Nan's 2014 Appalachian Trail Journal

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June 4, 2014

5/22 Day 54, mile 557.8-Camping at Lynn Camp Creek. There are seven tents and eight people camping here. Glad to be away from the crowd we had at Partnership Shelter. We didn’t get on the trail until 9:00 this morning. Whitey left at 7:00 to shuttle his car up to VA 42 and didn’t get back until 8:30. After he got something to eat and coffee at the convenience store, we set off. Freckles and I put our food bags in his car so we did not have to carry our newly provisioned bags. It made for much lighter packs. Last night there was a very big thunderstorm and a lot of rain. We were glad to be inside. At about three miles out of town, we came upon Oregon and Little Bit. They had camped out and got soaked in the storm. They were spreading their camping gear out trying to get things dried out. We only had one big climb today and that was pretty gradual. This section has lots of farms and many walks through pastures with cows. I lost count of the stiles we climbed over but I think that there were at least eight. After leaving Whitey at VA 42 we had another 3.4 miles to the campground.

5/23 Day 55-Today started with a steep climb up Lynn Camp Mtn. but that was just a warm up for Chestnut Knob, elev. 4,410 ft. We had not been that high for a few days. Climbed over 2,000 ft. in 4.4 miles. It’s a pretty gradual climb but four miles of climbing does wear a body out. The top of Chestnut Knob is a bald with wonderful views of the surrounding valleys and ridge after ridge of mountains. There is a concrete block shelter at the summit, fully enclosed with a door. From the summit there is a view of Burkes Garden, a beautiful high fertile farm valley surrounded on all sides by Clinch Mtn. There is only one good road in and out and that is through a narrow gap. It is said that Vanderbilt tried to buy the valley to build the Biltmore Estate but the farmers did not sell their land. We hiked on a long narrow rock ridge until about mile 570 or 12 miles for the day. We were pretty beat so we found a level area and pitched our tents.

5/24 Day 56, mile 584.7-We continued to hike along Garden Mtn. following the narrow ridge. Only occasionally can you get a view of the narrow valleys on either side because of the trees. There is not as much water along this section of trail and we had to pick up enough water for dinner and breakfast at Laurel Creek. Makes the packs pretty heavy. There had been Trail Magic at VA 623. A church group had left many gallon jugs filled with well water and snack cakes and brownies. Freckles and I helped ourselves to both!

We camped at a little flat spot just off the trail with a great view to the west. It is amazing how far sound travels. I could hear dogs barking and cows mooing from the valley far below.

5/25 Day 57, 600.5 miles-15.8 miles today. We have hiked 109 miles since getting back on the trail after Damascus. The terrain is better and the trails are nice. Not real rocky. We are seeing very few other hikers. Talked to a woman who is slack packing. Her husband is traveling along in a motor home to support her. She is from Dauphin, PA and today we met a young man, trail name Ghost, who is from Hershey, PA. Two other hikers just came into the camp area. I had thought that Freckles and I would be camping alone for the third night. We are trying to get to Pearisburg, mile 632.3, by 5/28 so we can help Tom, aka Whitey, my brother, celebrate his 66th birthday. I am dreaming about cake and ice cream!

Some people who have been reading the journal have wondered why the journals are posted so far behind. Well, I write the journal and when I get to town I snail mail it to Ellensburg, WA where Pete Oswald does the service of editing and publishing. I am hoping to start to get some pictures up but, in the meantime, you can visit AT Journals/Freckles to see the pictures that Rich, Freckles’ husband has posted. Freckles has been mailing memory chips from her camera to Rich. I hope to get a few extra chips for my camera when I get to Blacksburg and then I can do the same. As you may have guessed neither Freckles nor I are very “techy”. No equipment, no smarts, we just love to hike.

5/26 Mile 613.7-Another wonderful day of hiking. The weather has been great. Warm and sunny during the day and nicely brisk at night. We were on the trail at 7:30, our usual starting time. Both Freckles and I wake up about 6:00 and shortly after get going with breakfast and packing up. Today we had a bit of a hill climb then level hiking over many foot bridges and one suspension bridge to Wapiti Shelter. Took a side trip ½ mile down VA 606 to Trent’s Grocery to get a few resupply items and lunch. I had a big apple, a big tomato, and a sausage & egg biscuit. Freckles had a Philly steak sandwich with peppers and onions. We both got subs to take with us for dinner. Ho Bo and Cadi came into the shelter for the night. It was fun talking with them and getting caught up. We had not seen them since Damascus but we knew they were just a day ahead because we would see their names in the trail logs. They had gotten off of the trail for a day to visit Cadi’s family so we are all here tonight. Tomorrow we have a big day--17.2 miles--to get to Rte. 634 and get picked up to go to my brother Tom’s house.

5/27 Mile 630.9-Up at the usual 6:00 and on the trail by 7:30. Did 17.2 miles to Pearisburg and were picked up by Whitey at 5:30. It was pretty hot and humid today and the flies were terrible. Both Freckles and I have big itchy welts all over our legs from the fly bites. Insect repellant didn’t seem to discourage the little pests. The terrain today was gently rolling until we passed Angels Rest at 3,550’ elev. It gives great views of the surrounding area. It is a very popular hike for locals. We came onto Angels Rest from the south but from the north it is a very long steep climb. We, of course, had to go down the steep trail. There were three you men climbing up without backpacks. They were not only keeping a fast pace but also talking and laughing. No one was gasping for breath.

After we got to Whitey’s house we ordered pizza while Suzanne (my sister-in-law) made a big salad. Tasted great! Of course, we showered first.

5/28 Day in Blacksburg-Did some pack maintenance. Mine was patching the hole that the mouse had chewed while Freckles’ repaired a zipper on her pack that had broken. I also put a few darts in my hiking shorts so they will fit a little better. We did our laundry and packed food for the next five days. Tom and Suzanne had some neighbors and friends over tonight for beer, wine, and finger foods to celebrate Tom’s birthday. It also was one of their friend’s birthday. He was 96 and was there for the evening. Tomorrow we will be back on the trail.

Drag’n Fly is signing out.

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