| 4/25/01 - Hot Springs - 0 Miles hiked today! We took the day off
& relaxed. We soaked in the hot springs for an hour and then got a massage -
that felt sooo good! We will definately be rejuvinated tomorrow when we start
hiking. I love Elmers & feel right at home here - all sorts of vegetarian
writings & lots of other cool books. But we are both getting antsy & are
ready to be back on the trail. |
| 4/26/01 - Spring Mountain Shelter Campsite - 11 miles. The 1st day
out of town is always tough - our backpacks are at their heaviest (due to food) & our
bellies are full. The day was beautiful, so that helped ease our pain. |
| 4/27/01 - Jerry Cabin Shelter Campsite - 15.3 miles. Had another
sunny, nice day today. NC is having a drought - which is bad for NC but good for
hiking - NO rain! |
| 4/28/01 - Hogback Ridge Shelter - 14.6 miles. Water is getting
tough to find - maybe because of the drought. Hot & sunny again. We are
eating a lot - but we are still hungry. We fill up in town! Also passed our
300 milemark today. |
| 4/29/01 - Bald Mountain Campsite - We had a great day today! We
hiked 2 miles to Sams Gap & then got a hitch to 'Little Creek Cafe'. We had
breakfast with Hipbone & Mt. Goat (A couple we have been hiking with). Then we
went to the convience store next door & met the webmasters brother-in-law, Brett
Wooten. He was super-nice, let use check your website, and gave us a ride back to
the trail. We were the heros of the campsite because we brought Pringles! We
did manage to do some hiking - 10.5 miles total. |
| 4/30/01 - Temple Hill Gap - 12.5 miles. It was a bit cooler today
& a very nice day of hiking. We are heading into Erwin, TN tomorrow to resupply,
shower, eat, etc. We won't be taking a whole day off, but it will be an easy day
tomorrow with about 4 miles to hike into town. |
| 5/01/01 - Holiday Inn Express, Erwin, TN - 3.9 miles. We are in
Erwin, TN eating our hearts out! We got into town in time for a late breakfast.
A bunch of our hiker friends are in town and we are all going to a local burrito
place for dinner. It feels so nice to have a shower- we were really grungy with all
the hot weather & hiking! We are going to be back on the trail tomorrow morning. |
| 5/02/01- Deep Gap Campsite - 12.1 miles. We took our time leaving
town today. Munched on fresh donuts! It was hot & humid today. We
had some thunder booming, but rain never really came - just sprinkles. Erwin was a
very friendly trial town - the people there are fantastic. |
| 5/03/01 - Clyde Smith Shelter/Campsite - 13 miles. Today was a much
tougher day than the maps made it seem. Lots of steep ups & downs. This
was another humid day. There are lots of birds singing in the trees all day long
which makes the miles a little less tedious. |
| 5/04/01 - Bradley Gap Campsite - 14.8 miles. We hiked over some
fantastic mountains today. Roan High Bluff was the site of a hotel & is now a
grassy/rock area with nice views. We also went over several balds. The day was
nice & we even got a bit of rain & thunder. It cleared up real quick and we
got a few more miles in. Webmaster - there was a quote to me from moon. Moon
says "May the 4th be with you". Webmaster - obviously he may be losing it. |
| 5/05/01 - Laurel Fork Campsite - 15 miles. We hiked over Hump
Mountain, another spectacular bald. During our hike today, we passed an animal some
might not associate with the AT - COWS! We went through several pastures & at
one point a cow was walking down the trail. When we get to pastures, there is a
ladder or gate that lets us through. |
| 5/06/01 - VISIT - Kincoraa Hikers Hostel -
10.1 miles. We are at a hostel tonight. It was nice to get a shower! We
went to the store & got lots of food & cooked up a feast! Our friend from
NJ, Doyle, showed up this evening. We will probably hang out for a bit with him
tomorrow morning. |
| 5/07/01 - Pond Flats Campsite - 5.7 miles. We visited with our
friend Doyle & his son Adam most of the morning & early afternoon. They
hiked with us to Laurel Falls, which is a really magnificent waterfall. We hung out
there quite awhile, then hiked to the campsite on top of a mountain. It was great to
visit with someone from home! |
| 5/08/01 - Mystery Campsite - 15.7 miles. It was much easier hiking
today than recent days. We crossed over Watauga Dam. It was overcast all day
& we had light rain on & off. Luckily it wasn't raining when put up the
tent. It started raining when we were eating dinner & is still raining. It
will probably countinue all night. We can't really complain - the weather has been
good & the area really needs the rain. |
| 5/09/01 - Campsite Past Low Gap - 15.4 miles. The rain ended
sometime last night. It was wet & cloudy this morning, but then the sun came out
& the weather is once again beautiful. Tomorrow we cross into Virginia &
into the town of Damascus - call the friendliest town on the trial. The trail goes
right through town, so every thru-hiker stops for a meal & resupply, at least.
