	Appalachian Trail Servants
	about us	Christianity101	donations	contact us	calendar	Chaplain Journals	links	guestbook	databases

Craig and Suzy's 2006 Appalachian Trail Journal

Week #: Prep 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Post

Search:
As you can imagine, long-distance hiking takes a lot of time and money. This particular hike is estimated to cost about $17,000. Hikers cannot be reached on the trail without your support. If you like reading the journals or if you would like to see more chaplains on the trail, please prayerfully donate your funds to A.T. Servants by clicking here.

Search Results

Day Date Start Finish Miles Journal Photo

57 5/13 Lost Mountain Shelter, VA Dennis Knob Shelter, VA 12.2

Day: 57

Date: 5/13/06

Start: Lost Mountain Shelter, VA

Weather: Blue skies with high, puffy white clouds. Cool and breezy.

Finish: Dennis Knob Shelter (5400')

Miles: 12.2

Cumulative A.T. Miles: 487.5

Clay: In a previous post, I said that I felt like climbing Roan Mountain, TN was our "final exam" for the southern A.T. If Roan was our final exam, then climbing Mount Rogers (5490') was our extra credit. Knowing that we were hiking short but tough miles today, we chose to sleep in to gain the extra rest. We knew we would need it for the climbs today. All-in-all, we gained over 2,000 feet today. Tonight we are with Shrek, Soulive, Big Foot, Gray Goose, Willow, and a SOBO big-section hiker.

Branch: Knowing that we only had 12 miles to do today, we had a lot of fun taking our time while we hiked. Today was the first time on this trip that we've seen our favorite flower--the red columbine.

Today has been a great day for trail magic. Just after having come down off of Whitetop Mountain and just before our final climb for today, Tinkerbell, a thru-hiker from last year, was set up at a parking lot with cokes and fruit and he took our trash for us. We had a nice time chilling out with him and utilizing his chairs. He even let us take an apple to feed the horses in the Grayson Highlands tomorrow. After hanging out with him for a while, we hiked the fairly easy 4.5 uphill miles to the shelter. When we got there, we were ready to cook our dinner and do the evening chores. Upon arrival, I noticed that everyone was happy and had cokes in one hand and hotdogs in the other. Some super incredible men had packed in a charcoal stove, hotdogs, a cooler of drinks, cookies, and even ICE CREAM! Clay and I both devoured several hotdogs and we happily shared a cooking pot full of ice cream. What a wonderful way to do trail magic.

We are nestled here in the shelter and everyone is full and happy and falling asleep even before the sun goes down. I think that I will join them in their happy slumber. Goodnight and God bless you tonight.

58 5/14 Thomas Knob Shelter, VA Old Orchard Shelter, VA 11

Day: 58

Date: 5/14/06

Start: Thomas Knob Shelter, VA

Weather: Sunny then thunder then lightning then hail then rain then cold then hot...repeat cycle all day

Finish: Old Orchard Shelter, VA

Miles: 11

Cumulative A.T. Miles: 498.5

Branch: Even though we did a super short day today, it has been one of the most eventful days that I can remember. We woke up fairly early this morning to a beautiful, clear, and sunny sky. We could see fog still blanketing the valleys below. It was beautiful and promising. This was all soon to change, though. We took our time getting out of the shelter and finally left around 8:30 excited to hike one of the most talked about and anticipated sections of the trail. Clay and I were both armed with an apple to feed to the feral ponies we hoped to see. Within the first mile, the blue in the sky started to be overcome with ominous grey and black clouds. We soon began to hear the dreaded sound of approaching thunder. By the time we got to Fat Man's Squeeze (a tight series of boulders on the A.T. through which hikers crawl) the light rain had turned to hail and the lightning was fairly close. So, Clay, Willow, and I took cover under a huge cave-like rock until the rain lessoned and the thunder seemed further away.

