| June 13, 2005 |
| Thunder Hill
Shelter to Wildwood Campground VA. 130, Glasgow. VA |
|
Left
Thunder Hill at 7:50am. After about an hour left Thunder Hill
Wilderness area and went onto, James River Place Wilderness Forest,
in the Jefferson National Forest. Easy hike but very weedy. Ate
lunch/supper at Matts Creek. We had 2 miles to reach VA 130,
VA 105 at the James River. We no more started out for James
River when we were soaked by a thunder storm in a matter of seconds.
Oh, well, so much for dry clothes! The by the creek was
beautiful. The trail was lined by large boulders covered by
mosses, ferns, lichens and blooming vines. Corn flowers were
blooming in every crevice. Many tiny water falls were seen.
The stream had deep holes where brooks trout could be seen. |
|
Finally we reached the James River foot
bridge that was constructed for thru-hikers in 2001. It is the
longest foot bridge on the AT.
NOTE:
This bridge, the longest foot-use-only bridge on the AT is dedicated
to the memory of Bill Foot, a 1987 thru-hiker and ALDHA honorary
life member ("Trail-named The Happy Feet" with his wife Laurie)
whose efforts in securing the existing piers, applying for grants
and gaining numerous agencies' cooperation made the bridge a
reality. |
|
After
crossing the bridge and sticking out our thumbs for a hitch to the
campground, we were picked up by a young fisherman whom we passed
before reaching the parking lot. Moe and Mystic had already been
there for 2 days waiting on a mail drop. Since the ground was
soaking wet form the recent thunder storm, we slept under the
pavilion on cement floor with all the luxuries of home—a hot shower,
washer and dryer, electric lights, a small store for re-supplying,
and a cook to fix our breakfast!. We were shuttled to town to an
AYCE Country Restaurant and shuttled back to the trailhead the next
morning. |
|
Swing'n Jane and
Simon |
|
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