Submitted by Andy Willgruber
A light drizzle and relatively cool temperatures greeted a small group of hikers at AHS. Iva Gillet injured her knee while hiking the week before, so Andy Willgruber filled in as hike leader. A combination of factors made this hike more of an adventure than normal. Besides the weather, long drive, and length of hike, a big question mark would be the condition of the Shenandoah Mt. Trail after the derecho storm. Key exchange logistics and timing would also add to the uncertainties. This undaunted group of hikers (Beverly and Pete Fink, Eileen Seaman, John Brandt and Anne Colgate) would not be talked out of this hike despite the uncertainties and the sure promise of a very late return to AHS.
Two vehicles headed to Braley Pond in western Augusta to meet Michael Seth an hour later. Upon arrival, Michael told us that this would NOT be a key exchange hike! The Southern Shenandoah group were just going to work clearing the trail at the northern end. If we were able to hack our way through downed vegetation and make it the almost 11 miles to the end of the trail, we would have the use of Malcolm and Lynn Cameron's pick-up truck to take us back to Braley Pond. The substitute C-ville hike leader realized that he was the victim of a friendly scam! This was clearly a SSVC work trip and they simply needed more bodies. (Michael and Iva, I don't get mad but I will get even! :-). We drove two cars up to the Confederate Breastworks on US 250. A limited amount of tools were handed out and we proceeded north on the trail from there.
The first three miles of our relatively level ridge top hike were pleasant. The SSVC had previously cleared this section. We spotted a number of wildflowers, all of which Michael knew(but I can never remember). From this point forward there were contiual blowdowns blocking the trail. We got started on our day's work and stopped for a quick trailside lunch in the middle of our fun. We resumed our work with the tools we had. Sometimes we just used bare hands and brute force. The C-ville PATC cleared about two and a half miles of trail! But with each blowdown cleared, concern mounted about our slow progress and the miles yet to go. Just as talk of mutiny was gaining traction, five members of SSVC appeared. The trail was now completely open...and, lo and behold, keys WERE exchanged. We handed over two keys and received one for the Cameron's truck. We continued on enjoying the experience of simply hiking, sometimes in a ghostly fog.
Our hike ended at Forest Road 95 on the Little River. As only six people could fit inside the truck, the C-ville hike leader jumped in the truck bed. John Brandt would drive. We drove the short distance up to the pass over the mountain to get turned around and to visit West Virginia. From there we careened (that's how it felt in the truck bed) down the gravel road along the Little and North Rivers to return to Braley. Just as we arrived there, the rain began falling in earnest. So the truck bed passenger was appreciative of John's swift and sure driving despite describing the experience as "like riding backwards on a roller-coaster that went on for way too long".
About 15 minutes later, the SSVC group arrived with our two cars. At this point, Anne headed directly home to Nelson County, possibly to a very worried husband (we hope not). To honor Beverly, our "director of trail operations" for the day, we all piled into Andy's car and headed to Beverly St. in Staunton to Baja Bean. Michael, Lynn and Malcolm joined us for tasty Mexican food, good beer and great hiking stories. One more part of the day's adventure remained: the drive through the rain and fog over Afton Mt. The hike leader (and driver) prepared for this by limiting himself to one beer at dinner (by far the most difficult thing he did this day!).
A tired but happy group of adventurers arrived safely back at AHS around 9:45 P.M.
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