Day 151: Wise Shelter & Ponies

Start: Dickey Gap (AT mi 520.2). Stop: Wise Shelter (AT mi 504.2). Today’s miles: 16 miles. Total AT mileage: 1688.9 miles.

We all woke up just after 7 and we could all tell none of us really wanted to start moving.. but, when a ride is showing up at 8, you kinda have to get a move on. Amazingly we were all 3 packed and ready, breakfast eaten by the time Jimmy, the shuttle driver, appeared at exactly 8! I was impressed with us, if no one else was.

Jimmy’s van has hikers names written all over it, along with advertising for the pizza place and the Mexican place in Marion, Virginia. He said they give him free food for free advertisement. Smart man. He drove us plus 2 other hikers to our destinations. We got out and started moving around 8:40-ish. Not too shabby.

The trail started off downhill in a calm meandering way, and pretty much maintained that level of smooth for a majority of the day, though the downhill definitely didn’t last. It was nice to hike with Finch and Lizard in the morning. We talked and walked for a couple hours before separating out a bit when someone would pause for layer changes or to stop at a privy.

At a beautiful creek crossing, I stopped to get water and to wait for them to catch back up to me (since I didn’t need to change my clothes or potty yet I got ahead). Bones ended up passing me so we talked a bit.. she was going farther than us today, so she didn’t talk long before needing to carry on. A couple minutes later, Finch appeared and we found a spot to sit and eat lunch knowing Lizard had to be close by. Once we sat and started pulling stuff out, she was there. So we got to enjoy lunch together with a few section hikers waiting to be picked up.

Because I have gotten so used to short breaks to make longer mileage days, I headed out the second I was done. I knew they wouldn’t be too far behind me either way, and I wanted to listen to my audiobook. I started the climb up Pine Mountain expecting it to be brutal. It was 5k elevation after all.. but honestly, it was less strenuous than the climbs Lizard and I did earlier this morning before splitting up. I was amazed at how quickly I managed to get up there!

Then, I walked through a gate that made me feel like I had just walked through a time portal into another world all together! The top of that mountain was absolutely stunning! The leaves had all changed colors, an explosion of brilliant oranges, yellows, reds. I took picture after picture because it was just so captivating. Then, a few miles later, I passed through some fencing that took me into a field with wild ponies and long horned cows, regular looking cows, and all their baby calves. I would say “steer” but I don’t think that’s the right term. I would take the time to google this, but I don’t have service.. so-maybe I will before posting this. Hmmm. Maybe I’m too tired to really care.. haha

I waited for Lizard to catch me so we could explore these big animals together. It makes me feel better that someone else shares my distrust of animals like these.. I mean, I like them, but I also think one would kick, bite, or charge me over a look.. sooooo.. you know, I’m a little uneasy with huge herds of these massive things around. She and I took pictures and had decided to wait for Finch. Shortly after deciding that, the wind picked up and storm clouds were rolling through, so we changed our minds and headed towards the shelter that was 3 miles away to attempt to beat the impending rain.

As we walked the colors just seem to erupt across the open ridge line. I told Lizard it felt like walking into a Thomas Kincaid puzzle. It was truly a magical experience for me. We also passed a few more cows and ponies in the distance. I stopped every 4 feet to take pictures. Within a half mile of the shelter, the sky dropped on us. We managed to get our water at a creek and then sought cover from the shelter moments later.

There was a little girl and her dad already there, eating dinner. It was a little before 5pm, so we didn’t start setting up or anything yet.. we just chatted with them a bit. They decided after eating they were going to continue on a few miles farther-maybe all the way back to their car to avoid a wet tent.

A bit later, Finch appeared and then a not long after him another hiker showed up, too. The 4 of us are in the shelter tonight, grateful for the cover, because the rain has ebbed and flowed all evening, only increasing as the day progresses into the darkness. We ate dinner together after setting up our stuff in the shelter. I’m happy it’s a nice one, as I haven’t been using them at all. As much as I love David’s tent, I didn’t want to test it out in this mess.

The shelter’s roof is metal, so it’s a nice sound to fall asleep to.. the pitter patter of rain. But it’s also worrisome that it’s not going to let up at all and this will be the future for us tomorrow. We knew it was going to rain, but there’s something to be said about starting in rain and it raining all day versus it starting to rain later in the day. I don’t know why, but the latter sounds way less miserable to me. Now that it’s cooler (we’re all a bit cold in here tonight waiting on our body heat to warm our sleeping bags and insulate us), rain can equal danger if you don’t play it safely.

As of now, it’s looking like we’ll be hiking just over 17 miles in this rain tomorrow, obscuring our views from Mount Rogers and probably of more ponies, too as we really get into the good parts of the Grayson Highlands. Oh well. We’ll get it done some how some way.. and then the following day will be a 16 mile day into Damascus for a hot shower and warm bed. As much as I love this trail, I don’t love the rain.. I pray tomorrow passes quickly and the crap weather passes, too.

It’s just after 8pm and it looks like everyone else is either already asleep or close to it. I’m just praying I don’t have to pee again, because I do not want to get soaked! Goodnight y’all!