MARION, VA.

Have been here two days now, nice town about 70 miles North of Damascus. Left there on Friday around 1pm when the rain and thunderstorms let up. Hiked to Lost Mountain Shelter(16mi) in the rain. Got there around 9:30 using a headlight. The shelter was full and lots of thru hikers had set up tents behind the shelter. Some were still up to greet me after dark, unusual. Most nights we are tucked in by then. Squeezed into the shelter and slept fairly well. The next morning everyone was up early knowing the day involved a big climb over Mount Rodgers, the one 6,000 ft climb left to do until we hit Vermont. A long hard day it was but after the climb there is always a decent. Made it to Wise Shelter(17.3mi). That shelter is the 500 mile mark heading North. When some of the thru hikers arrived they found a group of college age hikers had already made it there home for the weekend. By the time I got there the young hikers had a lot of questions for us about our experience since Ga. We tried to answer all of them while politely moving up the trail looking for a flat, dry area to tent. About 1/2 mile past the shelter we found a field with a campfire ring and supply of firewood? To good to be true. Above us on a plateau was a troop of Boy Scouts. They came down and let us know it was there firewood but invited us to join them at the fire. Same question and answers as the college kids. Two other thru hikers stayed up at the fire. I excused myself to retire to my tent for much needed sleep. The next morning we awoke to frozen water bottles but clear sky's. This area is known as the Greyson Highlands where ponies run wild. We saw many and even had them come up to the shelters. Leaving the camping area three of us proceeded North.  At Dickeys Gap(517mi) the other two hikers decided to continue on. I choose to hitch into Troutdale where there was a Hostel run by a Baptist Minister named Ken Riggins. An older couple picked me up rather quickly and drove me right to the Hostel. When I got there no one was there but the doors were open. Shortly after Ken and Mary showed up told me to make myself at home and left. That night no one else showed. During the night around 1 or 2 the sound of torrential rain woke me. Felt sorry for the other hikers. The Hostel had heat,water and comfortable cots. The next morning I left a donation in the box, ate a hearty breakfast and hitched a ride to Marion. Stayed in the hotel yesterday and rested and tried to eat some weight back on . Went to Sonic for lunch, BBQ for dinner then AA Meeting where they just happened to have a pot luck and speaker. Met some nice people who took my email and say they will send me there story. Had to go back today and hike the 15 miles I missed hitching here to Marion. 

Back headed North in morning to Atkins, Va. Hope this finds everyone well....