Marion, VA (USA)

The rain moved out last night, allowing me to strike out on the trail again. I was up very early and squeezed in some telework and breakfast (McDonalds, 0755) before heading out of town. About 20 minutes south of Marion, I lost cell signal (no problems here...). I used VA-600 to locate the AT trailhead at Elk Garden, starting NOBO at 0845. The mountains were wreathed in clouds, the temperatures were in the mid 40s and there was a brisk breeze when I left my car. I layered up and brought warm clothes, just in case. But the sky was beautiful! All day long, I walked in and out of the wild pony range (through various ingenious gates) and saw lots of evidence that they were around - but I never saw any. ?? I saw deer, countless birds and a large number of hikers. I talked to "Smoke Break" (SOBO thru) about my section hiking strategy, whether the Mount Rogers NRA was better than the White Mountains in NH and 20+ mile days. A few miles later (near Thomas Knob Shelter), I met an older, bearded hiker who (through a thick country accent) told me he was section hiking with backtracks like me. Just as we were finishing, a Prowler (EA-6B) flew by at eye level (offset from us by a few hundred yards - I could see the crew). Probably USMC out of Cherry Point on a low level (what do you think, Chris & Arnie?). They came back later but it wasn't nearly as SH... I continued east and made my way across the Grayson Highland State Park balds and boules (including a fat man squeeze). I hadn't planned on going all the way to Massie Gap but the weather was so great and I felt so good that I made it. But then I had to backtrack... I used red Milburn Ridge Trail (basically, it was all a boulder scramble). There were so many people on the AT by that point that I stayed away for as long as I could, bushwacking and following the pony trails until I reached the spur trail to Mount Rogers Summit. It was half a mile to the top - 5729 feet - but there was NO VIEW! More entertaining was the cadre of fluorescent vest clad older ladies who chased me up there to the dead end. I headed back down towards my car, encountering "brr, its cold" day hikers, a shotgun wielding rabbit hunter who was training his dog and several packs of loud hikers who I mainly avoided by following the Virginia Horse Trail instead of the AT. I finished my wild adventure day at 1545 PM after 17 miles, feeling great. Whew - bring on more tomorrow! Dinner (food I'd brought) in the hotel.  AT Today = 8.00 miles / G.T. Today = 813.58 miles