Twenty great miles over rolling mountains, crossing streams and moving right along. Four subsequent miles of thunderstorms, downpours, crossing highways and wind tunnels. I’ll take the hike behind curtain number 1 please!

We walked the ridge alongside a valley called “God’s Thumbprint” today. This formerly Amish farming village has only a single dirt road penetrating its ring of mountains and it’s absolutely beautiful.

We hopped back and forth over the same stream 12 times in a mile or two in the afternoon and were feeling real good, if a little footsore, when the clouds opened up. Most of the AT is in the woods but there is an ugly little stretch near Bland, VA that is on roads, crosses over a highway and is just no fun in foul weather.

But now I’m dry , well stuffed and just completed my longest day so far on the trail with a full pack. If we wake up and feel strong we’ll do it again tomorrow.

We’re sharing the shelter tonight with Good to Go and Willy Goat, young guys who’ve been good company at Partnership and Chestnut Knob Shelters.