Day 53 – Damascus, VA to Whitetop Road parking

“Well, I never thought I’d find a place where I could be

Just happy as a jaybird in a cherry tree,

So I stayed down in Virginia, ’cause that’s the very best,

So bless the day that brought me here,

And bless the folks I love so dear.” – Frank Sinatra 

Up at 7:15. Clear and 68 degrees. Forecast calls for rain this afternoon and tonight. Got moving slowly, did not sleep well. Had two nice cups of coffee at the dining room tabu with my pop-tarts. Chatted with Larry again for a bit. Got out of the Inn at 8:45. 

VERY humid out here this morning. My pack is HEAVY with all this food! Bothering my mid-back a bit. Trying an experiment. Feet hurt the last three days. I think it’s the new orthotics. Hiking today with them out. No insoles.

I am doing the first 9.14 miles today on the Virginia Creeper Trail (VCT). The VCT and AT overlap through and a bit past Damascus, diverge for 9 miles or so, then join back up at AT mile 484.5. See VCT map if my actual hike today below.

It’s pretty out here on the VCT along the river.

Took a break at 4.7 miles to rest my pack. Moving again at 10:25.

Ran across this little guy on the trail. 99%sure this is a juvenile copperhead.

Stopped for lunch at Hellbender’s Cafe at 11:25. Yum…chili dogs! I’m 7.6 miles into the day and it’s really starting to look like thunderstorms as forecasted. 

 Back on trail at noon. Nice waterfall.

Rejoined the Appalachian Trail at mile 484.5 at 1:00. Right on schedule. There is a bench here, so I took my shoes and pack off for 30 minutes.

I have 2.5 miles on the AT yet to Lost Mountain Shelter at mile 487. Then 5.8 miles on the AT to Whitetop Road at mile 492.8 for a total of 8.3 more miles today. I’m guessing 5-6 more hours given the upcoming elevation and the way I feel at present. That’s not going to be easy, but it puts me in really good shape for my plan for tomorrow!

Met up with a doe and her very small fawn while getting water at 2:15.

Stopped at 3:00 for a 15-minute break at  Lost Mountain Shelter. All three of us here commented on the nasty humidity today!

Crossed through a cattle gate and skirted a cow herd.

What a nasty climb the last 2.5 miles! Took me over 2 hours.

Made it to  Buzzard  Rock at 6:30. Awesome view, but storms are moving in.

YouTube of Buzzard Rock.

Stopped for water and made it to the Whitetop Parking lot and then found a tent site .2 miles past there in the woods at 7:00. Got camp set up. One bar cell service. Whitetop is the second tallest mountain in Virginia. I’ll be climbing Mount Rogers, the highest, tomorrow. 

Storms are moving about, but there’s no rain, just nice wind, and the humidity is down. I may actually be able to dry my super sweaty clothes before dark.

Finished dinner at 8:45. Late day. Not enough time to dry clothes. Oh well. Will see what I can do tomorrow.

I was getting tornado alerts from home this evening. Turns out a tornado touched down IN Poolesville. Once I get better cell service tomorrow, I’ll find some photos or video.

Asleep about 10:30.

Technical Notes:

• Pop-Tarts 370
• Coffee 0
• Snickers 250
• Diet Dr Pepper 0
• Chili dogs x 2  640
• Snickers 250
• Peak refuel pork and rice 800
• Fritos 400
• Water liters 6
• Miles 18.8
• Time 10:20
• Elevation gain 4000
• Calories consumed 2800
• Calories burned 7000