Date: 2011-05-02
From: Bearfence Hut

To: Loft Mountain final entry on the day
Miles today: 25.0

05/02/2011Entry Three on the dayBearfence Hut to Loft Mountain Campground and WaysideFraser FirSection HikerGeorgia to MaineYear Eight/Day Eight (south bound on this section)The water break at the Simmons Gap Ranger Station was delightful!It is an awesome day. The southern part of the park is as beautiful as the northern third.One big difference is that the foliage is budding quickly.In addition, I believe it is about twenty degrees warmer today than it was yesterday.I look at my watch and lunch was some time ago, it is going on two o¢clock. This morning, I came from some twenty miles to my north.I never really committed to a stopping point tonight, but Blackrock Hut would be ideal because I could hike twenty miles tomorrow and be to Rockfish Gap before dinner time.Well, with the heat and stuff, I am not so sure I am going to make Blackrock Hut. That is still some sixteen miles away.¢David¢ I think to myself, ¢why are you allowing this to yet again turn into a solely goal based experience?¢I had not studied the map for the southern tier of the park and did not realize that it encompassed more miles than the other two. In some ways, it was a psychological stumper-if you will.This section covers forty five miles where the other two sections are not nearly as long.Then I have to remember that I am out here enjoying one of the most beautiful places that I have ever been and I need to take the focus off of all of that stuff and enjoy what is in front of me.I climb up and over Pinefield Mountain and descend to Pinefield Hut to get water and talk with some thru hikers. I tell them about the water pump at Simmons Gap and after a quick stop, I am on my way.Pinefield is already ¢booked¢ for the night.I say this because as I continue to hike south, I encounter ten to twenty thru hikers who are headed to Pinefield for the evening.A couple of beautiful ridges above 3000¢ bring me to Ivy Creek Overlook and then ultimately to Ivy Creek.As I start to ascend Pine Mountain, I stop at a blue blazed trail that hooks up with the Ivy Creek Maintenance Building and then onto SNP Loft Mountain Wayside.I get out my map and notice that I am still nine to ten miles from Blackrock Mountain. It is after five o¢ clock p.m.My son-Bryson has an awards ceremony on Wednesday night at church.When I spoke to him on the phone he said that he had been crying because he really missed me.My son-Siler has to get several fillings in his teeth on Wednesday morning and I need to be there.If I stop here tonight, I will have a thirty mile day tomorrow. I am hot and exhausted. My wife is mad that I am out here. She wants me to grow up and get a life.If I quit now, I do not know when I will be back. I have about a ninety mile ¢hole¢ in Central Virginia from here to Buena Vista that I have not completed.Just to think, I actually thought I could make it to Snickers Gap on this trek this year!(going north from Catawba) Boy, my eyes were bigger than anything that I could swallow and keep down.I am in a race against the pressures of the world and the disapproval of my family and even some friends. "When is David going to grow up and realize that he needs to be at home with his family and not out here in the woods running away from life?""He is so selfish"I call Homer and get through. Homer lives near the trail in Daleville: several hours away.Cell service has not been my best friend for several days but it is o.k.¢Homer, I¢m done.¢¢You want me to come tonight?¢ he asks confidently.¢Well, would that be possible?¢ I inquire.¢If you want out tonight, I will come and get you tonight¢¢Awesome!¢ I exclaim.After we hang up, I run into Indy for the second time. The last time that I saw Indy was in Buena Vista some three or four days ago. He was moving toward Pinefield Hut like a man on a mission. He vaguely remembered me. I was not insulted at all.He said, ¢You are that guy who went north and now you are going south and ¢¦.¢I just smiled.I hung out at Loft Mountain Wayside with a few deer and watched the sun go down.I huddled up against a picnic table, ate some dinner and finally got to that book that I had been wanted to read.Homer and Therese would show up around 9:00 pm. These are some great people- let me tell you.Little did I know that I would be back to Virginia again this summer. For the summer solstice, actually.I will fill you in on that in my upcoming entries.I was so glad to get home to my wife and two boys. It was one grand family reunion! For sure!!Bryson, you did grand at your rewards ceremony!!