Nice comfortable day to walk the flat miles of the Cumberland Valley, though it rained on and off for much of the day. Having left the north end of the Blue Ridge, the valley was about 15 miles of flat walking through fields and farmland--something entirely new for me on the trail so far. It was a nice change despite the poor weather on this Memorial Day holiday. A wonderful smell of honeysuckle lingered in the air all throughout the day.
Archives for May 2004
Boiling Springs
Taking a short day today to cruise on in to Boiling Springs, grab a shower and relax. I stayed with some hikers last night who were out testing gear for a website and taking photos for a new ATC book on the Appalachian Trail. Maybe the picture they took of Footloose and I will be on the front cover!
Tagg Run
HALFWAY!!!! Wow, I can't believe it's happened so fast, but here I am over halfway from Georgia to Maine. There have already been so many great memories, and so many more to come over the next 1000+ miles of trail.
Birch Run
Walked the day with Aussie today, whom I've walked quite a bit with over the last couple of days. Had the shelters (2 on one site) all to ourselves last night--the thru-hiker void continues. Another beautiful day of walking in PA--perfect cool weather, very nice trail, and an awesome nap this afternoon in Caledonia State Park next to a creek.
Tumbling Run
This day did not get off to a good start. Just Aussie and I in the shelter last night, so we started walking together in the morning until suddenly I smashed my big toe into a small stump hidden beneath weeds right alongside the trail. It was the first real casualty since hiking in sandals for 300+ miles…
Ensign Cowall
A really nice stretch of trail today got my spirits back up, though my backpack continues to fight me for a comfortable hike, more now with my incredible shrinking waist! I caught a welcome shower on the trail at the Dahlgren backpacker shower facility before heading up the trail to check out the Washington Monument.
Crampton Gap
Slept in, ate breakfast down the street, and ended up staying with Footloose at the hostel until 1:30 in the afternoon lounging a bit, helping the owners put in some air conditioning units, and trying to gather motivation for the upcoming 2nd half of the trip. Left in the afternoon heat after a nice pint of Ben and Jerry's--our payment for helping out--and headed out for a short day.
Harper's Ferry
Little tired this morning after yesterday’s long hot day through the Rollercoaster, but it feels great to move on to Harper’s Ferry. For the first time, I really feel as though I’ve gotten somewhere seeing the big Shenandoah River for the first time and later in the day crossing the Potomac River.
Blackburn
Hot day = tough day. Temps close to 90 today and very humid, just in time for us to tackle the “Rollercoaster”—a series of about 10 sharp PUDs over a stretch of roughly 14 miles. In short, the Rollercoaster can be described as steep up, steep down, repeat.
Rod Hollow
Not much great fun stuff to report today folks. Hot, humid day listening to the seemingly ever-present white-noise droning of the 17-year cicadas all afternoon. Another night in the shelter with the usual suspects. Tomorrow to a hostel, and then to Harpers Ferry and the 1000-mile mark.
Jim and Molly Denton
Only doing a few miles today to help rest my shin and feet, so I slept in a little bit and resupplied in town before hitting the trail around 1pm. The air mattress in the bunkroom was so comfortable last night. I’d been having some trouble sleeping at the shelters recently (I think it’s time for a new Z-rest), and it was nice to finally sleep so well.
Compton Gap Trail
My last day in Shenandoah, and it ended with no bear sightings, one last Mountain Blackberry milkshake at Elkwallow, and an entire day of walking in cloud mist. Pushed on to stay the night at Terrapin Station Hostel, which has only been open since last year.
Pass Mt.
nteresting night last night. A few hours after the thunderstorms passed, the power came back on at Big Meadows Lodge so Footloose and I went down to the taproom to enjoy some always delicious beer while listening to some live bluegrass/folk music. Tons of fun to hear music for a change and sing along with everyone to some familiar songs.
Lewis Spring
What an exciting day! Just when I thought the park was getting kind of boring, I start off my day with a morning sighting of a black bear running across the trail up in front of me! Next came a very cool sighting of the rare Yellow Lady's Slipper flower hiding in a hillside of trillium. That's not all.
Hightop
Did some nice miles today, and avoided the rain yet again despite hearing thunder off and on throughout the late morning and afternoon. Caught up with Footloose, Lovebug, and Dead Man Walking at the shelter, which was a nice way to spend the evening after a day that didn't have any views, new wildflowers, or wildlife other than a couple of deer who were very unafraid of me.
