Whitetop Mt - Trip Miles 482.4 - Elev 5150

What a day - 12.5 miles - start in dry - end in rain (big hard drops). Rain was so bad - Crazy Lady had to take off glasses (hiked blind) so hard to see, she thouth she had passed the shelter, but she did make it to Lost Mountain Shelter. All three made it to shelter - dressed in dry clothes for lunch - stayed at shelter about 2 hours. This afternoon we have to go over Whitetop Mt - climb 2,000 ft in 4 mile - with rain, fog and 60 mile hr wind - it feels like it could blow you off the trail - if it was not for our hiking poles we would fall off - wind blew Chipmunks rain cave off of her backpack. Since in VA - rain and fog - we wonder how we know we are in a new state?
How do we know if we are at the highest peak in the state? No view - trees are now about the same height as Patches. We tried to pitch our tent out of the wind, but still had the rain. It took us just 1 hour to pitch tent - cook food - eat - bear bag - get dry and in tents. Lucky tents are good and dry inside. However, we still manage to have fun.

Today - saw lots of new flowers "Lady Slippers" - passed lots of water (rivers, creeks & streams) - no water shortages.

After we left Damacus the Virginia Creeper Trail starts - this was an old railroad track- when it was not used any longer the tracks were picked up and it was made into a bike trail next to Laurel Creek. You can rent bike in Damacus - so quite a few bike riders in Damacus also.