Sunday 5/2

1st a special thank you to our friends Steve & Jane Dyer for donating a plane ticket for me to go see Ponytail. We both appreciate it. We love you.

Our 1st visit. I flew out 1st thing in the morning to Raleigh, NC and drove about 4 1/2hrs to meet him. I met Ponytail at Sicily's Pizza Pub in Damascus, VA. We were both so excited to see each other. He looked great!

Got to meet some of his new hiker friends as they were anxious to meet me as I was to meet them. They had heard all about me. Sat and chatted for a bit before we took off.

We went back to the hostel "The Place" so I could see what it looked like, meet some more friends  and so that Dave could get his gear. Well, it was a clean place. Bunks made of plywood. No mattresses. Everyone was to use their own pads and sleeping bags. There were clean towels (Dave did the laundry - as those who stay there are asked to pitch in on chores). Showers,bathrooms, flush toilets and toilet paper. This is a privilege because out on the trail the privies are similar to pit toilets. There are screens full of leaves(no, not to wipe with)to throw in to feed the toilet to help it compost when you are done your business. Rubbers hoses to help disburse the gases. Not much privacy either - most privies don't have 4 walls or even 4 tarps and there are some they you can wave to passing hikers (just your middle is covered. I also learned that there are 2 kinds of privies. One kind is you can do #2 in but not #1 and then there are privies where you can do #1 and #2. So, having a flush toilet where you can just do everything at one time is grand.

"The Place"

On the trail Privy

We proceeded to go to the grocery store in Speedwell on our way to Elk Creek. We wanted to stock up on some milk, fruits, veggies, bacon, eggs and meats. The place were we are staying has a kitchen. Home cooked meals. Dave is excited as he hasn't had a home cooked meal in over a month. He misses them.

Got to Aunt Peet's Cottage. What a beautiful place out in the country on a mountain side. It is a brick ranch style house w/3 bedrooms, living-room, kitchen, bathroom, fire place and jacuzzi. It was homey. Flannel sheets a big log bed to boot. Just what someone that has been on the trail would wish for. There were even pastures out front and on the side w/horses. You could see them from the bed. Very cool! Only thing missing was a telephone. We didn't have cell service either since we were up in the mountains. Sorry everyone he couldn't make any calls.  No I didn't plan it that way.

Saturday 5/1

Ponytail hiked 23 miles on Saturday. Really good considering how far he went the day before and how sore his feet were.

He left "The Place" early in the morning and hiked up the Virginia Creeper trail and up and down several mountains and gaps. He ended his day late near Elk Garden near Rte 600 and Whitetop Mt (2nd highest peak in VA). He then hitched a ride back to Damscus to the hostel "The Place" where he will spend the night.

Damascus my feet are sore!!!

Hi all,
 I am sitting in Mojoe's cafe in Damascus Va. I've done a marathon 73 + miles in 3 days, so I've got a few blisters going but thats all part of the trail! My wife will be picking me up in about 2 hours for a 2 day rest off the trail  + a zero day today will make 3, but I'm 6 days ahead of my schedual so I'm good. My visit  with Pam will refuel my soul and I'll be ready for the next 400 + miles through Va. I've hit some wild weather in the last week ,thunderstorms ,hail,wind and fog,and every morning I'm up and ready for whatever mother nature has to offer.
The trail is it's own little community and I've made some good friends and a few have left the trail but thats also how the trail works.
The local people you meet are awesome to talk to also.
Just want to say a special hello to Mike and Ayesha a nice couple I met yesterday on the trail to Whitecap.
Mike hold on to that dream and someday I'll follow your journey on the AT.
Thanks again for all your continued support,
Hike Safe,
Ponytail Dave
PS Did I mention I'm having the adventure of a lifetime!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Friday 4/30

Dave said he hauled butt today. He did about 27 miles today. A total of 51 miles in 2 days. At 6:30pm he hit the TN/VA line after 11hrs of hiking. He then walked another 3 miles into town.... Ponytail Dave has entered Damascus, VA!!!! 3 states down. He has hiked 463 miles in 30 days. Way to go baby! That is an average of about 15.3 miles A DAY.

