Dates ........ Thursday April 20, 2000
Miles ........ 13.2 miles
From ........ VA - Maupin Field Shelter
To ............. Paul Wolfe Shelter along Mill Creek.
Weather ... 44 degree morning, then clear, warmer, hazy
Grandad gets our vote for World Champion Snorer. He rattled the walls most of the night, his staccato louder than my Homelite chain saw. We slept very little and were quite sluggish the following day. The descent from Maupin Field was moderate. We crossed the BRP and hiked a long parallel traverse that was at times extremely rocky. It offered nice views of the valley and parallel ridge. My insoles kept working out alongside my boots to the point I finally had to remove them. Brett's feet were really hurting too.
We pushed on until the second BRP crossing. Studying the map, we found ourselves 4 miles (by road) from a welcome center and a chance to call home - and maybe something to eat besides trail food. As we donned our sneakers for the road walk, a couple from MA offered us a ride to the welcome center - we accepted. Wow - how quickly a car covers four miles. The welcome center was being renovated and was closed. No phone. No treats. But - lots of tourists.
So, we took the blue blaze north to pick up the AT. We hiked over Dobie Mountain and crossed the beautiful Mill Creek and checked into the Paul C Wolfe shelter around 4:15 P.M. Waiting for us were Grandad and Timex, another section hiker. Grandad was sporting a large bloody spot on the top of his white hair. He had walked into a stout branch overhanging the trail. It looked much worse than it was. The shelter was newer, and quite nice with large plexiglass panels to let in light and a large covered porch - a good design to help keep it clean.
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| "Free Spirit, FireFly, Timex, and Grandad" at Paul C Wolfe shelter. |
We had an interesting supper, nice conversation and rested our weary feet and legs. Grandad told us we could poke him with a hiking stick or throw a boot at him when he snored (not IF he snored, mind you.) and he would roll over and quiet down. We were careful not to hit him in the head. The remedy worked, long enough for us to fall asleep, anyway. Both Grandad and Timex were great company, nice, very interesting people.
We were looking forward to our re-supply and repast in Rockfish Gap.
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| 4/19/00 | 4/21/00 | 4/22/00 | ||||
| 4/30/00 | 5/01/00 | 5/02/00 | 5/03/00 | 5/04/00 | 5/05/00 |