#131 Cow Camp Shelter to Harper’s Creek Shelter - Day 65: ATMM 812.9 to ATMM 837.3
The log book in the Priest Shelter is much different than other log books along the A.T...a tradition reserved for long distance hikers only, we write our...
Though it is early in the morning and the sun has yet to climb over the eastern mountain I can tell through the large rectangular opening of the shelter that it’s going to be a beautiful day. The air is cool and clean, the wilderness quiet.
As not to disrupt my shelter mates, I slowly and quietly emerge from my sleeping gear to exit the shelter. Nature is calling early this morning. A few stars still shine in dark side of the sky. Hints of sunrise appear on the opposite horizon.
Returning to the shelter, I slowly and quietly begin packing up sleeping gear, then carry the rest of to the picnic table near the shelter’s entrance.
During breakfast Trouble tells me that we’ve been bumping into one another farther down trail than I remember and that she was among the hikers at the small breakfast table outside of Four Pines Hostel over a week ago.
That a few days later she was the hobbling hiker in the hotel breezeway to whom I said, “I know that hiker walk!” But I didn’t really see her face that day.
I guess never really made eye contact until a few days ago when I passed her sitting on the rock talking with Reboot.
Ooshgooly and I sit and talk a while. The two younger guys linger in the shelter, I never did catch their names. They are just beginning to stir as I leave camp.
Following the smooth and steady blue blaze trail back up the mountain to the Appalachian Trail (A.T.), I savor the moment. Things can change quickly in the mountains. I am fortunate to have blue skies this morning.
The trail lazily wanders over one bald mountain top after another, allowing me to effortlessly cover many miles. It’s a nice contrast to days past climbs.
When people say Virginia is flat, what they mean is that after a tough three thousand foot climb, there’s usually several miles of rolling ridgeline or mountain top hiking before dropping three thousand feet back down to the valley.