Soon after we headed out from our hiding place, it appeared that the sun might make another appearance. We took our time enjoying the incredible scenery of the area and came upon Shrek feeding two ponies. I definitely did no want to leave the Grayson Highlands without feeding and petting some of the famous wild feral ponies. I quickly grabbed the apple from my pack and headed over to join him. These ponies were not timid in the least. As long as I had food to offer, they let me pet them and take pictures of them. It was so neat! After that encounter, I felt I could leave the Grayson Highlands satisfied. Throughout the day, we even saw other ponies--pregnant mothers, colts, and other pretty ponies. Despite the rain, it was a great time.

Tonight we are in a shelter full of friends--Grey Goose, Big Foot, Blue Bird, and Lothar. Willow, Chuck Norris, and some others camping around the shelter. We are all huddling in our sleeping bags trying to get warm and avoid the wind that seems to blast through every crack in the walls and floor. Its probably a good thing that we are jammed in here like sardines--maybe our combined body heat will make for a more pleasant sleeping environment.

Clay: It was like we were on another planet today--seriously. The Grayson Highlands were amazing. Imagine very small, very close mountains with rock outcroppings on each mountaintop. Draping the mountains were grasses and trees with various shades of green. Carpeting the floor of the Highlands are beautiful, thick grasses and rolling hills. On the grass carpets are the ponies. I can't really describe it adequately. Suffice it to say, the Grayson Highlands were the prettiest place we have hikes thus far.

We had planned to push for 15 miles today but the weather and the rocky terrain dissuaded us from pressing on. It turned out to be great. Branch had a wonderful conversation tonight.

59 5/15 Old Orchard Shelter, VA Troutdale, VA; Troutdale Baptst Church Hostel 10.2

Day: 59

Date:5/15/06

Start: Old Orchard Shelter, VA

Weather: Chilly, threat of rain, periods of promising sunshine

Finish: Troutdale, VA; Troutdale Baptst Church Hostel

Miles: 10.2

Cumulative A.T. Miles: 508.7

Branch: Last night everyone got in their sleeping bags fairly early because it was remarkably chilly out. I ended up next to Bluebird, a wonderfully creative Christian lady, and had the best time talking with her. We talked for at least and hour and a half about topics all over the spectrum of life and spirituality. I truly hope run into her again during Trail Days.

This morning, knowing that we did not have that terribly far to go today, we avoided the cold in our sleeping bags until well after 7:30. It was so nice to sleep in! The hiking was super easy and the terrain was rather unremarkable today. We were in Troutdale by 1:30 PM.

Clay: Their was a person on the trail that was quite remarkable today. Soon after Grey Goose and Bigfoot left the shelter a person came from behind the shelter. It was freezing this morning (high 30s or low 40s), he had no tent, he had no backpack, he had no food or water. He was wearing a camouflaged jacket, a short sleeved t-shirt, jeans, a camo hat, a big buck knife on his belt, and mechanics gloves. The most odd thing was that he had put black dirt all over his face, and all over his hands and arms. His face and hands were very dark because of the dirt. My first thought was that he was a hunter but he had no weapon other than the knife on his belt. Blue bird, Chuck Norris, Branch, and I had no idea what he was doing out here as he made his way down the trail. He passed within a few feet of us, we greeted him, without making eye contact, he mumbled something back to us.

As we hiked down the hill we saw that his mechanics glove was in the middle of the trail. The glove was next to the crossing of the A.T. and a horse trail. So, since we were not sure about the direction he went, we left the glove at the crossroads. As we climbed the next mountain, we found the fellow sleeping in the middle of the trail. I wanted to ask if he needed help but I figured that he just crossed a road and could have gotten off the trail. I asked myself, "Does he want to die? Is he running from someone or, maybe, running from himself?"

Later that day accounts and speculations started surfacing about the person. Some people said that he in fact slept under shelters. Others said that they saw him hiking out of the woods a day or so ago and then he found the trail. Still others believed he was schizophrenic. Who knows?

As we hitched a ride from Skyline (Thanks!) into the Troutdale Trading Post, we prayed for this kid and we hope he is okay. Tonight we are staying at the Troutdale Baptist hostel. Pastor Riggins is not here tonight. I hope we see him tomorrow.

