Date: 2019-04-01
From: Atkins VA 683, US 11, I-81

To: VA 601 stealth site on Brushy mountain
Miles today: 15.4

I might be April fool's day but no one has played a joke on me yet, nothing but human kindness all around. I had breakfast with Cynthia, a bowl of cereal, and she dropped me at the Exxon station on her way to work. I soon learned it was closed even though the opening hour is 7 a.m. and it's 7:30. I walked over to the Sunoco instead and carefully made a selection of a half dozen snacks and some spare batteries for my spot. I spoke with a lady there who asked me several questions about my journey and when I approached the register a gentleman came in and asked if I was a thru hiker and when I answered yes he told the man who was cashing me out that he wanted to pay. His name is George and in true trail angel fashion he paid the $23 for my purchase. Very kind act indeed. As I journied up the hill southbound across from the Sunoco and crossed the footbridge I had a tremendous view of the Long Neck lair and I stopped to take a few photos.They will be building at 10 room bunkhouse starting this May with the completion date of May 2020 so that they can continue to help hikers. I'm excited for them on their new venture. A few minutes after my view of their gorgeous farm I saw wild bunny rabbits in the underbrush off to the right and I stopped to watch them wiggle and nibble for a minute. It was 24° when Cynthia dropped me off this morning but the sky was clear and the sun shining illuminating the frost on the trail which glistened and was so beautiful. As the path wound around of the mountainside I continues to have views of the Long Neck lair off to the left and there's no question why they purchased this beautiful peace of property. At the time they weren't really aware of the trail and had no inclination to run a hostel, but they've develop the love for hikers and desire to help them. I'm looking forward to returning to this area with Brian in our camper and seeing their new endeavor open and operating.The climb warms me up before I reached the top I had already remove my hat and gloves and unzip my puffy. I knew right away with temps expected in the forties today and thesunshine it would be great hiking and I hope to make good time.Near the top of the climb after chatfield shelter I ran into a 2019 nobo named Raven. Raven and some other hikers stayed at partnership shelter last night and they were greeted with two trail angels bringing Burger King and beer. They feasted and were very delighted until later in the evening when a local drunk stopped in and they had to call the police. The police did come right away and address the situation seeming like it wasn't the first time, but it makes me super excited that I've chosen not to stay at that shelter tonight! Raven also told me Pork Chop was behind him and he wanted to scheme a little joke and so I played along. When I saw Pork Chop I pretended that I'd seen him on YouTube and that he was a sensation and asked for his autograph. He was on the phone with Applesauce and I said hi to him too. After a minute I let on that I was kidding and Raven put me up to it. Pork Chop is a nice guy and we had fun with it. We chatted about my hike and my transportation dilemma and he took my number and said he'd ask Applesauce if he could help me out with the ride. Meanwhile I'll keep looking for someone to help. I met a female thru hiker named Straps, she's somewhere around my age and carrying the same pack I have. She had attempted a through hike and 2017 but is back out here in 2019 for a second try. She stayed at the Thomas knob shelter up in Grayson Highlands and told me that the horses are there at the shelter all night chewing on the dirt and licking rocks for salt and that when she went out to pee in the middle of the night the horses got really up close and personal because they wanted to lick her urine for the salt. Kind of gross, but a once in a lifetime experience just the same. She warned me to be sure and bring my trekking poles inside or they'd eat the cork and not expect much sleep if stay there. Not long after I left Straps I realized my bite valve was frozen and I had to play with it in my mouth a while before I could thaw it for water. I reached the Chatfield shelter just after 10 and I was feeling pretty good. I had stopped earlier at the Early Settlers Museum. Although the museum was closed for the winter they leave the old schoolhouse open for hikers. Inside I found a couple of pieces of trash so I took them. I'm really fond of preservation of this kind of history. It's humbling. And I was glad to visit and use the privy. Just before 2pm I reached 11+ miles and the Mt Roger's Recreation area headquarters. The visitor center was open and had heated restrooms! It might sound silly but it's such a treat. It's cold today. I looked around the book store, signed the logbook and spoke with the volunteer before sitting outside on the stones in the sunshine to have my lunch. I left at 2:30 and the first mile after was delightful! Nice rhododendron tunnels and easy trail. But I knew I had 3 miles uphill to my campsite. Thankfully it was gentle and I didn't mind it so much. With 2.5 miles to go I stopped at the last stream crossing of the day and in seconds added 2.2lbs to the load I was already carrying. I arrived at the campsite just as described in Guthooks and looked around. It's an okay site but there are more sites 2.3 miles ahead, should I press on? I could hike another 2 miles. I took my phone off and turned off the airplane mode to see if I had service. Bingo! I'm here for the night. Being able to text good night and good morning to Brian means a lot to me so I set up my site, hung my bear line, made Mexican quinoa for dinner (thanks River!) And eventually made my way into my tent with a full belly and clean teeth. I bundled up with all my clothes because it'll be around 29° tonight, perhaps colder up here on Brushy Mt.