Date: 2005-05-21
From: East Fork of Big Wilson Creek

To: Troutdale Baptist Church Hostel
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: few clouds

Up and gone this Saturday morning by 7:45. The fog has everything cold and damp. I remember saying to myself that I could not wait to feel the sun on my body once again. To be able to dry out the gear would be great as well. I have been wet for what seemed like forever. I take my wet clothes and hang them outside if it is not to cold (they stunk). Then in the morning put them on as I am about to leave (They warmed up as I walked). The trick is to keep items dry for sleeping in. For example I carried two "T" shirts (body armor style, easy to dry), one for walking and one for sleeping. Three pairs of socks, two to swap on and off for walking (rinse one set and hang it on the back pack to dry) and one to either sleep in or just to wear dry while you are in your tent. Dry socks pull the moister out of your feet. I also carried two pairs of shorts and underwear, one pair of shorts had removable leggings. All the dry stuff became my town clothes when I came off of the trail. Simple but effective way of packing light. I also had a fleece top and a rainproof coat.       This day I traveled up and over Pine Mountain at 5000 feet and ended up at the Old Orchard Shelter. I normally read the journal entries to see where my friends were. Some times it is so hard to catch up to people. It is not impossible however it could take weeks to do. Yes you can jump forward and make up the missed miles later but that was not for me. Here is how you could catch someone, once again it isn't easy but not impossible. First thing you do is figure how far they are ahead of you. To do that you figure when they were where you are at the time. For example, if they spent the night at the shelter where you are reading the log book and it is around mid day, then they are about 8 to 12 miles in front of you (or half a days hike). The way to catch them is to walk extra miles per day (obviously) and do more miles then you expect them to do. The trick is to leave early (before they normally do), walk late into the evening (later then they do) and to take shorter breaks during the day (I don't need to say it do I). Walking in the rain is another way to catch up to folk. Most people do not start till late when it rains and they are prone to take longer breaks during bad weather. Lightning storms stop most people in their tracks, of course be careful moving then. If you know they went to town from what you read in the log then they may pull a nero and if you are lucky, they may even a zero. If this is the case then push it hard and see if you can catch them there or just buzz through town if there gone already. If they stayed the night then you made up a lot of miles for sure. They even probably left late the next day as well. It is all about doing the miles while they are not. A few here and a few there add up slowly, but they do add up. Be careful not to miss them while you are in town. If their log entries stop then they may have stopped somewhere as well.    Reading the logs is also a good way to stay in tune with the trail talk, where trail magic may be or sometimes you pick up on the unexpected. This day I new I wasn't going to make it to the Post Office in time if I left the trail as planned at Dickey Gap 10.2 miles away. By reading the log I found out that VA 603 was just 1.7 miles away, so off I went at a good pace. I made it to the road just 15 minutes before the Post Office closed. My ride, a young man named Joshua (same as my son's name) gave me a lift to the front door of the Post Office. The postal worker was walking out for a break as I was walking in. He told me not to worry about the time and that he would take good care of me, and he did. Not only did he find my package, he also let me use the phone. I sent my daughter the package to put in her food closet for her own use. This was the food I bought from Phoenix Rising back in Erwin, TN. My daughter needed it more then I, so I was allowed to forward it to her at no cost. Something to remember in regards to packages, in most cases it can be forwarded at no cost (ask before you open). This is what is called a bounce box, you just bounce it forward. That man really hooked me up and for that I thanked him.    In Troutdale there was a camp store that sold a great Cheeseburger, it was huge. The home made Peach Cobbler (ale' mode of course) was the best I had to date. I bought enough food for a small resupply and then tried to hitch a ride back to the AT. I pulled off of the road to an open field and was able to dry my gear because the sun was shinning at this time (it was sooooo nice). I wound up walking about three miles back to the trail head. I noticed that people with trucks towing horse trailers will not stop to pick you up (they need not worry, can't take a horse on the trail so I didn't plan on stealing it). Once back at the trail I took a break at the "Fox Creek" footbridge, my feet were so sore from road walking. The water was cool on my body as I stood there in my shorts. I rinsed out all the clothes I was wearing because the sun was still out and soon was walking the trail again. I went up and over Iron Mountain (4320 feet) just four and a half hours after I left the trail that morning. I stopped in at the "new" Hurricane Mountain Shelter for a little while but with all that daylight left I moved on even further up the trail. The next thing I know I am standing on VA 650 where I said out loud, "why not". I hitched back in to town and got another Cheeseburger. I walked 15.8 miles of trail and 3 miles of road that day. I found out there was a Church Hostel up the road and figured again, "why not".