60 5/16 Dickey Gap, VA; Troutdale Baptist Church Partnership Shelter, VA 14.5

Day: Day 60

Date: 5/16/06

Start: Dickey Gap, VA; Troutdale Baptist Church

Weather: Cold, overcast

Finish: Partnership Shelter, VA

Miles: 14.5

Cumulative A.T. Miles: 523.2

Clay: This morning we got up around 6:15 AM with Gray Goose, Bigfoot, Rich and Leslie (two coast-to-coast cyclists). We all had breakfast at the Trading Post. It was fun asking Rich and Leslie about their trip thus far, their recent marriage, and about the Mormon faith. They were a lot of fun and I wish they were hiking. What a fun couple.

What a great hike today with Bigfoot and Goose. Even with long breaks, we still averaged 2 miles per hour today. I believe that, when hiking, we were hiking 2.5 per hour.

Everyone out here knows that I am an itinerant minister as a vocation. Lately, people have been coming to me and asking me a lot of questions that they have been pondering throughout their life. The time passed by quickly today as I was approached and asked about the soteriological problem of evil and transworld damnation, the existence of God, the existence of Heaven and Hell, and the existence of the soul. The conversation was systematic, simple yet thorough, and called for challenge on a personal level. Most of all it was fun for all parties involved.

Branch: Today was one of the first days that I have truly felt like a strong thru-hiker. We did the first 4.6 miles in 1.25 hours! I have noticed the my mindset when I come to climb has changed. Further south, I would approach a climb with something akin to fear and dread. I would desperately pick out the next place to catch my breath and then trudge to that point, pick out the next rest spot, and then start all over again until I finally reached the top of the climb. Lately, I have seen the climb, prepared myself to climb for the amount of time that I estimate that it will take and then hiking at a pace where I can keep moving the entire time. I now feel like I can conquer the trail at least around here.

Today we reached two very small milestones for me. First, this morning, we got to "the bus". "The bus" is merely a broken down school bus that is abandoned in a cow pasture. Inside it sports a mattress that no one would dear touch, some chairs, a stove, and some other miscellaneous stuff. This is by no means a milestone for most people, but having watched as many movies about the A.T. as I have, it was neat seeing and exploring the bus that other hikers have shown in their movies. The second small milestone of the day was Partnership Shelter. Most shelters on the trail are three sided, mouse-ridden shelters with a stinky privy and a water source that is a small hike away. This shelter is different. We are in a loft that is mostly enclosed. The best part though, is that there is a HOT water shower, a sink with running water, and a tenth of a mile from here is a phone that is famous because a local pizza place delivers to it! We had a wonderful time eating our pizza and swapping stories with Cuppa Joe and the other hikers.

61 5/17 Partnership Shelter, VA Atkins, VA 11.6

Day: 61

Date: 5/17/06

Start: Partnership Shelter, VA

Weather: Overcast, cold at times (40s), mostly cool

Finish: Atkins, VA

Miles: 11.6

Cumulative A.T. Miles: 534.8

Clay: Last night Cuppa Joe (AT '05) came by the shelter with a case of beer (we politely declined this nice gesture) and lots of good advice and encouragement for all of us. He told us that we were on schedule despite what many of our friends and family have alluded. He said that, having crossed the last of several 5,000'ers and 6,000'ers in the South, we would pick up speed and mileage all the way through Vermont. Branch is very strong now in her climbing. We used to envision successfully completing 50-100 miles of trail but now we can truly envision completing the next 500 miles of trail bar any serious injuries. We should be able to knock out the next 500 miles in about one month.

Branch woke me up from my deep slumber around 6:30 AM and we hit the trail by 7:30 AM. The terrain today began with a series of moderate climbs and ended in Atkins, VA with seemingly needless switchbacks and out-of-the-way trail meandering (i.e. we could see our destination way ahead of time but the trail took a "scenic" tour.)

