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Day 040
Saturday June 4, 2016 Start Mile 558.5 - Knot Maul Branch Shelter [2757 ft] End Mile 578.6 - Jenkins Shelter [2400 ft] 20.1 Miles --- Early start and hopefully never seeing most of these people again. Long slow climb to the first shelter and then a rocky ridgewalk. Spent the last bit of the day walking and talking with Sherpa. Started a thru hike with his wife, she got hurt, and now she is slackpacking him. Talked with some people at the shelter, but they all hiked on. I stayed at the shelter fearing the forecast of rain. Bowfire, Three-Times, and Nightwatch all rolled in and then it was quickly eating and escaping into the shelter as a downpour began with the forecasted lightning storm coming in. |
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Day 041
Sunday June 5, 2016 Start Mile 578.6 - Jenkins Shelter [2400 ft] End Mile 601.8 - Jenny Knob Shelter [2668 ft] 23.2 Miles --- Still raining in the morning and waiting didn't make it stop. Hiked quickly in the rain. The seems on my rain pants finally gave out - it was a good twelve years. More hiking along the ridge and a long side trek to get water at Helveys Mill Shelter. A fair number of people at the the shelter for the night, including Cody and her tiny dog Bear. Fun times talking with Cody, Lucky Charms, and Dago. |
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Day 042
Monday June 6, 2016 Start Mile 601.8 - Jenny Knob Shelter [2668 ft] End Mile 625.8 - Docs Knob Shelter [3541 ft] 24.0 Miles --- Long muddy walk back and forth across streams and then uphill to a rocky ridgeline. Made good time all day. Talked with a southbounder at the shelter, then relaxed and listened to music. Bowfire rolled in and started attempting to make a cookfire in the damp. Redid my plans for the coming days, generally increasing the mileage. Eventually more hikers arrived, including Keg Leg, Brooklyn, and Cody & Bear. |
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Day 043
Tuesday June 7, 2016 Start Mile 625.8 - Docs Knob Shelter [3541 ft] End Mile 641.5 - Rice Field Shelter [3375 ft] 15.7 Miles 7th Laundry --- Early day to get into town. Some nice views on the way in. Easy walk into town and to the post office. Then did laundry and resupplied at the Food Lion. And then 2.5 hours at the Chinese buffet with Jethro and Keg Legs. Met Odie and got a pic taken for the Hiker Yearbook. Long uphill up the shelter, but a great meadow with spectacular views just past it. Lots of people ended up here tonight and Gasket packed out beer for everyone. This is the latest night I've stayed up on the trail. |
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Day 044
Wednesday June 8, 2016 Start Mile 641.5 - Rice Field Shelter [3375 ft] End Mile 666.8 - War Spur Shelter [2361 ft] 25.3 Miles --- Still out by 6 despite the late night. Really windy this morning and some of this afternoon. Saw a tiny fawn on the side of the trail. Got into the shelter late afternoon. Jethro showed up and decided to move on to the next shelter. I've restructured my plans to do a long day tomorrow and only pass through Daleville so that the Bryant Ridge Shelter will be the end of a day. It's supposed to be a pretty cool looking shelter. |
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Day 045
Thursday June 9, 2016 Start Mile 666.8 - War Spur Shelter [2361 ft] End Mile 695.1 - Pickle Branch Shelter [1951 ft] 28.3 Miles --- Not much of a view up the first hill. The second hill/ridge had a lot of walking on exposed rocks with some nice views. The last hill had no water, but a neat memorial at the top. Didn't see too many people today. Talked with Jethro about a mile out from my final shelter for the day. We'll both be trying to get to town tomorrow. That'll be over thirty miles for me, less for Jethro. The shelter before town is closed due to bear activity, so I had to alter my plans. An early start and we'll see how it goes. |
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Day 046
Friday June 10, 2016 Start Mile 695.1 - Pickle Branch Shelter [1951 ft] End Mile 727.5 - Daleville [1253 ft] 32.4 Miles (Sixth Longest Day) 10th Shower --- So early and so long. Hiking by 5am. The ridge up to the Dragon's Tooth was pretty awful in the dark and the way down was worse. More climbing path than trail. Ran into Jethro at the road coming from Four Pines hostel. Wasn't bad to the next road where we got some beer trail magic. Then up to McAfee Knob. Grabbed some water, chatted with a ridgerunner, hit Tinker's Cliffs, and then more water. And still one more rocky ridge down into town. Met up with Jethro at Kroger and split a hotel room with him and Wallet. Beers and ciders and shower and bed. |
