Short day out of Daleville today, sunshine and I got a later start, and water is spread out so we went to the first shelter. During the accent out of town, we stopped to forage for some edible plants for dinner. Now we sit at the shelter, great fire and the normal food lol. Tomorrow we will get up early and hit the trail for 18 to 20 miles. Lucky for us the weather looks great for the week but tonight will be chilly. Time to crush big miles...Harpers ferry here we come!
Carpenter
700 miles woot! finally!
Rain rain rain, that's what's up lately. Yesterday was a really clear and warm day that was greatly appreciated, as was this morning... Sunshine and I reunited yesterday too after 3 days of being separated. We hung around camp most of the day just catching up and making a plan (which has already changed) Noon we hit the trail to do 6 miles to Catawba VA and eat at the famous "Home Place" an all you can eat home cooked heaven. There we met two new hikers two speed and blue eyes, we all sat together and gorged out. We then all left together to climb the also famous McAfee Knob. About ten min. into the hike the winds picked up and the sky darkened....then rain and lightning, we push on, either we are really ballsy or dumb idk. At the top the rain had stopped temporarily and the veiw was actually really nice.
Campbell shelter will be our home tonight or atleast the somewhat flat groung around it, as soon as we got here the rain picked up, we all scrambled to get our shelters up and keep dry. I am now laying here mostly dry, still kinda full...but not looking foward to more rain ugh. On to Daleville tomorrow to pick up packages and resupply.
Carpenter
Got out of camp at 1:20pm after hiding in my tent from the onslaught of rain... The rain had been fairly calm for about an hour before I decided to make a move. During the packing progress, it began to rain again...no stopping now!
Its amazing how a cold steady down pour will light a fire under you. I was flying up the trail averaging about 3.5 miles an hour. With every mile that past the rain was becoming harder, the trail was beginning to look like a stream with some area being six or more inches deep. By the time I reached the shelter 13 miles away it was 4:20pm and I was soaked to the bone and rather cold. Now I sit, watching people attempt to make a fire...I would say good luck but this old man here is a know it all and those people drive me nuts. just saying. ..
Don't believe the florists when he tells you that the roses are free.
Carpenter
Today started off wet... I was soaked through in the first mile, mostly because I had to put on damp clothes from yesterday's rain storm. Soon after I left the shelter I came to Captains place a house basically with free soda. Dividing the house from the trail is a normally calm river but not today. There is no bridge across, but a pully system with nothing but a 2x6 to stand on...I went across anyhow, can't turn down a free soda.
Once back on trail I hi tailed it up a steep 2.6 mile climb to another shelter. At the shelter were other hikers hiding from the rain, what started as a quick lunch break turned into me sitting in the shelter for about four hours trying to get warm and dry. About 4o'clock the rain quit and the sun started to peak through...thank God. I rigged up a clothes line and ate some food. One hour later I was packed and ready to move on... 8.1 miles to the next shelter was my goal.
During this late day hike I saw quite a few salamanders and a deer up above me on the ridge. Finally some wild life...havnt seen a whole lot since the decent to hot springs. As the day drew to an end and night fall rolled around I was still on trail, the massive amounts of rocks and flooded trail made travel slow. Luckily for me the deer were out enjoying the dryer weather too, in a matter of ten min. I saw 14 deer it was great. My headlamp was next to make an appearance, time for my first solo night hike! I cruised for about an hour and a half by lamp light, only to run up on more deer that scared the crap out of me. 9:30 I strolled into my home for the night, set up my shelter, ate and hung my bear bag. Now I'm in my tent warm and dry ah relief.
Unfortunately I have poison ivy in quite a few spots, I've been walking around a little off trail foreging food, like cats briar and chick weed both are delicious. I've also had my eye out for ginseng.
9 mile skid on a 10 mile ride, hot as a pistol but cool inside.
Carpenter
Back on trail, did ten miles today, the rain is coming, clouds are dark and heavy. At this point I am in my tent, stopped early today to prep for the next few days of spring showers. Rain isn't really an issue yeah it sucks being wet but its tolerable, what is not is when the wind is howeling across the ridge and its barely 50 deg. like today and the days to come.
It was nice having a day off yesterday, sit around ,eat and watch tv... really boring honesty but we needed it. I get restless in town now, feels good to be sleeping in the outdoors again.
Put it in
to third if you know your gonna climb that hill.
carpenter
I'm clean and so are my clothes! Officially went 12 days with no shower, although I did rinse my hair in Dismal Falls but the water just beaded off due to my greasy luscious locks. lol
Minnesota Pete and Sunshine swam in the falls because they are insane it was freezing. Later that day we walked up on a crystal clean pond the I swam in, it was also freezing.
Carpenter
Taking it easy today in Pearisburg VA. with Minnesota Pete and Sunshine. Not much going on in this town other than obesity... time to ice my knees after the massive decent into town, it is one of the steepest on the trail.
I've been looking at the topography for the next couple hundred miles, wow it looks insane. Virginia is not flat by any means.
Carpenter