The conversation today was good and it made the miles pass by a little quicker. A hiker asked me today about having meaning and purpose in life. As we hiked along, I quoted Ravi Zacharias when he spoke at a Veritas Forum from the University of Iowa. Using an analogy, Ravi told a story about his children. He said that he has a 2, 4, and 7 year old. He said that if he says to the 7 year old, "John went to the door, John opened the door, and John saw a dragon", his eyes will light up. If he says to the 4 year old, "John went to the door and John opened the door", then his eyes will light up. If he says to the 2 year old, "John went to the door", his eyes will light up. Ravi's point was that it takes more and more to "wow" and excite us as we get older. Most of us try to fill the void within with earthly things, events, and philosophies that temporarily fill that void. So, we are left longing for more. Instead, Ravi concluded, we should seek God to consistently "wow" us because only God has an infinite capacity to give us meaning and purpose in life.

62 5/18 Atkins, VA Damascus, VA (Trail Days!)

Day: 62

Date:5/18/06

Start: Atkins, VA

Weather: cloudy, chilly, rainy

Finish: Damascus, VA (Trail Days!)

Miles: 0

Cumulative A.T. Miles: 534.8

Branch: I woke up around 7 this morning excited that we were going to get to see our friends Chris and Lisa today. So that we would not completely offend their noses, I gathered up our laundry and got it in the washing machine around 8:00 am. Most people around here are super excited about Trail Days. They are making plans to get together with old friends and people that they hiked with and haven't seen in a while, and they are excited about the vendors, programs, and other fun things that are only offered during Trail Days.

We were supposed to hitch to Damascus and meet our friends there, but since it is a dreary, rainy day, we asked if they could come get us instead. Without hesitation, Chris and Lisa nicely drove at least 30-40 miles out of their way to come and get us! When we saw them, it was like coming home. We immediately felt at ease and rejuvenated.

We got to Damascus around 3:00 and set up their pop up camper at Ironhorse Campground just in time for a thunderstorm to roll in. Camping in the camper is super nice! Its got all the luxuries of home with the mobility of a tent. How cool!

Having got the camper up, we set out to do some grocery shopping and to check in with some other friends who are coming to Damascus. Vapor, who hiked last year, Rich, and some other friends are working hard to give hikers free medical help and free showers at First Baptist of Damascus. We stopped by there to say hi and to check in, but couldn't find them. I can't wait to see them tomorrow.

Tonight, we have had the best time with Chris and Lisa. They fed us an incredible meal. We sat for hours around the table laughing and catching up. It was so nice to have this strange bit of normalcy. As I sit here in bed, full and happy, I am so thankful to Jesus for the encouragement that He always gives. I pray that this journal entry finds you encouraged, satisfied, and purpose-filled in all that you do.

63 5/19 Atkins, VA (Damascus for Trail Days) Atkins, VA (Damascus for Trail Days)

Day: 63

Date: 5/19/06

Start: Atkins, VA (Damascus for Trail Days)

Weather: Day--cloudy and cool,
Nighttime--rain

Finish: Atkins, VA (Damascus for Trail Days)

Miles: 0

Cumulative A.T. Miles: 534.8

Clay: Today we got up at 5:45 AM, ate breakfast at the Ironhorse campground diner at 6:15 AM, and woke up Kneebee and Medicine Woman around 8 AM. They were slow moving and they had a right to be. They were on vacation and they had not had a break as of yet! We had so much fun with them last night. We laughed hard all night long.

Around 11 AM, we made our way to FBC Damascus to visit our friends and volunteers. It looked as if they were very organized. So, we left Kneebee and Medicine Woman there and went shopping. My shoes have about 750 trail miles on them and they are looking beaten. They have literally lost 1/2" of cushion compared to the new shoe. So, as much as I don't want to do it, we are buying new pair of shoes for me to break in.

It seems that the numbers of Trail Days participants are down this year. However, the number of friends that we have seen is at a record high. Our spirits are edified.

