Day 39, Hurricane Mountain Shelter to Mt. Rogers Visitors Center

The event starts today, which explains why I didn't see as many southbound hikers yesterday. Everybody hiking to Trail Days was trying to get there by last night or this morning.

I, on the other hand, still needed to hike all day today so that my wife could pick me up at the Mt. Rogers Visitors Center. Kim had to work today and it would be about a three-hour drive to reach our pickup point. Late this afternoon would be the earliest she could be there.

Because I slept in a shelter last night, I wasn't slowed down in my departure by needing to pack up my tent. I packed up quietly and quickly, so as to not disturb the four young men who shared the shelter with me.

Just before I left the shelter at 7 a.m., I heard a loud "CRACK!" which was soon followed by a "thud!". I knew a large tree or tree limb had fallen nearby, but I couldn't pinpoint where.

Then, as I walked a short distance down the trail I saw where it had fallen. It would have fallen on me if I had been hiking just a couple minutes sooner.

Based on what I remembered from the time several years ago I hiked this section southbound, I knew this would be the easiest day in my push to reach the visitors center. There weren't going to be any difficult climbs today to slow me down. Keeping close to an average of two miles per hour, I should be able to get there by 6:00. That means, however, I can't take many breaks.

The trail started with a long but easy descent from Hurricane Mountain, then crossed over several small rivulets and brooks.

It was cloudy today and a light rain fell a couple times this morning, but the rain was so short I didn't stop to put on any rain gear.

There were few hikers on the trail today. A couple of times I met up with Funky Stuff and Jared. Funky Stuff had recently taken time out from his hike to go on a mission trip to Guatemala.

By the time I reached Dickey Gap I was feeling good about my chances of reaching my pickup point. This was one of my fallback spots for meeting Kim, but I'm glad my backup plan wasn't needed. It is on the same road as where she will be later today, but much farther off the main highway.

As I arrived here, however, I realized I was no longer carrying my bandana. I usually carried it tied to one of my pack's shoulder straps so that it could be easily reached.

It would seem that it would be easy to notice when something hanging directly in front of me had fallen, but I failed to see it fall off.

Although I could have just left a bandana that costs $1.50 behind, I hated that thought so I started backtracking. I remembered using it a short time ago to wipe sweat from my face, so I was hoping I didn't have to walk far before seeing it.

I was right, the bandana was lying on the trail about a tenth of a mile away. Though I was glad to find it, I had wasted a few minutes, which was time I didn't have to spare.

Another time waster happened a short time later. A brief thunderstorm came through with heavy rain. I stopped to put on my rain gear, but as soon as I got it on, the rain stopped.

As soon as I took off my rain gear, it started raining again.

I put on my rain gear, and yes, it immediately stopped raining again.

This little episode ate up about 30 minutes of hiking time, but once it stopped raining it didn't rain again.

And now I was soaking wet.

To make up some time, I decided to not stop for a break at Trimpi Shelter, which was about four miles past Dickey Gap.

The weather was turning hot and humid after that thunderstorm and a little break would have been nice. Thankfully, though, the trail was getting flatter. Taking a break wasn't as necessary as it might have been on some days.

As I rounded a corner past the visitors center I saw Kim standing near our truck. She had parked along the road because the gate to the visitors center was closed. She had arrived only ten minutes before me.

Jared and Funky Stuff were also there, standing across the road. They were attempting to hitchhike into town. That was in the same direction as we were headed, so we offered to give them a lift.

On the drive to Walmart, we discovered Jared and Funky Stuff were from a part of Indiana where Kim and I used to live. In fact, Funky Stuff had done some substitute teaching at the same school Kim got her start in teaching.

Kim and I drove to Abingdon, Va., where we had made hotel reservations for the weekend. This was going to be a bit more comfortable than camping with the multitudes at Trail Days.

As we checked in, the desk clerk mentioned he was a former hiker. He gave us a nice, corner room.

More trail magic.