saw or heard quite a few animals today. The first hour of my walk I was hardly out of earshot of woodpeckers. I had about 3 mi of walking through pastures, and the bird songs there, particularly in the wooded parts, really made me feel it was spring. I also saw a blue bird. I don't think it was a bluebird and I didn't get a good glimpse of it, but it was smaller than any blue jays I know, and didn't look like a jay. I saw numerous butterflies, of at least 5 varieties. I still don't see many deciduous plants putting out leaves, maybe because I have been at altitudes of over 2500' for several days.I met 5 thru-hikers today: Sunstroke and Trek 03 (who got stranded in a snowstorm for 2 days together in Grayson Highlands, only 3 days ahead for me), Paw Kettle 03, Shush!, and Mulyah 2. I also met section hiker Mountain Dew as I was coming up the biggest climb of the day, and the name sounded so attractive to me then that I am drinking a Mountain Dew in his honor right now. I also met one other person who was clearly struggling, but who also made it clear he didn't want any chit-chat, so we passed with only a 'Good Morning!' from me and not a word from him. I was a bit concerned about him and glad that four of the thru-hikers I met would be passing him before they got to their destination for tonight.Speaking of thru-hikers, I have probably met between 30 and 40 so far. I understand that a whole passel of them are about to leave Damascus where I will be in a week, and a whole pack more from Erwin and Hot Springs, two or three weeks ahead. So my days of solitude are about to be over!Not much to say about the Trail today, just a few UPs and a few DOWNs, but nothing notable about any of them. I have picked up my mail drops here in Atkins, and will try to get back on the Trail tomorrow without a zero day.See you on down the Trail------------------------------ Local access to Pocketmail mobilee-mail now available in Europe, NorthAmerica & Australia http://www.pocketmail.com