Date: 2015-04-14
From: Jenny Knob Shelter

To: Woods Hole Hostel
Miles today: 21.7
Weather: heavy intensity rain

4/14, Woods Hole Hostel, 21.7"No rain, no Maine" is a phrase exchanged often between hikers and today was an example of that truism. We slept off and on all night as temperatures stayed in the mid to upper 60's making sleeping warm for most of us as we still have our winter gear. Rain fell off and on but never very heavy. We awoke to overcast skies and the smell of rain in the air. Within a few minutes it began to rain. We were able to pack our packs out of the rain under the cover of the shelter so we were packed and on trail at 7:30. This morning our hike passed by Trent's grocery, a local everything fuel station that caters a bit to hikers. We hiked in steady light rain for the entire 6.5 miles to the turnoff. Once at the grocery Bowie had two double cheeseburgers with fries and a coffee and I had a BLT with egg, fries, two sodas and a can of Pringles. Bowie then grabbed the resupply box his wife had mailed and discovered a bonus box of chocolates which he generously shared. Up to this point we were planning to hike just to the next shelter making a 15 mile day. Nevertheless, we finished at Trent's by 11:30, and learned from other hikers that there was a big group of hikers hiking in to the same shelter. Bowie and I decided to hike on to Woods Hole Hostel, 21 miles total for the day. The rain was still coming but temps were moderate and hiking wet was warm enough. We hiked to the shelter at 15 miles by 2:30, too early to stop hiking anyway, took a break and hiked on. The rain had let up and skies were brightening so we thought the afternoon might be dry. It wasn't. The rain returned as we began the climb to the ridge for the final leg and now it was a heavy, cold rain. I was still hiking in a short sleeve wool shirt that had been warm enough all day. Unfortunately the rain on the ridge line was heavier, and the temps began to drop. By the end of the ridge I was pretty cold and soaked to the skin from head to toe. I put on my wind jacket to warm some, and finished the hike that way. We arrived at Woods Hole Hostel around 6:15. The trail was pretty good all day, until the last three miles where rocky, root woven trails reappeared and it cost us some time. Checking in to the hostel it was like a bit of a family reunion. Brother Louie greeted us since he stopped her to do work for stay for a while. I roomed with him my first night at Crazy Larry's in Damascus. Then he said we could room with Maverick who had arrived a few hours before. Maverick was surprised I caught him since he thought I was still hiking with Tired. We settled in, showered and combined for a load of laundry, then sat down to family style dinner served in the main dining room. Neville and Michel are good hosts and the hikers here are too many to mention. Dinner was excellent and part of the routine here is that everyone pitches into help prepare, serve and clean up meals. It is becoming part of what many of us enjoy on the trail, the instant family style setting around meals wherever hikers gather. Wether picnic tables at shelters, or in the midst of a hostel bunkhouse, "homeless" hikers all crave the family style interaction of the trail.Tomorrow Bowie plans to hike on past Pearisburg so we will see him up the trail later on. Maverick and I both planned a minor resupply and rest day there so we will hike the 11 miles in, kind of a "nearo", and preplan from there. I have eight days supplies so I am going to mail four days to myself somewhere near 75 trail miles away. I am not sure where that is yet but can decide tomorrow. Coffee is on at 7:30 and breakfast is served at 8 so I plan to be on trail, about 9:30. 11 miles to Pearisburg with a couple major climbs should mean I am in town by 2:00 at he latest. I will do all of my laundry, mail forward some supplies and rest there. It is 11:00 here and the house has fallen silent. I can hear the rain on the metal roof, the frogs peeping in the pond and the stream running by the house. Was there ever a better symphony created for sleeping?Good night and have a pleasant tomorrow.Silverback.PS, note to Autumn. My friend Maverick showed me a picture of a big black snake he saw on the trail yesterday and my friend "Lunchbox" saw three box turtles on the trail this morning, but they were gone when I hiked there. The nicest sign of spring though is yes, I have seen several butterflies. Yesterday Bowie and I had a black one with yellow wing edges fly along ahead of us for quite a while. It was almost as if he wanted to hike away with us. I also have seen several other butterflies and the trees are beginning to push out their leaves so spring is coming. As for larger animals we have seen no raccoons, but several squirrels and a ruffed grouse.