Branch: The highlight of my day today has been seeing my family. My grandparents, mom and dad, 2 sisters, brother, and my sister's fiancée all came to visit! When they arrived, I could have hugged each one for an hour. It was wonderful to hear what is going on in each of their lives, to hear every day chatter, and to be surrounded by people who love us!

Search

Search:

Day	Date	Start	Finish	Miles	Journal
57	5/13	Lost Mountain Shelter, VA	Dennis Knob Shelter, VA	12.2	Day: 57 Date: 5/13/06 Start: Lost Mountain Shelter, VA Weather: Blue skies with high, puffy white clouds. Cool and breezy. Finish: Dennis Knob Shelter (5400') Miles: 12.2 Cumulative A.T. Miles: 487.5 Clay: In a previous post, I said that I felt like climbing Roan Mountain, TN was our "final exam" for the southern A.T. If Roan was our final exam, then climbing Mount Rogers (5490') was our extra credit. Knowing that we were hiking short but tough miles today, we chose to sleep in to gain the extra rest. We knew we would need it for the climbs today. All-in-all, we gained over 2,000 feet today. Tonight we are with Shrek, Soulive, Big Foot, Gray Goose, Willow, and a SOBO big-section hiker. Branch: Knowing that we only had 12 miles to do today, we had a lot of fun taking our time while we hiked. Today was the first time on this trip that we've seen our favorite flower--the red columbine. Today has been a great day for trail magic. Just after having come down off of Whitetop Mountain and just before our final climb for today, Tinkerbell, a thru-hiker from last year, was set up at a parking lot with cokes and fruit and he took our trash for us. We had a nice time chilling out with him and utilizing his chairs. He even let us take an apple to feed the horses in the Grayson Highlands tomorrow. After hanging out with him for a while, we hiked the fairly easy 4.5 uphill miles to the shelter. When we got there, we were ready to cook our dinner and do the evening chores. Upon arrival, I noticed that everyone was happy and had cokes in one hand and hotdogs in the other. Some super incredible men had packed in a charcoal stove, hotdogs, a cooler of drinks, cookies, and even ICE CREAM! Clay and I both devoured several hotdogs and we happily shared a cooking pot full of ice cream. What a wonderful way to do trail magic. We are nestled here in the shelter and everyone is full and happy and falling asleep even before the sun goes down. I think that I will join them in their happy slumber. Goodnight and God bless you tonight.
58	5/14	Thomas Knob Shelter, VA	Old Orchard Shelter, VA	11	Day: 58 Date: 5/14/06 Start: Thomas Knob Shelter, VA Weather: Sunny then thunder then lightning then hail then rain then cold then hot...repeat cycle all day Finish: Old Orchard Shelter, VA Miles: 11 Cumulative A.T. Miles: 498.5 Branch: Even though we did a super short day today, it has been one of the most eventful days that I can remember. We woke up fairly early this morning to a beautiful, clear, and sunny sky. We could see fog still blanketing the valleys below. It was beautiful and promising. This was all soon to change, though. We took our time getting out of the shelter and finally left around 8:30 excited to hike one of the most talked about and anticipated sections of the trail. Clay and I were both armed with an apple to feed to the feral ponies we hoped to see. Within the first mile, the blue in the sky started to be overcome with ominous grey and black clouds. We soon began to hear the dreaded sound of approaching thunder. By the time we got to Fat Man's Squeeze (a tight series of boulders on the A.T. through which hikers crawl) the light rain had turned to hail and the lightning was fairly close. So, Clay, Willow, and I took cover under a huge cave-like rock until the rain lessoned and the thunder seemed further away. Soon after we headed out from our hiding place, it appeared that the sun might make another appearance. We took our time enjoying the incredible scenery of the area and came upon Shrek feeding two ponies. I definitely did no want to leave the Grayson Highlands without feeding and petting some of the famous wild feral ponies. I quickly grabbed the apple from my pack and headed over to join him. These ponies were not timid in the least. As long as I had food to offer, they let me pet them and take pictures of them. It was so neat! After that encounter, I felt I could leave the