Subject: staunton va<br/>
Date: Oct 16, 2004 @ 16:07<br/>
Author: aletheiak (&quot;aletheiak&quot; &lt;aletheiak@...&gt;)<br/>
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<div id="ygrps-yiv-733647808">thanxx lowell & extreme congrats mike<br/>
<br/>
am on a timed computer or would add detail<br/>
<br/>
more later for that<br/>
<br/>
<br/>
the 11th pearl algrro was easily the best so far<br/>
<br/>
there was always a question of whether to stop for blissful overlooks<br/>
or to forge ahead in blissful pursuit<br/>
<br/>
so i kept going but very slow<br/>
<br/>
an utterly exhilarating 45degree bushwhack too<br/>
<br/>
but on the very top of rockytop was not a rock but a tree<br/>
<br/>
hugged & photographed it of course<br/>
while realizing its center & my tripoint were eluding me<br/>
nor could i climb this tree to make any further headway<br/>
<br/>
& to think i was always the one who maintained the trees & stuff were <br/>
part of the mountain<br/>
<br/>
my best & closest class e ever tho <br/>
<br/>
no marker of course <br/>
except for the tree<br/>
which seemed to say <br/>
ahll grow <br/>
<br/>
<br/>
next was the alauro saddle point at blackrock gap<br/>
supposedly marked with a benchmark at elevation 2321 feet<br/>
<br/>
the sign at the pulloff said 2330 feet<br/>
<br/>
nor was i about to dig the extra 9 feet for the hoped for marker<br/>
<br/>
but i did at least find & scour the exact saddle point <br/>
no problem <br/>
& lots of fun every time<br/>
<br/>
technically it was on the northbound painted side line of the road<br/>
<br/>
& yikes there was a rock standing nearby<br/>
but it was just an appalachian trail signpost<br/>
<br/>
<br/>
that left only the 13th pearl alaune at mccormick gap<br/>
& as i slowly approached wondering whether to even try it<br/>
for it looked rather difficult & hopeless<br/>
i barely noticed wildcat ridge parking area glide by on my right<br/>
when <br/>
bam <br/>
there was a wildcat starting to cross the road at 100 yards<br/>
<br/>
this is evidently the local bobcat <br/>
lean but about twice as tall & long as a house cat<br/>
<br/>
at 50 yards it was on the center line<br/>
<br/>
by 25 yards gone in the bushes<br/>
<br/>
<br/>
what a rush<br/>
<br/>
i took it as an omen that my skyline try was complete<br/>
with no need to try alaune at all<br/>
since it would be much more fun to run down to a library to report a <br/>
fresh wildcat on wildcat<br/>
<br/>
i did check the gate at mccormick gap & found it locked<br/>
<br/>
also noticed bushwhacking is illegal in the park<br/>
<br/>
yikes<br/>
<br/>
so here i am in staunton<br/>
<br/>
out of time</div>