Two full months

May 1st, 2008. I have now been on trail for two full months, with today representing the start of my third. What a miserable way to start May.

The walk from the Creek to US route 60 was not all that bad. I walked along a stream for most of the walk, concluding with a gentle uphill leading to the road.

At US route 60 I bumped into the General. He flipped up to Front Royal from Damascus the same time I was there, he's hiking south into Trail Days. I stopped and chatted with him for a while, it was nice to see him again.

The climb from the road to the top of Bald Knob was the worst climb in a very long time. There were numerous false summits, and it just felt like the climb would never end.

The trail the dips down to Cow Camp Gap, and immediately went up to the top of Cold Mountain. The climb took me by surprise, so it was mentally grinding.

The summit ridge of Cold Mountain has a long and open field with plenty of nice views. This is where I decided to eat lunch. While eating lunch I met a trail maintainer from Maine(forgot his name). His section of trail(Elephant Mountain) is overseen by a man I did trail work with last summer(Tom G.).

There was absolutely nothing good about the rest of the day. There were no views, but plenty of rocks though.

Tonight I am sharing a shelter with Cookie and two section hikers.

Tomorrow I shall attempt to march over and down the Priest, and go straight back up to the top of the Three Ridges.

Dinner time.

Good night, and good luck.

Kirby

Ga>ME 2008.