He says he is beat. He has both feet wrapped in duck tape. Blisters, chaffing, hurting. Just plain old tired. Never been so exhausted.

He is staying at the hostel called "the place" in downtown Damascus tonight. It is a bunk house w/showers. $4.00 a night. Not the "Ritz". He was off to go get a quick bite to eat before going to bed.
He has assured me he will slow a bit. Only predicting on doing 23 miles between the next 2 days. He needs to give his feet a bit of a break.

Will have lots to tell really soon. Signing off till late next week.  Pam

Thursday 4/29

Beautiful sunny morning. Going to be 70. Perfect hiking day.

He came across 3 thru-hikers and hiked a bit and then all stopped for lunch together on the shores of Watauga Lake. After he had lunch he moved on as they decided to rest a bit longer.

He then came across some other hikers that were basking on the beach on the other side of the lake. Resting, drinking beer and eating Oreo cookies. (strange combination) He stopped for a bit to chat. He ate Oreos but passed on the beer since it was only 1:30 in the afternoon and he wanted to get more miles in so he could hit Damascus, Va this weekend.

Lots of steep ups and downs today.

Tonight he is sleeping out in the wilderness alone somewhere near Turkey pen Gap. Says he isn't scared. I would be. He says he hadn't seen anyone in quite awhile. The next shelter was a ways away and he was tired and didn't feel like traveling. So, he decide to make camp. Set up his tent, went and fetched water, cooked dinner, did dishes, hung up his food bag(so the bears couldn't get at it - he must to this nightly).

He said again today there were some really touch ups and downs but he still managed to do 23 miles. WOW! He loves the challenge. Wonder how he will do later in the northern VA where it is flatter. Seems his feet and legs like the climbs.

He called again right before crawling into his tent to tell me about the beautiful sunset. He said amazing, took some pics and then we said goodnight.

Wednesday 4/28

Said when he woke he could look back over Roan Highlands and he could see the snow that had just fallen. It was 34 degrees and dry where he was. Up and out this morning so he could stay warm. Hit the 400 Mile mark by 8:15am. Very Proud! Tonight he will stay at the Kincora Hiking Hostel in Hampton, TN. He will go and do laundry, shower, pick up mail and any other supplies he may need. The best part he says will be to be dry and warm for the night.

Tuesday 4/27

He finally got service. I was relieved to hear from him. I know he won’t always have service but w/the bad weather in the southern states I was curious as to where he was. Thought maybe his cell phone got drenched and so he couldn't’t call. That was not the case. Just no service the past 2 days.

Today he said already by noon that his rain fly came off the pack. He did not know it had come off.  He found out when he stopped to rest in a shelter. Good thing he had his sleeping bag in a dry bag within his pack. His long johns, shirt and a pair of socks were also dry. He said another tough weather day. He is at 397 miles to date and stying at the Mountaineer Shelter. Sleeps 14.

Wed 4/28 (part 1)

Ponytail Dave hit the 400 MILE mark today at 8:15am

SUPER JOB!!!  So very proud!

We should be able to talk tonight so I will get the scoop on Tuesday and Wed completely.  I know he is stll cold and wet when we spoke this morning.  Weather is to break soon.

Monday 4/26

PTD started out the day somewhat dry 1st thing in the morning. It was misting but not bad. PTD says the mist proceeded to get heavier and heavier and then started sideways and every which way all day long. The winds had picked up. 

Up and over Roan MT. Last time he will climb over 6,000 ft till he gets to Mt Washington. He said visibility was so bad he never did get to see the beautiful rhododendron gardens that supposedly cover the slopes. They wouldn't have been in full bloom but would have been cool to see. He proceeded past several balds to the top of Hump MT where he was to take a side trail to the Stan Murray Shelter for the night.

