Hiking the AT_6.8, 6.9

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Last seen: 09/28/2007
Location: Connecticut
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June 8 (Day 42)

The walk down into Pearisburg was steep, as it has been almost every time I come out of the mountains into a town.

I ended up being completely alone at the shelter last night, which was nice. However, from the time that I arrived there yesterday afternoon, at least 10 other hikers came through, and all but one ended up pushing on to get into town last night. Comet I had met before, back in Tennessee, but all the others were people I hadn’t met before.

I’ve stayed in town here at the Plaza Motel. It’s nice enough and it was recommended by some hikers I met several days ago. The nicest thing is the lady that runs the place will do your laundry for you at no extra charge. Something I took full advantage of.

I’ve got a difficult climb up out of town tomorrow, as usual. And, as usual, I’m weighted down with a lot of food. But, I’ll be taking some of these days in the coming week a bit easier. I’ve arranged to meet my sister on the trail for a day a little ways north of Troutville in eight days, so it won’t do me any good to push hard past our planned meeting spot.

So, I’ve got something new to look forward to and hike forward to over the next week and over the next 120 or so miles.

June 9 (Day 43)

I left Pearisburg early this morning, grabbed a snack at the gas station on the way out of town, and started hiking.

It was blue sky above Pearisburg this morning, but I could see that there were some heavy clouds hanging up on the mountains.

I knew there wouldn’t be any water sources up on the ridgeline for a while, so just before the climb I went to fill my Nalgene bottle from a stream and managed to slip and completely immerse my left foot in water. So, I climbed the 1,500 feet up to the ridge with a wet left foot.

The clouds were indeed stuck on the ridge, and it stayed foggy and misty, and thankfully nice and cool, until about noon. The sun burnt through in the afternoon and my shoe was able to mostly dry out.

I reached the shelter I planned on staying at for the night after 20 miles at about 3:30 p.m. There were about 7 or 8 people there. They had their gear spread all throughout the shelter and on the one good flat area where one could pitch a tent. They, apparently, had stayed there last night and then spent the entire day there as well. They said it was no problem (that their gear was everywhere), because they planned on leaving at around 8 p.m. and do some night hiking. But it was kind of a problem because no one who planned on staying there could set anything up until they left.

So I rested for a little and then hiked on. I only had to go another mile or so until I found a decent place to set up my tent next to a stream.

I saw the weather channel briefly while I was in Pearisburg, and it looks like at least the next two days are going to be good weather for hiking. Hopefully it holds true for the mountains also.

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