Virginia
Grayson Highlands State Park

"Strength in numbers is the delight of the timid. The valiant in spirit glory in fighting alone."

Journal Entry 4.16.00
"Last meal in town this morning - a swiss cheese sandwich with chips and a bag of chocolate-covered pretzels. Breakfast of Champions!"

Journal Entry 4.17.00
"7pm at Wise Shelter. 17.4 miles today, plus an extra one mile to the top of Mt. Rogers (5729 feet) and back. It is pouring rain with thunder and lightning outside the shelter. What a great feeling to be here, in my dry clothes and sleeping bag. The hike today wasn't bad until I got to Mt. Rogers and then all these crazy storm fronts started coming in. There was hail on the way to the summit. Then it broke for awhile and the sun actually came out. When Round 2 came I had to hide under a tree for about ten minutes while lightning and thunder crashed all around. I was scared out of my mind. Then the sun came out again for the next 2 miles. After that Round 3 hit - more thunder, lightning, wind, and hail coming at me horizontally. I was in total survival mode just to get off that ridge. I am SO glad that's over."

Journal Entry 4.18.00
"6:30pm at Raccoon Branch Shelter. 17.5 miles today. It was a stormy night last night with 7 of us in a 6-person shelter. It was overcast, dreary, foggy, and misty all day but luckily the rain held off. I felt inspired meeting Billboard yesterday - a female solo hiker, averaging 20 mile days. She's the first solo female hiker I've met - at least I'm not the only girl out here alone! There are daffodils blooming outside the shelter so spring must be here, finally!"

Journal Entry 4.19.00
"13 miles to Partnership Shelter today. It's amazing how 13 miles can seem so easy after two 17+ mile days in a row. This is an awesome shelter, newly built with a loft and hot shower (not working for the season yet). The visitor's center for Mt. Rogers is just yards away so we have access to a phone, bathrooms, and a soda machine! This is definitely the heaven of shelter world. Retread, E.T. and I have already ordered pizza to be delivered from town!"

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