Well, he had his head down and his hat pulled to the side over his rain poncho so that the rain wouldn't get into his eyes and face and somehow missed the turn off to the shelter. Yikes! He kept trucking forward going up and down, and back and forth throughout the switchbacks and he came to a road crossing in the middle of know where. He had no choice but to keep walking now he was in another gap and no dry place in sight so he had to keep moving because now it is getting late and he is getting cold and hungry. Came to an empty shelter. It was empty due to the rain pouring into it from the top and from the front. It was a 3 sided shelter facing the WRONG WAY. Kept walking and finally came to Over the Mountain Shelter. It was overflowing w/wet hikers. Everyone moved over so that he could squeeze his wet body in out of the rain.

The shelter holds 20 people. Dave thinks there were at least 30 that night. He knew only 1 person there (Tomato). Needless to say after 22.1 miles he was extremely tired. He had no desire to cook so he settled for a couple of spoonfuls of peanut butter, a snickers bar and some water. He then put on his dry long johns and crawled into his dry sleeping bag for the night by 7pm. He was not interested in playing cards or staying up chatting. He was cold and tired.

Throughout the night he could hear and feel the old shelter which is a 2 story rickety old barn creak and sway due to the 40 mile an hour winds. This shelter was used in the movie ”Winter People”.

Sunday 4/25

No tornados in Erwin but there were 3 in TN Saturday night. Glad PTD called me Sunday morning early and said everything was fine before heading out on the trail. Said there was a light drizzle as he was heading out of the nice dry hotel room. Ugh! The others stayed at the hotel due to their mail drops being at the post office. It was Sunday so they needed to wait till it opened Monday morning.  Hope we don';t run into this.  They took a zero day.

PTD traveled up and over Unaka MT - 5,180(Cherokee name is White) (this MT is similar to Maine's woods)

Dave traveled 17 miles to the Cherry Mountain Gap Shelter where he spent the night.

random pics - from 4/1 - 4/12 - (set 4)

4/9 1st visit w/family - Mom, brother Paul and niece Jessica

random pics - from 4/1 - 4/12 - (set 3)

random pics - from 4/1 - 4/12 - (set 2)

4/6 - Bed at the Hiawassee Inn.  Pack needed to be lighter.  All possesions sprawled out to see how it could be lighter.  Mailed back some small items. 1 1/2lbs shaved off weight


Hiawassee Inn

Some random pics - from 4/1 - 4/12 - PTD to chime in later w/what is what (set 1)

Pack minus poles on 3/1 - ready to hit the trail

Gooch Gap Shelter 4/1

Another shelter from "the loft"

Saturday 4/24

Today it was about a 16.9 mile day from Bald Mnt to Erwin, TN. That makes 339.9 miles on the AT to date.

PTD had plans on tenting at a local campground in Erwin but weather was not on his side. So, 6 of them decided to split the room at the Holiday Inn Express on the outskirts of town. Fast Lane, Inferno, Ponytail Dave, Jeff, Maple and Long Shank. They were calling for Hail, thunderstorms and there was a tornado watch. Yikes! A tornado watch. Glad he is not in the tent.

When PTD called me they were all pooling their laundry together so they could get a full load. Now there are only 2 double beds. They were all going to draw straws after dinner to see which ones got the beds. Told him I hope he gets the lucky straw.
Someone had asked me while I was hiking Bald Peak yesterday, how time was going by for Dave. I asked him and he said it all depends but most of the time mornings go by fast and sometimes afternoons drag because his feet ache and he is tired and wants to get to the shelter to relax. Shelter/tent time goes by fast because he is busy talking w/other hikers, cooking his dinner and setting up camp for the night. Overall he can't believe he has been out on the trail for 24 days.

Friday 4/23

I spoke to PTD and he stated that on Thursday he felt good enough and it was still early so he pushed on to Flint Mnt Shelter, instead of staying at Jerry Cabin Shelter as he had predicted earlier in the day. Thursday was a 21.3 mile day on the AT(some strange shelter fact - in 1994 a thu-hiker was bitten on the hand by a fox in the middle of the night.  The shelter was full of people.

On Friday PTD said that Devil Fork Gap area was very green and the smell was amazing.  Fresh after rain smells were everywhere.  They had rain Thursday night.  He also said it was very cool the contrast of the old wooden gray pasture fence he came across in the green green gap.