Grayson Highlands satisfied. Throughout the day, we even saw other ponies--pregnant mothers, colts, and other pretty ponies. Despite the rain, it was a great time. Tonight we are in a shelter full of friends--Grey Goose, Big Foot, Blue Bird, and Lothar. Willow, Chuck Norris, and some others camping around the shelter. We are all huddling in our sleeping bags trying to get warm and avoid the wind that seems to blast through every crack in the walls and floor. Its probably a good thing that we are jammed in here like sardines--maybe our combined body heat will make for a more pleasant sleeping environment. Clay: It was like we were on another planet today--seriously. The Grayson Highlands were amazing. Imagine very small, very close mountains with rock outcroppings on each mountaintop. Draping the mountains were grasses and trees with various shades of green. Carpeting the floor of the Highlands are beautiful, thick grasses and rolling hills. On the grass carpets are the ponies. I can't really describe it adequately. Suffice it to say, the Grayson Highlands were the prettiest place we have hikes thus far. We had planned to push for 15 miles today but the weather and the rocky terrain dissuaded us from pressing on. It turned out to be great. Branch had a wonderful conversation tonight.
59	5/15	Old Orchard Shelter, VA	Troutdale, VA; Troutdale Baptst Church Hostel	10.2	Day: 59 Date:5/15/06 Start: Old Orchard Shelter, VA Weather: Chilly, threat of rain, periods of promising sunshine Finish: Troutdale, VA; Troutdale Baptst Church Hostel Miles: 10.2 Cumulative A.T. Miles: 508.7 Branch: Last night everyone got in their sleeping bags fairly early because it was remarkably chilly out. I ended up next to Bluebird, a wonderfully creative Christian lady, and had the best time talking with her. We talked for at least and hour and a half about topics all over the spectrum of life and spirituality. I truly hope run into her again during Trail Days. This morning, knowing that we did not have that terribly far to go today, we avoided the cold in our sleeping bags until well after 7:30. It was so nice to sleep in! The hiking was super easy and the terrain was rather unremarkable today. We were in Troutdale by 1:30 PM. Clay: Their was a person on the trail that was quite remarkable today. Soon after Grey Goose and Bigfoot left the shelter a person came from behind the shelter. It was freezing this morning (high 30s or low 40s), he had no tent, he had no backpack, he had no food or water. He was wearing a camouflaged jacket, a short sleeved t-shirt, jeans, a camo hat, a big buck knife on his belt, and mechanics gloves. The most odd thing was that he had put black dirt all over his face, and all over his hands and arms. His face and hands were very dark because of the dirt. My first thought was that he was a hunter but he had no weapon other than the knife on his belt. Blue bird, Chuck Norris, Branch, and I had no idea what he was doing out here as he made his way down the trail. He passed within a few feet of us, we greeted him, without making eye contact, he mumbled something back to us. As we hiked down the hill we saw that his mechanics glove was in the middle of the trail. The glove was next to the crossing of the A.T. and a horse trail. So, since we were not sure about the direction he went, we left the glove at the crossroads. As we climbed the next mountain, we found the fellow sleeping in the middle of the trail. I wanted to ask if he needed help but I figured that he just crossed a road and could have gotten off the trail. I asked myself, "Does he want to die? Is he running from someone or, maybe, running from himself?" Later that day accounts and speculations started surfacing about the person. Some people said that he in fact slept under shelters. Others said that they saw him hiking out of the woods a day or so ago and then he found the trail. Still others believed he was schizophrenic. Who knows? As we hitched a ride from Skyline (Thanks!) into the Troutdale Trading Post, we prayed for this kid and we hope he is okay. Tonight we are staying at the Troutdale Baptist hostel. Pastor Riggins is not here tonight. I hope we see him tomorrow.
