Hard Week of Hiking

We had a very difficult week or so of hiking.  Last Saturday was probably the most difficult day.  There was about a 30' drop of rocks and it had started to rain so they were very slippery and wet.  Almost lost my footing a couple of times.  That is the Cove Mountain area called Dragon's Tooth around Mile 691. The only thing keeping us moving was the promise of a great AYCE home-style restaurant called the Homeplace which we were told not to miss in Catawba....and we didn't!  We were picked up by an SUV and they drove us to the place and also to get some resupply.

Sunday we were at the Johns Spring Shelter and and then headed toward Daleville, VA (Mile 719).  We hiked about 9.4 miles into to Daleville on Tuesday and then spent Tues. night and Wednesday at a Howard Johnsons Inn there.  Wednesday was a zero day for my hiking buddy Late Start and me.  Late Start is a retiree from Chicago. We needed to get some laundry done and food as well. Thursday was a 25 mile day, some of it with our packs and some of it was without them.  When you hike without your pack it's called "slack packing."  It's a little break from the extra weight and helps you get some miles in quickly.

Thursday night we stayed at Cove Mtn. Shelter (mile 744).  The weather has been crazy.  It's getting warmer, but they are getting lots of storms.  I've been wearing my rain gear a lot.  On Thursday we had some "Trail Magic" of homemade breads with apple butter and cookies around Jennings Creek near VA Route 614. It was delicious!

We spent this past Friday night at the Cornelius Creek Shelter.  Yesterday we hike 17.7 miles and were very tired when we stopped at Matts Creek Shelter. (Mile 774.5)  Today we hitched a ride with Many Waters, a friend of hikers, into Glasgow, VA and got some resupply at a Dollar Store and a sandwich for lunch at a convenience store in a gas station.  He gave us a ride back to the trail and we started off again.  About a mile later was a note from Many with some Pepsi colas for us all.  What a great surprise!  Thanks to Many for the ride and drinks.  He is a great hiker's friend.  All in all, I think we hiked about 77.3 miles this week. 

We can see the Blue Ridge Parkway now most of the time we are hiking.  We get a little closer then a little farther away from it.  Not too much longer and we will be on Skyline Drive.  Getting closer to the halfway mark.  I think we are almost to 800 miles, possibly tomorrow.


"Today is your day!  Your mountain is waiting. So...get on your way."
-Dr. Seuss