Rhino: Sky Meadows Solo Hike

With the stress of retirement, I thought the perfect way to wind down would be a solo hike. I had just got done reading "A walk in the woods" by Bill Byrson and while inspiring, I was apalled that he had given up and hadn't Thru-hiked the whole trail. I would never give up, I thought...The Rhino never gives up! Boy was I wrong...I got a late start on Saturday. I had planned on going overnight, however I didn't arrive at the trailhead until 2:00pm. Now choosing where to start wasn't exactly a decision as much as happenstance. As I was driving out Rt 66 I saw a sign for skymeadows State park and took the exit on a whim. Since we had already hiked this area I was familiar with the surrounding and drove to the trailhead. I had drank plenty of water on the way out, but I was not ready for the Inferno I was about step into. Uh Yeah...Virginia in August...not the best weather for hiking. I started off with a spring in my step and beads of sweat on my brow. A little sweat never kill anyone...right? I cross Rt 50 and started up the south side of Ashby's Gap. I should have checked this blog before deciding on that mountain. We had hike it twice before , so this was my third trip up. How did I forget how difficult this mountain was. 15 minutes into the climb I was soaked with sweat, breathing was...well gasping for air and my heart felt like it was going to explode out of my chest. My one thought was..."what the hell are you doing to yourself."



I pressed on, with a pretty good pace I climbed that mountain only stopping twice for water. The woods seem dark and oppressive, the air hung ripe with the odor of steaming vegetation. I continued climbing until I began to see the trees up ahead were ending. I was excited to have made it to the top and emerged from the woods into the glaring sun. Was it my imagination or was it hotter this close to the sun. I felt like Icarus flying to close to the sun. I hurried across the Searing meadows and again saught the shade of the woods. I wondered where all the other hikers were? I found a sign next to a bench stating I had come three miles. I unhooked my pack and sat in a daze...I pulled out my map and thought about the next three miles to the shelter. A Hanta-shelter probably with lots of mice. Or why don't I just call it quits and return to civilization, air conditioning and Coca-Cola. Right then a rabbit hopped across the trail not three feet away, he pause and sniffed, something unpleasant and hopped away. I took it as an omen, a sign of what I should do...and packed up and started back towards my car. Why had I quit? Was it the extreme conditions? I thought long and hard and came up with a few reasons.

1. I didn't have a plan or goal...the Appalachian was built for two reasons going north or going south. I didn't like the thought or understand why I was out here? for the workout?
2. I didn't have a clearcut exit strategy.
3. Most importantly I had found--I missed my hiking partner, my Brother to keep me motivated, to share the hardships with...Solitude was for suckers.

Statistics
Temperature 96* F
Distance 6 miles
Wildlife 1 Rabitt, 1 Frog, 1 Deer, 2 Squirels, 1 Tick on the back of my neck