60	5/16	Dickey Gap, VA; Troutdale Baptist Church	Partnership Shelter, VA	14.5	Day: Day 60 Date: 5/16/06 Start: Dickey Gap, VA; Troutdale Baptist Church Weather: Cold, overcast Finish: Partnership Shelter, VA Miles: 14.5 Cumulative A.T. Miles: 523.2 Clay: This morning we got up around 6:15 AM with Gray Goose, Bigfoot, Rich and Leslie (two coast-to-coast cyclists). We all had breakfast at the Trading Post. It was fun asking Rich and Leslie about their trip thus far, their recent marriage, and about the Mormon faith. They were a lot of fun and I wish they were hiking. What a fun couple. What a great hike today with Bigfoot and Goose. Even with long breaks, we still averaged 2 miles per hour today. I believe that, when hiking, we were hiking 2.5 per hour. Everyone out here knows that I am an itinerant minister as a vocation. Lately, people have been coming to me and asking me a lot of questions that they have been pondering throughout their life. The time passed by quickly today as I was approached and asked about the soteriological problem of evil and transworld damnation, the existence of God, the existence of Heaven and Hell, and the existence of the soul. The conversation was systematic, simple yet thorough, and called for challenge on a personal level. Most of all it was fun for all parties involved. Branch: Today was one of the first days that I have truly felt like a strong thru-hiker. We did the first 4.6 miles in 1.25 hours! I have noticed the my mindset when I come to climb has changed. Further south, I would approach a climb with something akin to fear and dread. I would desperately pick out the next place to catch my breath and then trudge to that point, pick out the next rest spot, and then start all over again until I finally reached the top of the climb. Lately, I have seen the climb, prepared myself to climb for the amount of time that I estimate that it will take and then hiking at a pace where I can keep moving the entire time. I now feel like I can conquer the trail at least around here. Today we reached two very small milestones for me. First, this morning, we got to "the bus". "The bus" is merely a broken down school bus that is abandoned in a cow pasture. Inside it sports a mattress that no one would dear touch, some chairs, a stove, and some other miscellaneous stuff. This is by no means a milestone for most people, but having watched as many movies about the A.T. as I have, it was neat seeing and exploring the bus that other hikers have shown in their movies. The second small milestone of the day was Partnership Shelter. Most shelters on the trail are three sided, mouse-ridden shelters with a stinky privy and a water source that is a small hike away. This shelter is different. We are in a loft that is mostly enclosed. The best part though, is that there is a HOT water shower, a sink with running water, and a tenth of a mile from here is a phone that is famous because a local pizza place delivers to it! We had a wonderful time eating our pizza and swapping stories with Cuppa Joe and the other hikers.
61	5/17	Partnership Shelter, VA	Atkins, VA	11.6	Day: 61 Date: 5/17/06 Start: Partnership Shelter, VA Weather: Overcast, cold at times (40s), mostly cool Finish: Atkins, VA Miles: 11.6 Cumulative A.T. Miles: 534.8 Clay: Last night Cuppa Joe (AT '05) came by the shelter with a case of beer (we politely declined this nice gesture) and lots of good advice and encouragement for all of us. He told us that we were on schedule despite what many of our friends and family have alluded. He said that, having crossed the last of several 5,000'ers and 6,000'ers in the South, we would pick up speed and mileage all the way through Vermont. Branch is very strong now in her climbing. We used to envision successfully completing 50-100 miles of trail but now we can truly envision completing the next 500 miles of trail bar any serious injuries. We should be able to knock out the next 500 miles in about one month. Branch woke me up from my deep slumber around 6:30 AM and we hit the trail by 7:30 AM. The terrain today began with a series of moderate climbs and ended in Atkins, VA with seemingly needless switchbacks and out-of-the-way trail meandering (i.e. we could see our destination way ahead of time but the trail took a "scenic" tour.) The conversation today was good and it made the miles pass by a little quicker. A hiker asked me today about having meaning and purpose in life. As we hiked along, I quoted Ravi Zacharias when he spoke at a Veritas Forum from the University of Iowa. Using an analogy, Ravi told a story about his children. He