We are also taking a day off there. |
| 5/10/01 - The Maples B&B, Damascus, VA - 13.8 miles. We had a
very quick, easy hike today. We were in town by 2:30. We had a reservation for
this bed & breakfast tomorrow, and were also able to get in tonight. The
Honeymooners are splurging in Damascus! We crossed into Virginia around noon today,
our 4th state. 1/4 of the AT lies in Virginia, so we will be here awhile! Good
thing Virginia is for lovers! |
| 5/11/01 - The Maples B&B, Damascus, VA - 0 miles. We took a
'rest' day today. Our friend Kathy thinks we have it made on the trail not having to
do housework, but we have plenty to do! Loads of stinky laundry, airing out bags,
going shopping for food & to the post office to get our maildrop, etc., etc. Our
rest days are very hectic! Plus we have to eat lots of food & visit with all our
hiker friends that are also in town. I wouldn't trade it for vacumming, though :)
We will hopefully set out on the trail tomorrow afternoon. Also in Damascus we
bought some new, lighter weight summer gear & are sending home some of our heavier
clothes. |
| 5/12/01 - Saunders Shelter Campsite - 9.4 miles. We left Damascus
around 11:30 today after another great breakfast at the B&B. It was overcast
& drizzle but we needed to get out of town. We had already spent enough money
there. Weather was fine until about 3 miles before our campsite. Thunderstorms
hit for about 1 hr. We got soaked even with raingear. We tried to take cover
under a rock over hang without much success. We got to camp ok & are now drying
out our packcovers, socks, shoes, etc. Everything inside our packs was dry, thank
goodness! |
| 5/13/01 - Campsite past Whitetop Mt. - 12.6 miles. Today was cool
& sunny - great weather for hiking. My new sneakers I bought in Damascus are
getting broken in & feel good (Honey). We went through another pasturer more
cows today. Then we climbed to Buzzard Rock/Whitetop Mt. The skies were clear
& views were great. It was very windy & chilly so we didn't really hang out.
Made camp a little early because we are both tired. We sleep better out here
in the woods than in town! |
| 5/14/01 - Campsite on Pine Mt. - 14.3 miles. Today was the best day
we have had on the AT! We hiked up Mr. Rogers & then entered the Grayson
Highlands. This is an area of grass & shrubbery with lots of rocky out
croppings, mostly at 5,000 ft. The views were incredible! The day was very
clear & cool - perfect. There are also herds of feral ponies all throughout the
area. A couple came up to us while hiking - looking for handouts. Since we are
thru-hiking we have no food to spare! One tried to steal my bandana that was hanging
off my pack & gave Moon a little nibble. At one point a pony was following us
down the trail. We were going to adopt him & have him carry our stuff! |
| 5/15/01 - Trimpi Shelter Campsite - 16.9 miles. The day started out
cool & rainy, then cleared up by afternoon. We passed a lot of hikers heading
south on the AT towards Damascus. There is a big hiker festival there this weekend.
We probably won't make it but will definately go next year. |
| 5/16/01 - Partnership Shelter - 10.6 miles. Once again the day
started w/ rain. We had about 10 miles to go to get to this shelter. It is
famous on the AT because it is right near the road & a phone. From the phone you
can call & order pizza & other food. There is also a shower here & a
nice privy. We got here & ordered our pizza. We also met Pennsylvania Mule
who thru-hiked 2 years ago. He showed up w/ some 'Trail Magic' - Beer, sodas, hot
dogs, veggie burgers, & vegetables. We were only planning on staying here for
lunch but it is a good crowd & it is currenly Thunderstorming. So who knows - we
may stay here tonight. |
| 5/17/01 - The Village Motel, Atkins VA - 11.5 miles. We were
treated to breakfast by PA mule & JoJo Smiley. It was great! It made the
miles easy this morning. There was a Settlers Museum along the trail today that we
visited - very interesting! We are staying at a Motel right off the trail doing
laundry & cleaning ourselves! It is our 2 month wedding anniversary today &
it is nice to spend it in a room w/ a shower & bed! ;) * note:
webmaster added the ;) Honey couldn't be more obvious. |
| 5/18/01 - Knot Maul Branch Shelter Campsite - 14.3 miles. Today was
hot & humid with lots of ups & downs. We walked through more cow pastures.
We did a lot of miles for out 1st day out of town & are pretty tired & beat
up. |
| 5/19/01 - Davis Farm Campsite - 16.1 miles. Another hot & humid
day today. We were soaked w/ sweat by 9:00am! We did get some great views off
Chestnut ridge, a grassy area. Thunderstorms moved in around 5, getting us a little
wet. Luckily we had a break in the rain to set up camp & eat. Hopefully w/
the rain we will have cooler temps tomorrow. |
| 5/20/01 - Helveys Mill Shelter - 17 miles. We had a pretty fun day
today. We crossed Little Wolf Creek about 20 times in 2 miles I changed into my
sandals (so did Moon, eventually) & just sloshed through the water. It was muggy
again today, but a least we were under trees (out of the sun). |
| 5/21/01 - Trent Grocery Campsite - 16.3 miles. It rained all last
night but we were nice & dry in the shelter. We don't usually stay in shelters
but this one was pretty empty (just 1 couple - Hipbone & Mt. Goat) & clean.
The afternoon was a different story - thunderstorms again. We are staying at
a campground near a story just off the trail. |
| 5/22/01 - Woodshole Hostel - 13.3 miles. Guess what the weather was
like last night - Severe Thunderstorms. Guess the weather this afternoon -
Thunderstorms. We have changed the designation of the AT from 'National Scenic
Trail' to 'National Scenic Stream'! We have no hope of ever being dry again.
We are at a great hostel near the trail. We are all in the upstairs bunkroom
name bad 80's bands. Al - wish you were here. |
| 5/23/01 - Holiday Motor Lodge - Pearisburg, VA - 10 miles. We got
up this morning & saw a very welcome sight - the Sun! The trail was still real
wet a creek in some spots. We came into town to resupply, do laundry, & dry out. |
| 5/24/01 - Holiday Motor Lodge - Pearisburg, VA - We wanted to leave
Pearisburg today, but the weather forecast was very grim. There are lots of
thru-hikers in town trying to avoid the bad weather. It feels good to have an
unexpected rest day! We are leaving town tomorrow no matter what the weather. |
| Quote from the trail "No matter how much soap we use,
we still smell bad."
Note: The webmaster is not responsible for grammar or misspellings, the
notes are as taken from the trail. |