Date: 2008-05-02
From: Pine Swamp Shelter

To: Rt 460
Miles today: 18.4

I've decided my body just can't handle 18 miles. I was wiped out by the end of the day. For the first time I was concerned about Roo also. It was too long and too hot. I thought it would be okay. It was along the top of a ridgeline, not too much up and down, we had plenty of water.. but around 1:00 it just got so hot. By the end of the day Roo and I had had it. Owl was doing fine...ready for more.In the end though we made up the miles we had missed when we hit the slowdown at Craig's Creek. We've slackpacked several days now with the help of Terri and her friends car. I think, though, I'm getting real tired of being in town. I'm more than ready to get back on the trail. As I type this the storm clouds are rolling in outside. Typical.Pearisburg is a popular trail town. The NOBOS we talked with loved it. The lodging definitely has something to be desired. First thing we bought when we checked into the Holiday Travel Motel was a bottle of Tylex. We've sprayed the shower several times, but still haven't gotten rid of the mildew. People are nice enough tho. There seems to be a strange collection of people who actually live at the motel. Almost has a trailer park feel to it.And the town has a nice little coffee shop, The Bank restaurant is awesome and they have a Super Walmart. But no outfitters for supplies.On the trail today we passsed The Allegheny trail head. I told Lydia we could turn right and go to Seneca Rocks (in W. Va) if she wanted. She thought about it for a minute, but decided to stick with the AT. The only other interesting thing on the trail today was the meadow that we stopped at for lunch. It was a beautiful clearing on top of a hill surrounded by old apple trees. There was a campsite at the spot. I was a bit jealous. How come we can never find spots like this when we are ready to camp? It was beautiful!One more day and 18.4 miles accomplished. Whew, that was tiring.Trail Note: The GearMy friend Alison was curious what would be the first piece of gear we'd drop. Well Alison, it was Health. Lydia never finished reading her Wilderness first aid book so we tore it into chapters and split it with each other. I think it was fodder for the fire the first night. But, that's not really gear. The first actual gear would be our Ursacks, bear bags. I thought they were a great idea. We had bought them for our trip to Idaho last year. They are much lighter weight than a bear box. But the outfitter in Front Royal told us they were overkill. He said just to tie our food up and we'd be fine. Others have told us that traveling with a dog we aren't likely to see a bear anyway. Fine with me.Then came the big pack switch. Tigger and I both started with a Six Moons Design light weight pack. We soon learned they cut the weight by removing the back support. It was killing me. Tigger bought a new Granite Gear pack. I sent home for my old Mountainsmith pack. It's heavier, but has terrific support and fits me perfect. Soooo much more comfortable. Owl really wanted to hang on to her Wild Thing pack, but finally had to admit she had outgrown it. The torso was just too short. She got an Osprey Aura and loves it. Soaring changed from her Osprey to a Bergan's. So we've all made changes there.We've done a little scramble in the tent area too. At first Owl had her Hubba, which she loves. I had traded down the Hubba Hubba to a smaller Seedhouse 2 for Roo and I. But the first week out we were so cold that Owl moved into the Seedhouse with Roo and I for the body heat. She agreed to sending the Hubba home until the weather warmed up.The Seedhouse is a little cramped for two people and a dog. When it rains and we can't leave our packs out in the vestibule we are a mangled pile of hikers, dog and gear all piled together. It's not pretty. The other day Owl said she liked the idea of all of us sleeping in the same tent, if we just had a little more room.Soooo... instead of sending back home for the Hubba, we are sending home the Seedhouse and taking the Hubba Hubba and splitting the weight. When it all works out we still lost about half a pound each in pack weight.The big weight killer we are finding is food. We are still working through this. We've taken our dehydrated meals and are trying reconstituting them in ziplock bags instead of in the pot. We've been using the Primus Eta. It's got a large pot which we've been using to all cook together. For this next leg we are going to drop it and try using Tiggers Jet Boil to heat water for the Ziplock Bags.Food is still the heaviest thing in the pack, that and water. Can't live without them though. Maybe with time we will work out a way to make them lighter.The only other gear changing around is clothing. Owl and I started with Cloudveil jackets that we loved, but have now dropped down for our Northface wind jackets. We'll get the Cloudveils back for the White Mtns. The only big clothing change is that I finally found the Mountain Gear women's hiking skirt at the outfitters in Daleville. I've heard great things about this skirt but I couldn't find it online before the hike. I've worn it for about a week now and really love it. On hot days it's very comfortable. On cold days I've worn my long johns under it until its warmed up and it was perfect.Shoes and socks... Merrels with superfeet and smartwool socks are working terrific. I'd like to be carrying my Keens for stream crossings, but I'm not willing to take on the weight yet.One last thing. Favorite gear...poncho tarp I bought online at www.backcountry.com. I've used it as a poncho, as a wind block on a cold night in a shelter and as a tarp in a downpour. It's worth it's weight!That's it for now. Owl is hungry, gotta go.Rabbit, Owl and RooJoshua 1:9