Friday, May 7, 2010

Day 40/41

Damascus, VA

Spent two days catching up on the important things like eating cheeseburgers and updating the blog. Mike finally got new shoes (thanks Garmont and Sundog Outfitters) without having to pay anything, spent 2 nights at the Place (an honor-system hostel run by a local church), and are very ready to get back on the trail this morning (5/7) and see the ponies that we've been hearing about. Trail Days will be held here next week, but we're not sure if we'll make it back for it or not- we'll figure that out later.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Day 39

Day 39 - Low Gap to Damascus, VA - 15 miles (464 miles total)

We had town on our minds today, so we did the miles pretty quickly (not to mention that they were some of the easiest we've seen yet) and made it to Damascus by 5pm. It was another quiet day, with no real views, but we were glad to be finishing our 3rd state (GA,NC,TN- completed) and heading into Virginia where we'll be for the next month, at least.... Also, we were followed by 2 more dogs today, until some other hikers passed us and they took off after them. Apparently it's custom for people to let their hunting dogs run wild in the woods in order to train them, so that explains why there has been so many stray dogs on the trail. Anyway, got to town and ate giant hamburgers, then headed to a campsite we saw right outside of town where we spent the night.
Monday, May 3, 2010

Day 38

Day 38 - Campsite past Vandeventer Shelter to Low Gap- 16 miles
Sunday, May 2, 2010

Day 37

Day 37 - Side trail to US 321 to campsite past Vandeventer Shelter - 15.5 mi - 431 total

Our hike today started straight up. From the river it was a steep climb 1700' up over 2.5 miles to Pond Flats, our last big up and over until VA. On our way up we passed what might have been more than a dozen hikers who were staying at Kincora and taking the opportunity to slackpack that difficult section (they hiked the opposite way so it wouldn't be so steep and left their packs at the hostel). They all warned us about how steep it got, and as per usual, all the hype made the hike seem easier- by the time we reached the top we wondered what all the fuss was about. We quickly made our way down the other side a couple of miles to Watuga lake, then around the (very big) lake, and over the Watuga Dam. It was a hard climb up Iron Mtn. in the heat and suffocating humidity (this is how it's been recently), so we made camp at a really cool site past the Vandeventer shelter. The site had a small rock outcropping behind it which dropped down to the lake and valley below. Once it got dark out, we could see all the tiny lights from the towns beneath us. We decided to have a small fire again (because there was a nice pit and someone had gathered wood and left it stacked) and then slept well.
Saturday, May 1, 2010

Day 36

Day 36 - White Rock Mtn. to side trail to US 321 (Hampton, TN) - 7.5 miles (415.5 miles total)

Got to Dennis Cove this morning where we walked up the road to the Kincora hostel. There we took showers (and braved run-ins with a very fast and VERY LARGE spider who lived in there), did our laundry, and hung out. Left by 1:30 to take a blue-blaze trail that led us down the river, past the falls, directly into town. At the trailhead we were lucky enough to score a ride all the way down the road to the McDonalds/MiniMart. Stuffed ourselves, Laura got a soda stomachache from the free refills, and resupplied at the dollar store across the way. As we were outside then repacking our goods into our packs, a guy approached us (wearing an AT shirt) and offered us a ride back to the trailhead. Turns out he was a local section hiker named Candy Wrapper and his offer of a ride couldn't have come at s better time since it started to *pour* as we drove back. At the trailhead we got out of the truck, became completely soaked putting on our raingear, and trudged off into the woods feelng sticky wet and uncomfortable. Hilariously, the rain stopped no more than five minutes later and the sun came back out. We now remember the east's sudden downpours more vividly - they sure are a far cry from Seattle's "mizzle". We camped on the riverbank, dryed out in the last hours of daylight, and had a great night.