Buena Vista, VA to Waynesboro, VA

Day 2, Friday, September 20

Cow Camp Gap Shelter to Fish Hatchery Road, Montebello, VA , 12.5 miles

A deer snorting to the left of the shelter wakes me up around 6 AM. Rock has gotten up and headed out toward the privy. He surprised the deer on the way. I roll over until 7 AM.

There were a few rain showers overnight, but by early morning it’s just blowing off the trees. I’m up and packed in a few minutes; hiking by 7:25 AM. I’m warmed up by the time I reach the AT. The top of Cold Mountain is completely socked in; visibility less than 50 yards. I drop into Hog Camp Gap a little after 8 AM underneath the clouds before heading back into the clouds up Tar Jacket Ridge.

By the time I reach Salt Log Gap there is some blue sky directly overhead. I stay in the woods, very nice hiking for the next several miles. I pass through an old apple orchard almost overgrown. I climb a gentle ridge to reach Wolf Rocks on my left. After crossing two branches of the North Fork of the Piney River in hemlock and beech groves, I stop for a longer rest and a snack on an old railroad bed no longer visible. I’ve got less than two miles to go to reach Seeley-Woodworth Shelter.

After I start up again, I pass two older ladies hiking southbound. They are sisters. Their father grew up in the area, and they are covering some of the countryside. First people I’ve seen all day.

I reach Seeley-Woodworth Shelter at 12:20 PM. There is one southbound section-hiker there. We talk for a few minutes before “Rock” shows up. I need water, so I get my water bag out of my pack and walk down to the spring. “One of the best springs on the AT” is a mere trickle. I wait fifteen minutes to get enough water in my bag. Back at the shelter, the southbound hiker has moved on.

I pump my water bottles full and drink another half-quart of water before starting to pack up. “Rock” and I have made plans to use our cars for the next several days to slack pack the section to Waynesboro. That way we can cover more ground without the concerns for any water ahead. His wife is coming to Montebello this evening and she’ll give me a ride back to my truck on the BRP before taking “Rock” on to Daleville to pick up his car. We’ll meet back in Montebello in the morning.

“Rock” heads on and I follow him ten minutes later. I catch back up to him at Fish Hatchery Road, where we’ll walk down to Montebello. I drop my pack to rest before tackling the steep downhill. All of a sudden a pickup truck appears headed down the hill. The driver stops and I ask him if we can catch a ride. He says, “Sure”, so we pile in the back of the truck for the bumpy ride down the mountain. Beats walking! I help lock a couple of gates behind us and before I know it, we are on the main road.

The pickup truck delivers us to the Post Office. I talk with the driver for a few minutes while ”Rock” picks up a mail drop inside. It turns out the driver is a Vietnam Vet who lost his arm in a helicopter accident. His story almost brings me to tears. I was young enough that I missed “Nam”, so I’m grateful to those who served and especially to those who made sacrifices. I tell him that God sometimes give folks things that others can’t handle. I thank him for his patriotism and tell him “God bless” before he drives off.

“Rock” comes back with his package, and we walk toward the campground across the street from the Post Office. After taking a shower and doing some laundry, we walk back to the general store beside the Post Office to wait for “Rock’s” wife to show up.

About 7:30 PM a tan Ford Explorer pulls in. It’s “Rock’s” wife and two sons. They give me a ride down the Parkway where I retrieve my truck. They head on south toward Daleville; I head north back toward Buena Vista and I-81. I eat dinner at White’s truck stop further north, and then drive back to the Red Oak Inn in Lexington on I-81. It’s after 10 PM before I get into the room. I’m in bed and asleep thirty minutes later.