said that he has a 2, 4, and 7 year old. He said that if he says to the 7 year old, "John went to the door, John opened the door, and John saw a dragon", his eyes will light up. If he says to the 4 year old, "John went to the door and John opened the door", then his eyes will light up. If he says to the 2 year old, "John went to the door", his eyes will light up. Ravi's point was that it takes more and more to "wow" and excite us as we get older. Most of us try to fill the void within with earthly things, events, and philosophies that temporarily fill that void. So, we are left longing for more. Instead, Ravi concluded, we should seek God to consistently "wow" us because only God has an infinite capacity to give us meaning and purpose in life.
62	5/18	Atkins, VA	Damascus, VA (Trail Days!)		Day: 62 Date:5/18/06 Start: Atkins, VA Weather: cloudy, chilly, rainy Finish: Damascus, VA (Trail Days!) Miles: 0 Cumulative A.T. Miles: 534.8 Branch: I woke up around 7 this morning excited that we were going to get to see our friends Chris and Lisa today. So that we would not completely offend their noses, I gathered up our laundry and got it in the washing machine around 8:00 am. Most people around here are super excited about Trail Days. They are making plans to get together with old friends and people that they hiked with and haven't seen in a while, and they are excited about the vendors, programs, and other fun things that are only offered during Trail Days. We were supposed to hitch to Damascus and meet our friends there, but since it is a dreary, rainy day, we asked if they could come get us instead. Without hesitation, Chris and Lisa nicely drove at least 30-40 miles out of their way to come and get us! When we saw them, it was like coming home. We immediately felt at ease and rejuvenated. We got to Damascus around 3:00 and set up their pop up camper at Ironhorse Campground just in time for a thunderstorm to roll in. Camping in the camper is super nice! Its got all the luxuries of home with the mobility of a tent. How cool! Having got the camper up, we set out to do some grocery shopping and to check in with some other friends who are coming to Damascus. Vapor, who hiked last year, Rich, and some other friends are working hard to give hikers free medical help and free showers at First Baptist of Damascus. We stopped by there to say hi and to check in, but couldn't find them. I can't wait to see them tomorrow. Tonight, we have had the best time with Chris and Lisa. They fed us an incredible meal. We sat for hours around the table laughing and catching up. It was so nice to have this strange bit of normalcy. As I sit here in bed, full and happy, I am so thankful to Jesus for the encouragement that He always gives. I pray that this journal entry finds you encouraged, satisfied, and purpose-filled in all that you do.
63	5/19	Atkins, VA (Damascus for Trail Days)	Atkins, VA (Damascus for Trail Days)		Day: 63 Date: 5/19/06 Start: Atkins, VA (Damascus for Trail Days) Weather: Day--cloudy and cool, Nighttime--rain Finish: Atkins, VA (Damascus for Trail Days) Miles: 0 Cumulative A.T. Miles: 534.8 Clay: Today we got up at 5:45 AM, ate breakfast at the Ironhorse campground diner at 6:15 AM, and woke up Kneebee and Medicine Woman around 8 AM. They were slow moving and they had a right to be. They were on vacation and they had not had a break as of yet! We had so much fun with them last night. We laughed hard all night long. Around 11 AM, we made our way to FBC Damascus to visit our friends and volunteers. It looked as if they were very organized. So, we left Kneebee and Medicine Woman there and went shopping. My shoes have about 750 trail miles on them and they are looking beaten. They have literally lost 1/2" of cushion compared to the new shoe. So, as much as I don't want to do it, we are buying new pair of shoes for me to break in. It seems that the numbers of Trail Days participants are down this year. However, the number of friends that we have seen is at a record high. Our spirits are edified. Branch: The highlight of my day today has been seeing my family. My grandparents, mom and dad, 2 sisters, brother, and my sister's fiancée all came to visit! When they arrived, I could have hugged each one for an hour. It was wonderful to hear what is going on in each of their lives, to hear every day chatter, and to be surrounded by people who love us!