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HIGHTOP MOUNTAIN

November 10, 1997

YAHOO!!! My first day back on the trail, it's great, I love this!!!! We got a late start and only hiked 3 miles into the first shelter today. Sky did great with Sister Smiles. She's a little confused at times because everything is so new to her. She and Lucky are getting along great. Mom is also hanging in there. We're just going to go as long as we can tomorrow. Hopefully the weather tomorrow will be as nice as it was today. It's pretty cold, but I like it so far. It's crazy though, it's only 6 PM and it's pitch black outside. This is definately going to take some getting used to.

November 12, 1997

We hiked about 10.5 miles yesterday. Sister Smiles went 18 miles to the next shelter and Leftover went 9 miles to the shelter before us. He had to go into town and he got lost on one of the side trails. We camped out and he and Lucky woke us up around 6 AM. He was going about 26 miles today to catch up with Sister Smiles who stayed last night with The Catalon. The weather is really getting out of control. It's supposed to snow either tonight or tomorrow. I did not expect snow this early in my hike. This is the coldest November Virginia has ever had. I have wind burn all over my face. You basically have to hike all day long or you get too cold standing still. Even if you just stop for a few minutes, you're instantly cold. We met some day hikers today who gave us some sodas and an apple - YUMMY! They were super nice. At first we thought they were hunters. Before we got into the Shenandoah's we heard gun shots all day long. It really sucks that people need to come out here and murder animals. We saw something like 13 deer today, and a fox. First fox I've seen in a while. Still no bears though. I'm reading Mutant Message Down Under by Marlo Morgan, for the second time. Pick it up and check it out if you get the chance, it's the best book I've ever read.

November 14, 1997

Wow, I wish everyone I know could be here with me right now to enjoy this moment! At least enjoy everything except the below freezing weather and the freezing winds. I just climbed High Top Mountain and I'm sitting up on a cliff in the middle of a cloud. I can't see for more than a few feet and there is nothing beyond the rocks in front of me. The horizon is slowly opening up and the sun is trying desperately to peek through. The clouds are quickly rushing past (WOW, that ruined it, I just heard a gun shot, sigh, OK, back to happy thoughts) me and I can feel their coldness stinging my face. (now I hear a dog barking ferociously, I guess they got something. I hope they are now happy after robbing one of the Earth's creatures of it's life. Is it really worth it?!) Some clouds just broke for a view of the ridge across the way. Another shot - well, this is definately ruining my happy moment. Thanks alot all you stupid, insensitive, egotistical, piece-of-shit, hunters. Well, my whole body is now numb and I should start hiking again in hopes of regaining some feelings. Everything looks so majestic here, even the Ravens. One just flew over my head, then did some tricks for me beyond the cliffs.

Same day - evening ..

We only went about 3.5 miles today. We went into Luray Wednesday and met Robert, a geologist working in the Park. We ended up slackpacking Thursday and spending the night in a Hotel. Robert even invited us to his apartment to have dinner with him and his sons, Dylan and Daniel. They were all really nice. I gave Daniel my last Phish bootleg and promised I'd send more once I get home. I love it when I meet a kid who's getting into the music I like. We yellow blazed today to catch up with Sister Smiles and Leftover. We got a really late late start and figured they would camp here tonight, High Top Mountain Hut, or we would meet up with them tomorrow night at Pine Field Hut. The sun finally came out for the first time today for about 15 minutes. Everything was frozen everywhere because we've had a lot of rain and below freezing temps. It's real chilly!! I really enjoyed High Top Mountain .. SUPER NICE!!
Oh yeah, the other day we saw a tree fall. It was really breathtaking! It made an amazing noise.

I learned a whole new respect for things today. I have always respected nature and her creatures, but I have even more of an appreciation now. I realized this when I observed a raven dancing and doing tricks up on Hightop. I had always thought of them as low on a scale of birds-trash eating birds, I guess. But this one particular bird sparked a whole new type of appreciation in me. We need to respect ALL of Mother Natures creatures equally. It's about time that people opened up their eyes to whats around them and to what nature is trying to offer us, because pretty soon, if we don't change our ways, it will all be gone, forever.

© Megan Hearn 1997