Day 18 - Day 31 of Reed's AT Adventure

     In the last two weeks I feel like I've really gotten into a hiking groove. I've been moving along 15-20 miles a day fairly easy and my routine has become habit., making me more efficient and leaving me with more time to enjoy the surroundings and the company of the hikers around me. I've also  really been soaking in the different types of ecosystems and environments, I've been walking through. From Red Spruce forests to Poplar groves, from tunnels of rhododendrons to treeless, grassy balds, it seems that every day presents me with an incredible variety of natural sights.
 

Most of the trail shelters are fairly barren, but some of the trail maintenance volunteers like to have a little fun by sprucing  up the shelter. The Jerry's Cabin Shelter north of Hot Springs was equipped with both a telephone and light fixtures. unfortunately, with no electricity or phone lines, they are not very useful. Here, I unsuccessfully try to order pizza. (5/4/99 2:33pm)
I'm truly puzzled why someone would name a place "Big Butt."  I later greatly regretted that i didn't get a picture of myself kissing this sign, since then we'd have proof that I kiss butt!(5/4/99 3:57pm)
I made an unexpected but highly enjoyable and relaxing stop in Erwin, TN on May 6th. I split a motel room with three guys I met on the night before. here's the motley Crew in front of the deluxe room: John (aka "Medium Rare" which describes the tender condition of his feet), Blake, Ben, and John's pooch, Zoe. This night was the first time since I started the trail that I had a tv to watch. I fell asleep around 1AM to the sweet sounds of ESPN (5/7/99 9:01AM)
Some parts of the trail are downright posh. here's an example of one of the deluxe bridges that the Tennessee Eastman Hiking Club which maintains the AT in Northern Tennessee, built to help us across streams (5/7/99 12:19pm)

 

Juncos, small slate-colored birds (Reed remembers these from Mr. Millers class at WHS) have been my steady companion on the trail since day one. All through GA, NC, and TN they were frequently on the trail or in the trees around me. After nearly a month of searching, I finally found a junco nest on the right side of the trail. Each of these 4 eggs is about the size of a marble (5/7/99 1:51)
The Juncos nest was located on the edge of the trail, within the small rhododendron bush in the front, right section of this picture. (5/7/99 1:53)
The day I left Erwin started warm and sunny, but in the mid-afternoon a thunderstorm rolled in. Since I quickly got drenched, I elected to continue hiking in my t-shirt rather than donning my jacket. This proved to be a mistake when hail started pelting down. Many of the hail stones were as big as olives and it was coming down extremely hard. The best I could do was dive under the fallen tree and held my bandanna over my head for protection. Fortunately, it only lasted a few minutes.
(5/7/99 4:36pm)
Looky here at the cool death chunks. (5/7/99 4:37pm)

 
 

One of the most strenuous climbs I've had so far was up Roan High Knob. We gained almost 1500' vertical feet in 3 miles. Near the top the trail was wonderfully interesting as it twisted around boulders, over roots, and through trees. Note the AT blazes on the rock in the foreground. (5/8/99 3:25)
Unfortunately, I don't think this picture captures how steep the tail was. (5/8/99 3:33pm) 
View from the top of Roan High Knob (5/8/99 3:41)
View from the top of Roan High Knob (5/8/99 3:42)

 

There's a field called Roan high Bluff, on top of Roan High Knob. This field is the former site of a huge resort hotel. (5/8/99 3:47pm)
Lest we think the area around the AT has always been wilderness, the trail passed next to the remains of a chimney. (5/8/99 3:51pm)
Thru-hiker V.P. shows off the flowers, bulbs, and herbs he picked along the trail to season his dinner. (5/8/99 4:56)
On the evening of May 8, I stayed at Roan High Knob shelter, which is unique in two ways. First, as a former fire-warden's cabin, it is one of the few enclosed shelters on the trail. Second, at an elevation of 6275 ft, it is the highest shelter on the AT and is known for its chilly temperatures. I slept quite warmly on the second floor, but temps dipped near freezing outside on the right. (5/8/99 7:09pm)

 

The view from Round Bald. The trail can be seen climbing up the ridge of the next bald. (5/9/99 9:55am)
On May 9 the trail went over two balds, called Little Hump and Hump mtn with tremendous views (5/9/99 12:27pm)
Near the summit of Hump mtn. is a plaque honoring Stan Murray, who was involved in improving and maintaining the trail for over 40 years, including serving as President of the Appalachian Trail Conference. (5/9/99 1:57pm)

 

On May 10, I stopped for lunch in a spot with a beautiful view back towards Hump mtn (5/10/99 1:57pm)
As my hike on May 10 was nearing the end, i took a break on a rock outcropping just off the trail, and enjoyed the soft evening light on the valley below. (5/10/99 5:58pm)
According to the guidebook this is an abandoned "shed." Whatever it was used for it was fun to climb on.
(5/10/99 6:34pm)
Another day, another dam. This is the view from the Watauga Dam looking south over Watauga Lake. My hike on May 11 took me along the long ridge of Iron Mtn. the length of the lake, over 16 miles. Throughout the day, breaks in the trees allowed me to look nearly 1,000 ft down to the lake. (5/11/99 1:12pm)

 

The trail passed right next to the remains(again, just a chimney) of an old hermit's cabin. The stone in the chimney gave this epitaph for Uncle Nick Grindstaff : "Lived alone, suffered alone, died alone" (5/12/99 9:08pm) 
"Trail Magic Again" On May 12th, i came upon a stream full of orange soda and a red cooler containing cookies. It was perfect mid-morning snack! (5/12/99 10:15am)
I have reached state number 4! At about 8:15am on May 13th (My sister Kate's Birthday, btw) I entered the Mount Rogers National  Recreation Area, which also marks the Tennessee/ Virginia border. i've now walked about 450 miles, covering the entire trail in GA, NC, and TN. Virginia will prove a little more formidable, however, as it contains over 500 miles of the AT, the most of any state (5/13/99 8:21am)

 

My arrival in VA coincided with an annual 3-day festival in Damascus, VA, called "Trail Days", which celebrates the AT. For this event, Damascus grows from a town of about 1,000 to 15,000. Past & present thru-hikers come to learn about equipment, see presentations about the trail, and of coarse party! I was lucky enough to weasel my way into a bunk at "The Place", one of the best known Hostels on the trail.(5/15/99 8:36)
On May 15th, Blake and I enjoyed the all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast for $2.50 (5/15/99 8:49am)
The entire town was literally covered with tents. this is a lawn outside of the "The Place" (5/15/99 9:44 AM)