AT from Daleville to Pearisburg, VA Backpacking Trip
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4/25/2000- I was supposed to start this southbound AT backpacking trip from Daleville to Pearisburg, VA today. However, the forcasted rain and possible snow fluries kept me in Pearisburg for the day. I slept at the Holy Family Hostel last night and will stay at the Plaza Motel tonight. I spent the day shuttling thru-hikers around Pearisburg to get supplies, eat, go to the doctor, etc. I now hope to set out tomorrow morning.
4/26/2000- Didn't get on the trail at US220 Daleville, VA until 11am because
my shuttle had to drop off other hikers along the way. Did a decent
9.3 miles and am staying with "Happy" at
the
At right, Holy Family Hostel in Pearisburg, VA, my starting 4/27/2000- Tough day. Tinker's Cliff and McAfee's Knob, though beautiful, were both very tough ups. I also didn't sleep well last night due to aggressive mice or rats, I'm not sure, in the shelter. One of them fell on my sleeping bag in the middle of the night from the rafters and woke me out of a sound sleep. Later that night, I felt a tugging on my pillow. The little bugger was trying to drag my pillow through the spaces at the back of the shelter. When we awoke the next morning, "Happy"'s sweatshirt was half way down the space at the back of the shelter! I have the typical 2nd day blahs, a cold and am weighing getting off at Catawba.
4/28/2000- Catawba Mountain Shelter was empty until 8pm last night. Then
7 thru-hikers and a local hiker up from Roanoke piled in. I met 2 brothers
and a sister from Chevy Chase, MD that were thru-hiking. If they make
it, they will be the first 3 sibling team to do so. I slept well last
At left, me at the starting point at US220, VA.
and the Catawba General Store. Had a BLT for breakfast. Decided
that rather than go back up the mountain, that I would hike along VA311 to
the Catawba Grocery about 4 miles away. I did and ate 2 hot dogs there.
Then I missed the trail junction on VA624. I was almost at the
top of the hill when I met a Mr. Francisco getting his mail out of his mailbox.
He told me that I had walked too far and invited me into his house
for a cold Dr. Pepper. I talked to him and his wife for awhile. They
were very nice. During our conversation he mentioned that he had had
the legiondary AT thru-hiker Grandma Gatewood stay at his house a number
of times. Also, while looking out his kitchen window, I could see the
rock formation called Dragon's Tooth straight up the mountain from where
he lived. This is where I was supposed to be hiking over. He
asked where I wanted to go and that he would take me there. Since it
had started raining and I didn't really want to climb Dragon's Tooth in the
rain, I asked him to take me to where the AT crossed VA620. I would
then hike 1 mile north to Pickle Branch Shelter, shave about 8 miles as well
as one day off of the trip and avoid the rain. I'm writing
this
At right, a scenic view of the Roanoke, VA reservoir. 4/29/2000- Rough day. I had to climb a 2,000 foot ridge, walk for 5 miles, pass by the Audie Murphy Monument, descend 2,000 feet, then ascend 1,000 feet to the Niday Shelter. I'm tired. It rained half way through the day but cleared up by day's end. The shelter is full so I am tenting tonight. I am passing a number of people that I met in Pearisburg including "Tortie" and "Special Agent". Only 5 days to go and 50 miles to Pearisburg.
4/30/2000- Very rough day yesterday. I did 12 miles. Climbed
Sinking Creek Mountain and encountered the "Licking Goats". These
3 goats popped up out of no where along the rocky ridge
At left, looking back at Daleville, VA. legs. It tickled! I was laughing out loud with no one else around. Bought more food from a farmhouse at VA42 and barely made it to Laurel Creek Shelter before dark. I was exhausted! I am shortening tomorrow to only 9 miles to recoup. 5/1/2000- I only ended up doing 5.2 miles to War Spur Shelter. It is supposed to rain tonight and I was facing a big up so I decided to compensate for yesterday. I just hope that my food holds out. 5/2/2000- Left War Spur Shelter with rain coming down. Big up, then good ridge top hiking. Thought I could make it to Pine Swamp Shelter. However, because of 3 miles of PA rocks I only made it to Bailey Gap Shelter and 5.2 miles. Only 3 days and 2 nights to go!
5/3/2000- Had a good day today. Did 14.8 miles and shaved another
day off of the trip. The reasons were that it was mostly downhill,
except for Peters Mountain, I rested and ate alot and I met 2 young female
northbound thru-hikers that were so "fit" that I was able to ascend Peters
Mountain with no problem. (I won't elaberate anymore.) I saw
the southern terminus of the Allegheny Trail, which I have hiked a section
of in the past. I also experienced 2 sonic booms while traversing Peters
Mountain. Jets flying over the mountain would cause huge explosions due to
the reflected sound waves of the jet traveling up the mountain and meeting
those coming down from
At right, my first night at Lambert Meadow Shelter, VA. down right on top of me. Only 8.2 miles tomorrow and on to Pearisburg! 5/4/2000- Had a great night sleeping in my tent 8 miles up on top of the mountain. At night I could see the town of Pearisburg, VA lit up on one side of the mountain and Narrows, VA lit up on the other. It was beautiful. I hiked the 8 miles, past the last shelter, Rice Field, down the rocky slopes of the mountain and made it to Pearisburg. I had a good lunch at Wade's Market, called my shuttle man Bill Gauthier, went back to the hostel, took a shower and went home. All together I passed between 40 and 50 northbound thru hikers on this trip. Special thanks to Bill Gauthier of the Holy Family Hostel in Pearisburg, VA. He took care of us at the hostel and was my shuttle man. Also to Linda at the Plaza Motel in Pearisburg, VA. She runs a very nice and hiker friendly motel that I stayed at this trip as well as the last. Looking back on this hike I'm glad that I got this section done, but is was very difficult. Having to traverse 4 different mountain ranges is tough for a section hiker that is out of shape. A thru hiker doesn't give it any thought, but I found this stretch rough. If I were to do it again, I would have carved this hike up into three different three day hikes: US220 Daleville to VA311 Catawba; VA311 Catawba to VA42 and VA42 to Pearisburg. From here on out I will probably section hike the rest of the AT this way. |
