Keefer Oak (that’s my pack at the base if the tree!)
Starting mile 676
I awoke to rain this morning. I didn’t want to get moving so I stayed in my hammock until someone else showed up at the shelter. This wasn’t until 9:45. I wasn’t sure who showed so I walked over to the shelter and saw that it was “Mile Marker”. I hadn’t seen him since before Pearisburg. After talking for 15 minutes the rain stopped so I ran over and packed everything up before it started raining again. While doing this a couple more people came into the shelter.
It was almost 10:30 and I hadn’t even started for the day, so I got going. I wasn’t sure how far I’d make it for the day; the rain was making me move a little slower than normal. The trail was rocky and the wet rocks were slippery. I really had to watch my step today. I eventually made it to Keffer Oak, one of the oldest trees on the trail. It is estimated to be over 300 years old. It was still raining so I didn’t stick around for too long.
After leaving Keffer Oak the trail started my first major climb of the day. Once I got to the top I was supposed to have great views, but once I was there all I saw was rain and clouds. It would stay this way until after 2 pm when the rain finally stopped. Then I still had to watch my step because the rocks were still slippery. When I was making my way across one rock slab, I lost my footing and slid down the mountain a little. Luckily it wasn’t bad and I didn’t hurt anything.
I finally made it off the ridge and down to Niday Shelter where I took a break and had a snack. It was already 4:30 but I still needed to get some more miles in for the day. I only hiked about 13 miles so far today. I had to ford my first creek, Craig’s Creek, but due to the rain earlier my shoes and socks were already wet.
After fording the creek, I started the 1,500-foot climb to the Audie Murphy Memorial. My plan was to find somewhere to sleep after passing the monument. After passing the monument it started to get late, so I was looking for a place to sleep. About 1.5 miles later I found a great place on the non-wind side of the mountain.
By the time I set up and had dinner it was 8:30 and getting dark. I ended up doing 19.5 miles with 4,000 feet of elevation gain. Not bad for starting at 10:30.
Ending mile 695.5