Date: 2005-09-28
From: Partnership Shelter, VA

To: Iron Mountain summit, Grayson Highlands, VA
Miles today: 21.3
Weather: scattered clouds

21.3 miles todayIron Mountain summitGrayson Highlands, Va. I slept well at Chief's cabin last night. He gave me the luxury suite...in the basement. :-))) I woke up at 5:30am and started packing my stuff because we were leaving at 7:30 for a country style breakfast buffet Chief told me about. He yelled downstairs to see if I was up yet, so I went up and waited on them to get ready. It was cooler out, but still not cool enough for this time of year. We drove to Shackley Springs and when he pulled into the drive, I didn't think there was anything there. The fog was hiding the building. It ended up being a very good breakfast. They even had country ham which I love. I had all the coffee I could drink and kept eating the biscuits. They were some of the best biscuits I've ever had. It was all Chief's treat too!! When I get done with this hike, it's going to take me many, many hours to thank everyone who helped make this hike possible, but I'm looking forward to that and hopefully repaying some of the kindness along the way. We drove out to Rt 603 and I left some food and water hidden in the bushes, so I wouldn't have to carry it the first 23 miles. :-))) Next, we stopped at Dickey Gap and I left a gallon of water for later today. Finally, Chief got me back to Mt Roger's Headquarters. It was 10am. They didn't stay long because they had a lunch appointment in Damascus with some hikers Chief knows. If he keeps eating with hikers, he's going to get fat!! :-))) Today, the bathrooms were open at the visitor's center and I could get to the soda machine, but the phone was still broken. I wish I'd have thought about it yesterday when I was in the store, I'd have bought a cheap phone and left it there. Hey Chief, I'll see you again in a couple weeks, I'll treat you to a buffet. Ha!!! Chief and Carleen, you both are good friends. I know Chief will think of someway for me to repay you. :-))) I hiked on at 10:10am after stopping and signing the register again at Partnership Shelter. The hike was easy in the beginning of the day. I had only one 500 foot bump in the first 3 miles before heading down 900 feet in the next 5 miles to the South Fork of the Holston River. I have this abcessed tooth and I really haven't been feeling 100% for the last few days. Today ended up being worse than yesterday. I just hiked along slowly. I even felt like I was getting a fever, but not sure if I did. I was all achy though. I had a 1300 foot climb in the next 4 miles. I kept on walking slowly, but I felt like sitting down. I walked by Trimpi Shelter without stopping and then headed down about 600 feet in a couple miles to where I left a gallon of water at earlier this morning. I did sit down then. I leaned up against a post and ate the apple cake that Carleen packed for me. Then I ate the rest of my popcorn I had bought yesterday. I can always eat no matter how bad I feel. ;-))) It worked out great because there were garbage cans there, so I didn't have to carry the gallon jug out with me. I just sat there for 40 minutes and when I started getting chilled, I hiked on. The next 4 miles were very easy...almost flat, but then I had another 1300 foot climb up to the new Huricane Mountain Shelter. I just looked down at the ground and walked slowly. I finally got to the shelter where I stopped and signed the register and took a 15 minute break. I wasn't going to go too much further, but I wanted to make sure I found an extra soft spot to sleep on tonight. I hiked another half a mile and just before the summit on Iron Mountain I found what I was looking for. I even scooted a bunch of leaves together to make it even softer. Thanks again Chief and Carleen...I just wish I would have felt better while I was visiting you both.