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Day 047
Saturday June 11, 2016 Start Mile 727.5 - Daleville [1253 ft] End Mile 738.7 - Wilson Creek Shelter [1854 ft] 11.2 Miles 11th Shower 8th Laundry --- The three of us were up by 6am and down for breakfast. Did a gigantic 7 day resupply. It barely fits. Finally hiking in the hot afternoon. Passed a group of hikers having a good time in a creek. Met Goose, Jukebox, and Sprocket at the shelter - Jukebox and Sprocket having quite the evening. Cake and a few others arrived at the shelter. Tomorrow looks to be hot a miserable. Joy. |
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Day 048
Sunday June 12, 2016 Start Mile 738.7 - Wilson Creek Shelter [1854 ft] End Mile 759.5 - Bryant Ridge Shelter [1277 ft] 20.8 Miles --- Usual up and out. Really windy and warm for the whole morning. Got to the creek/swimming hole just after noon and got beer trail magic from Twisted Sister. Lots of people hanging out here, including Lazarus of the Shady Creepers. Met the Dude and Alastair. Most of the people ended up at the shelter - quite the big weird one. Met Gaia, Feather, and Bear Bait. Talked with Lazarus and his friend for a while. |
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Day 049
Monday June 13, 2016 Start Mile 759.5 - Bryant Ridge Shelter [1277 ft] End Mile 782.1 - Matts Creek Shelter [848 ft] 22.6 Miles --- Up like normal. Up on a mountain top had some phone conversations with people back home. Eventually started hiking again and had some beer trail magic at the last gap before the shelter. Chatting with Lumberjack at the shelter and the whole group of Gaia, Feather, Bear Bait, Giggles, Roadrunner, Foxy, and Braveheart slowly rolled in, as well as a southbound Sour Patch. The group eventually took off to go jump off a bridge. Cake eventually passed through about ten minutes after they all left. Eventually some others including the Dude and Alastair arrived here as well. |
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Day 050
Tuesday June 14, 2016 Start Mile 782.1 - Matts Creek Shelter [848 ft] End Mile 804.3 - Brown Mountain Creek Shelter [1358 ft] 22.2 Miles --- Usual morning. Along and then across the James River with the James River Blues stuck in my head for most of the day. Had my first fall of the trail, tripping just past the Punch Bowl Mountain Shelter - nothing hurt which was good. A few other hikers at the next road trying to hitch into town. After they got picked up, some section hikers in their car stopped by with some trail magic. Ended up with the shelter to myself, with everyone else tented downhill on the other side of the creek. Chatted with the Gentle Giant for a while, before he took off to get the next climb taken care of today. Saw Giggles slackpacking down the trail. |
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Day 051
Wednesday June 15, 2016 Start Mile 804.3 - Brown Mountain Creek Shelter [1358 ft] End Mile 826.7 - The Priest Shelter [3885 ft] 22.4 Miles (Seventh Largest Elevation Change) --- Normal start to a morning. Lumberjack and Gaia night hiked in last night and tented just up the trail. Big climb up the ridge to start the day - found the Gentle Giant camped at the top of the knob. Not too many people for most of the day. The picnic table at the Priest is incredibly buggy, but inside the shelter is not too bad. |
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Day 052
Thursday June 16, 2016 Start Mile 826.7 - The Priest Shelter [3885 ft] End Mile 842.2 - Reeds Gap [2650 ft] 15.5 Miles --- Usual early morning. Later last night a whole slew of hikers arrived - Lumberjack, Gaia, Bear Bait, Giggles, Roadrunner, Foxy, Braveheart, Cake, Gentle Giant, and perhaps a few more. The plan for today is to get to the Devil's Backbone Brewpub. Down the Priest wasn't too bad, but up Three Ridges was. Eventually got to the gap and got a ride from a father waiting for his son on the trail. Reboot and Gentle Giant hitched in from the bottom of the Priest. Gaia and Bear Bait got in, and then a bit later so did Cake, Foxy, and Giggles. Expensive food and beer, but so nice sitting in the AC watching the Euro Cup. Gaia and Bear Bait eventually went back to the trail and shortly afterwards a monster storm hit with crazy high winds. Everyone is worried about their tents setup here at the brewpub and the forecast is rain for all of tomorrow. |
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