Date: 2009-02-20
From: Mount Rogers National Recreation Area

To: Tilson Gap (3500') Entry two of the day
Miles today: 19.0

02-20-2009Partnership Shelter to Tilson Gap (Entry Two)Last night, when I arrived at Tilson Gap, I hung a clothes line to let my shirt and pants dry. The air was so dry that they dried completely before I got up for the day. (Certainly an advantage to winter hiking versus summer)At any rate, after a quick stop at Chatfield Shelter, I crossed over Va. 644 and turned around to survey the climb that I made over Glade Mountain. It was all downs for the next few miles.I came upon my first Virginia Farmland for this section. Really, some of my first farmland besides Elk Garden and spots in Tennessee and North Carolina. Oh, wow it is pretty out today. As I come out into the open, I follow a sign that tells hikers to follow a particular sign to stay at a barn. Although it is early in the day, I take the time to get off the trail and go the farm establishment and check out the barn.The farmstead is very beautiful. After something to drink, I am back on the trail. I take a picture of a farm, that I believe was on the ATN for May/June 2008. This part of the trail is awesome. The winds are starting to pick up as I head over the Middle Fork of the Holston River. I wish that I had brought along sun block. I am out in the open and I must have dropped my sunglasses when I climbed through that mountain laurel back at Chatfield because they are no longer on my head.The trail leads down past a couple of industries that appear to be out of business. I cross over U.S 11 and go to a gas station next to the Relax Inn. It is a time to reflect on how hard the economic situation has evolved in our present time. It is hard to hike and not think about those who have been put out of work.After leaving my pack outside on a park bench, I go inside and buy up some chocolate pies and get a Starbucks Cold Latte and some Powerade. For some reason, I can never mix powdered drinks as good as the bottled ones!!I sit at the table and munch on chocolate pies while I talk to Stephanie and Bryson on my cell phone. It is so nice and warm in here. After a quick snack, I am back outside and putting on my pack.I talked with a UPS driver for a few minutes before crossing under I-81. Some of the people stopping to get gas looked at me like I needed to get my head examined. Wind gusts were pretty strong and although it was afternoon, it could not have been more than twenty degrees with the wind chill factored in .As I cross over I-81, I find a sign posted to one of the AT markers. It is for JohnyCash (southbound 08¢). It was somebody leaving him and another hiker to meet in Groseclose to get out of the snow!!The hiking community is so awesome. People are always looking out for each other. The friendships and memories are priceless and cannot be measured in ¢miles walked, etc¢¦¢I cross over a boardwalk and gaze upon the late February afternoon sun. I feel what warmth is has to offer.I have a good cell signal as I climb out into more open farmland and onto Davis Path Shelter. I call Kevin, a good friend of mine and he gives me the weather forecast based out of Pearisburg. Looks great for tomorrow and a chance of snow showers on Sunday.Entering back into the woods, I hike to what used to be Davis Path Shelter. It is now only a platform. The shelter is gone. There is still plenty of daylight, so I keep walking.I push on to Guillion Mountain and through the Mountain Laurel, hemlocks and galax. This trail has so much to offer. I just have to slow down long enough to admire all of it!!