Later in the day he came to a road crossing and low and behold trail majic. It seems to be everywhere down in the south. There was Boomer and Bear Crawl from Charlotte with a cooler full of pepsi, snickers, oatmeal cookies and more for all that hikers that pass by within a 2hr window.  PTD was glad he hit their window. It gave him the boost he needed to finish to Bald Mtn Shleter. He stayed and chatted w/the gentlemen for a bit before taking back off on the trail.

Dave called again today to tell me how beautiful the views were from Bald Mnt.  He said it is all open and he can see every which way. North, South East and West.  Much like on the top of Mt Moosilauke in NH on how you get the 360 degree view.

He will spend the night w/Fast Lane, Inferno, Maple, Jeff and Long Shank in the shelter. 18.9 mile day  The area around the shelter at Blad Mnt is too fragile for tenting so all are asked to stay in the shelter.

Thursday 4/22

PTD called today to let me know that he was sitting thinking about me while sitting taking a break on a rock on the top of Whiteface Cliff.  We often do this together when we hike.  Sit ande ponder at the views.

He is on his way to Jerry Cabin Shelter which is locate in Madison, NC. They are predicting thunderstorms the next few days but he said you wouldn’t know it right now. Warm, sunny, puffy clouds.

He found out that another hiker Brian was leaving the trail and going back to CO. Brian will be missed. They will stay in touch.

Jerry Cabin Shelter - says maybe he will sleep in his tent tonight

Wednesday 4/21

Hi,
Ponytail Dave says he had a great breakfast, said he goodbyes and thank you to Elmer (the owner of the Sunny Bank Inn(hostel) where he stayed in Hot Springs) before he left town. He said he very much enjoyed his time in Hot Springs.

He said it was very gray and in the 70’s but not raining this morning. Off to the Spring Mountain Shelter which is located in Greene, TN. It is a 3 sided shelter. He traveled about 11 miles today. Jeff, Dutch Tape and Cabana Boy were there w/him last night at the shelter. The others stayed back in Hot Springs another night. They will catch up eventually. Jeff is from southern NH and Dutch Tape and Cabana Boy are from MA. PTD had no service last night to call me. So, I ventured out to the Rock’s Estate to learn about Vernal pools, frogs and salamanders. Very cool! 
Pam

Tuesday - 4/20 --- 1st ZERO DAY

 Hi all,

Yesterday was a fast 20 mile day, 7 1/2 hours, knee a little tender, so a day off is well deserved!

Staying at Elmer's Hostel, what a great guy, and a cool house.

The different Eco zones in the Smokies were fascinating, the views were more breathtaking at every turn.  I could never put down in words what it was like hiking through the Smokies and my pictures will never do them justice. Some of the ridge lines that the trail followed were only 6 or 8 feet wide with some very long drop off''s. The only sad thing is some of the different trees are dying from some king of imported disease.  It was very hard to see these big beautiful trees dead and dying, but I guess that is part of nature.

I can't wait to see what lies ahead.

Talk Later.

Hike Safe.

Ponytail Dave

Sunday 4/18

Max Patch picture taken from someone else on a different day

 PTD called to let me know that him and a bunch of Frat Boyz were Cowboy camping tonight on the top of Max Patch.  That is sleeping under the stars. No tent, no shelter. Says a glory of a night but a bit windy. I said set up the tent just in case mother nature isn't so nice.... Max Patch offers views of the Smokies and Mt Mitchell. It used to be an old logging camp at one time,also used for grazing sheep and even as a landing strip for small planes. Now the shelter and the top hosts hikers and the AT now uses its top for controlled burns


He just had some trail magic of some people that had left some Oranges, grapes, apples, strawberries....he came too late the hot dogs and soda were already gone.

Brief conversation as usual. He says he will only travel about 17miles tomorrow to stay in or near the Deer Park Mountain Shelter (this was a former farm stand). Then when he gets up on Tuesday he will only have to travel about 3 miles to Hot Springs where he can get a room for the night. This way he will only need to spend 1 night in town.

Oh, didn't mention his state size blister so guess not so bad anymore or he is getting used to it.

Pam