Introduction

About Pathways

Appalachian Trail

Why Walk?

Make a Pledge

Hiking Schedule

Journal

Photos

Links

Acknowledgements

May 4, 2001

sunrise

It's been a couple of days again since I've written. I've been doing decent mileage and having a lot of extraneous and important fun. The wild ponies of the Greyson Highlands were awesome. I saw three herds in the park. Some were uninterested/unconcerned, some amiable, some eager and aggressive to get the apple chunks I offered to them. I had 3 and 4 horses swarm me at once. Most only stood as tall as my belly button and there were a bunch of foals still moving on new legs. Neither Moms nor babies were afraid. The terrain was magic against a pewter sky. Strikingly beautiful.

I've been seeing a lot of sunrises lately. Of course, in the mountains the sun rises around 6:45 still, so it's not as difficult to catch it. As the first one to leave camp yesterday, by the end of the first hour I was covered in spider webs from being the first one down the trail. Later that morning, Pigpen saw a bear where we'd been camping by the river. Groundhog had heard it during the night, but I denied it assuring all of us that it was just me going to the bathroom.

Last night we stayed at the Partnership Shelter, just off of the Mt. Rogers Recreation Area near Marion. It's the best shelter on the trail. There's a shower at the shelter, privy with toilet paper, a sink out back, loft, and a payphone with pizza delivery 200 yards from the shelter. It was Reid's birthday, so we dined on pizza and soda with cheesecake for dessert. Sometimes the trail is tougher than others.

My ankle has been giving me a few problems, so I've been wrapping it and taking Vitamin I. Not bad enough to take time off, just to be aware. Two more people left the trail yesterday.

later

Walked only 12 miles today. Staying at the Village Motel in Atkins. Did my laundry and made GORP to die for. Golden Grahams were the magic ingredient.

Too bad the hotel was also infested with mice, which ate some of my GORP during the night.