Slackpacking Trip - Day 3

[up at 0715, packed and had breakfast at the hotel - left by 0800 and drove on I-81 to VA-311 - had intended to hike across the Catawba Pass, with bicycle leap-frogging - by the time I reached the area, though, it was raining - I did find the parking area at the Pass but, when I drove down into the valley, I had a lot of trouble finding the trail (still don't know where it is...) - on top of that problem, there was lightning in the distance, so I decided not to get out of the car and continued west to New Castle - at this point, I entered an area where I didn't have a cell signal for almost the whole day - got gas around 0930 (station was a blast from the past - no credit card readers, no auto shut-off for pumps, really old building...) - I next drove along VA-42 and tried to find the trail again (no luck) - ended up on US-460 and headed west until I found another trail crossing opportunity (VA-635) - it was a pleasant drive into the Mountain Lake Wilderness - I had not intended to enter West Virginia, but the road took me there... - I doubled back to a sign I had seen for the White Rocks Recreation Area - by now (VA-613), I was using gravel roads - used the bathroom at the Recreation Area and watched the Forestry Service cutting trees - found a sign with a map on it and discovered I could find the trail by going south on dirt roads - took the chance and used my compass to ensure I was headed in the right direction (I will admit that I was worried I would be stuck in the mud or encounter another car but none of that happened - experience reminded me of the McKendry Road in AUG 2007) - when I reached the top of the hills, I located a dirt parking lot - right as I got out of the car (1130), I met up with three heavily bearded NOBO guys who told me about the terrain they had encountered in the direction I was headed - they also showed me their trail map and I determined I had a choice between flat rocky hiking or steep uphill climbing (I chose the former) - in the end, my choice might not have been wise - I walked south for several miles through ROCKY terrain with steep drop offs and fallen trees everywhere - I encountered more NOBO hikers (father and son, married couple, solo grandpa) - made it to the Dailey's Gap Shelter and signed the log - waited out a mini rain shower before heading back - water was the issue today: I wish I had a pump/filter to get some from the many springs I have seen... - rocks really took a toll on my feet today (luckily, wearing my running shoes) - there were tons of chipmunks everywhere (actually scared one who was hiding under a rock that moved when I stepped on it) - when I reached my car (1545), I decided to descend the mountain using a different route - I found Mountain Lake (or what is left of it - almost empty) - nearby, I found the Blueberry Ridge Hotel (fancy!) - I used VA-700 to get back to US-460 (winding, paved road down the hill) - finally got a cell signal and found some frantic texts and phone messages - some people at work forgot I was away and thought something bad had happened to me (we recently had a suicide at work) - I wanted to get away but not worry anyone... - I drove to Pearisburg and located the trail on the northwest side of town - I hiked about half a mile of the trail between 1650 and 1720 before driving into town to look for a hotel (only two, wasn't convinced they were a good deal) - drove north on US-460 and explored the town of Narrows before doubling back to Pearisburg on VA-100 - had dinner at Dairy Queen (1800) - checked into the Holiday Lodge (hikers' dorm) - it was cheap and no one else ever arrived during the night - posted pictures on Facebook - laundry is getting rank... - bed at 2200 - total on the trail today was 4.81 miles (not counting backtracks) and Grand Total on A.T. is 20.32 miles]