Daleville to Pearisburg (Map)

From Daleville to Pearisburg, we hiked along (among other things) a bunch of ridges — up one, along it, and then down and across a (farmland-filled) valley to the next; we also saw Tinker Cliffs and McAfee Knob, and Dragon's Tooth.

Damascus, VA

We made it to Damascus! Not only that, but they have a library with all the fixings: tracks and photos forthcoming.

Partnership Shelter

We got in to the Partnership shelter yesterday evening and — this is the wonder of it — had pizza for dinner. It is at the Mt. Rogers Visitors Center, and close enough to Marion that one can order pizza which (almost) everyone does. We also made it in to town for resupply yesterday in record time: there's public transit (!!), for 50¢ each, so we didn't have to hitch.

...however, we decided to take a zero, despite accomplishing our immediate goals. It was rainy this morning (always a motivator for being sedentary); and Cloud, who was staying at Partnership too, was sick last night (food poisoning?), so he called up the bus for a ride in to town to visit the doctor — so, at the last minute we half-packed and got in to town for (finally) a pancake breakfast. Now we're seeing the signts, such as they are.

The downside to a last-minute town run is that, although I have my camera, I have nothing and no means to post: the USB cable is at the shelter, as is the (second) 16GB card I just filled. But, Damascus!

P.S. However, other people have taken pictures of Partnership. It's right up there with Bryant — a loft and everything.

Woods Hole Hostel

Jo and I are taking a zero day at Woods Hole Hostel, about ten miles south of Pearisburg, VA. (On the map, there's a big ridge visible starting just to the southwest of the Pearisburg dot; the trail climbs and follows that.) They have a satellite internet connection with limited upload bandwidth, so this will be another no-photo post.

Today, we have the place mostly to ourselves — Michael and Neville (the husband-and-wife owners) are of course around, but we have run of the bunk house and have been reading and writing in the morning sun on the porch. (We're taking a zero.) Yesterday and the night before there was a crowd: the bunch of southbounders who recently passed us were here, slack-packing the next section. (Slacking is hiking without most of your stuff — leave tent and cookware etc here, get dropped off and hike back.) The entourage: Flora (one of maybe two female hikers we've seen) had her mom and grandmother and godmother visiting; and A-Bear and Kunu and Peepeeopee and Skittles and Cody and Hobbit (all twenty-something guys except the last, who's older). So, big gatherings for home-cooked breakfast and dinners (and some carrying of chopped wood). Awol (author of The A.T. Guide, which we're using) also came through.

Yesterday, we slack-packed north from Woods Hole to Pearisburg — fun to have a mere twenty-pound pack, and have another town meal. (We arrived in Pearisburg and got shuttled to Woods Hole the day before.)

(More with pictures, of course, but) The section before this has been lots of ridges, and a couple big landmarks — McAffee Knob and Tinker Cliffs, and Dragon's Tooth. When hiking along ridges, we tend to go up (between one and two thousand feet over a couple miles), hike along the ridge for half a day, and then dip down into the next valley and hike up onto the next ridge. Ridges have varied: some easy meanders through forest, and some trails where the path is a jumble of pack-sized rocks.

For now, time to read and rest and enjoy the sun.