(Daleville, Virginia (mile 730.3) - Bobblet's Gap Shelter (mile 748.9))

Delta and I had agreed to meet at the trailhead at noon, so I took my time and had a chill morning. After eating lunch at a McDonald’s next to the Motel 6, I made my way under the interstate one last time. Fortunately, I wasn’t hit by a car as I scampered across the exit ramp, under the overpass with virtually no shoulder, and across the on ramp. I made it to the trailhead and found Delta already waiting for me. There were thunderstorms predicted in the afternoon and the sky was certainly foreboding.

As we began hiking, we both agreed that it officially felt like spring. The trees had exploded with leaves seemingly overnight. The trail was really starting to feel more and more like a “green tunnel.” We made it 5 miles to Fullhardt Knob Shelter just as it started dumping rain. We opted to wait it out. Delta had packed out carrots and guacamole, so we sat in the shelter and munched while the rain did its thing.

The rain eventually eased up and we continued hiking. I had to ditch my rain jacket pretty quickly because the heat and humidity was so intense. A light mist hung around the trail and all the plants were vividly colorful in their recently hydrated state. As usual, Delta and I talked a lot about cars. I learned that his realistic dream car is an early 90’s Corvette with the “polo green” paint job. He also explained his philosophical distaste for modifying vehicles, both aesthetically and mechanically. After a couple miles, the rain had mostly stopped and the trail began crossing over a number of streams and creeks.

A little before Curry Creek, I spotted my first eastern newt (AKA red-spotted newt, or Notophthalmus viridescens) of the trail! These guys are a super iconic and charismatic Appalachian amphibian. As juveniles, they live their lives in the terrestrial “red eft” stage, which can last two to three years. After this time, the efts find permanent bodies of water and metamorphose into their fully-aquatic adult stage. Around this time of year, efts become very active, so now that I had seen one, I knew to be on the lookout for more!

As expected, Delta and I spent the rest of the day basically tripping over little red efts, which seemed to love congregating along the trail. We both grew super paranoid, and were absolutely terrified that we would step on one. Fortunately, their bright orange coloration makes them rather conspicuous, and I think we were able to avoid smushing any newts.

After hiking a little over 11 miles for the day, we reached Wilson Creek Shelter. We were both feeling good, so we decided to push to the next shelter a little over 7 miles away. After 2 miles, the trail routed alongside the Blue Ridge Parkway. Over the next 5 miles, the trail crossed the Blue Ridge Parkway twice. Once at Taylor Mountain Overlook and again at Harvey’s Knob Overlook. Both overlooks provided scenic panoramas of the southern Virginia mountains.

We made it to Bobblet’s Gap Shelter around 7:15pm. The shelter was hidden in a ravine at the base of a steep side trail. I stayed up top at the side trail junction for a bit to call AC. I then made my way down to the shelter and found Push, Overdose, and Blue Bear at the shelter. I was surprised to see Overdose. I told him that I hadn’t expected to see him again and he responded that he’d heard that a lot lately. Overdose and Push seemed to have struck up a fast friendship, which I suppose makes sense given their similar age and marital status. Blue Bear is one of the Little Hotties. He carries a Martin backpacker guitar which he played while we ate dinner.

There was virtually no flat ground surrounding the shelter, so I was forced to pitch my tent on a terribly graded patch near the privy trail. I’ll be sliding around tonight for sure.

Better watch your step red spotted newts really like chilling on the trail