Blackrock
Woke up this morning, had a great breakfast in the hotel, packed up, made myself a new Pepsi-can stove and hopped in the car for Mom and Dad to drive me back to the trail. Sad to say goodbye to them again after spending such little time together, but happy to be back on the trail for my first day in Shenandoah National Park.
Rockfish Gap
Just a last few miles today as the great adventure with my Mom has come to an end. Rolled into Rockfish Gap just a few minutes before Dad showed up to whisk us away to the hotel. Another day cluttered with grocery shopping, laundry, a much-needed haircut, and very little time to relax and chat with Mom and Dad. It's been a great hike with Mom all week.
Paul C. Wolfe
She made it! Mom's last long/tough day today before getting off the trail tomorrow, and she finished it out strong to a round of applause from Burning Boots and J-Bird, who were waiting to greet us at the shelter. Only an easy 5 miles remains on Mom's trek, and even despite her blisters she made it through all of it with flying colors. When it's all done tomorrow, she will have come 77.0 miles, an incredible feat for someone who's never hiked such a continuous stretch.
Maupin Field
The toughest day of Mom's entire week out with me, and she did great--blisters and all. Thanks to some Core-ban and extra Compeed from Burning Boots and J-Bird, Mom was able to pad her heel blisters a lot better for today's 3000' descent, immediately followed by a 3000' ascent.
The Priest
Decided to take it easy today after yesterday's longer day to ease Mom's blisters while I ducked into Montebello to get our 3-day resupply. Ended up running into Nails and Scarf getting a ride back up to the trail from Lois, owner of the Dutch Haus B&B in town.
North Forks of Piney River
The second big long climb of Mom's trip, and she really did awesome today. Lots of flowers and green spring growth to see today, including my first sighting of a Jack-in-the-Pulpit. Also learned about Jewelweed today from Dead Man Walking and Love Bug--a plant with dull serrated leaves like a Beech tree leave, whose stem can be used as an antidote for Poison Ivy.
Brown Mt. Creek
Well, Mom made it through her first day just fine, so we kept on chugging along today. Started a bit late this morning, but I knew the trail would be a lot easier today--mostly downhill and flat with a couple of gentle climbs mixed in. Stretched the day out with a couple of nice long stops by a few of the stream crossings today, taking our time to relax, have a snack, and soak our feet in the cold water.
Punchbowl
Happy Mother's Day to all you moms out there! Said goodbye to dad this morning, and mom and I started off on our week-long hike together. The weather was again quite hot for hiking, especially when my mom's first taste of the trail was a 2200-foot climb over the first 5 miles or so. It was tough, but she did great pulling into the shelter after a long bit of uphill on her first day out.
US 501 Zero Day
My mom and dad are here! Got a hitch from the campground into town this morning and waited at the laundromat for them to arrive. Spent a very short day getting groceries, eating lunch and dinner, running to the outfitter, and getting my mom's pack ready for her week-long adventure with me on the trail. How many moms choose to vacation by hiking the AT for a week, not to mention starting out on Mother's Day?
US 501
Beautiful night to be in a tent last night. No rain coming, so I left the rain fly off to be more comfortable. Every time I woke up, I opened my eyes to see a giant bright moon and a star-filled night sky. It was enough to keep me up a few times just to watch.
Thunder Hill
Getting warmer, getting sweatier, getting oh so smellier. Well, feet survived yesterday's 20-miler with my new hiking sandals and they felt pretty good today. Shin splint was a bit better behaved too, though much of the day was spent doing long stretches of ascent and that doesn't seem to aggravate it as much.
Cove Mt.
Well, the weather was absolutely perfect hiking weather today and the terrain was easy to boot. Hiked the day with Skyline and Sundance as we passed the first of our many future crossings with the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Fullhardt Knob
Many meaningless PUDs this morning, but time passed quickly walking with Skyline and Sundance as we told each other riddles on our walk into Daleville, VA for a resupply--a process that I've quickly come to despise having to do.
Lambert's Meadow
After a night of great company, it was time to see perhaps Virginia's most well-known section of trail. Beautiful cool weather as I teamed up with Skyline and Sundance, Fitz, and Slips for an afternoon journey over the famous jutting stone ledge of McAfee Knob and along Tinker Cliffs--both with tremendous views of the green valley countryside below.
VA 624
Lots of PUDs today, but several cool things to see including my first sighting of a Pink Lady's Slipper flower, the Audie Murphy Memorial site (USA's most decorated WWII veteran), and the dramatic Dragon's Tooth rock ridge.
Niday
The first day of May shall henceforth be known as "Mystery Day" since today was full of them. For starters, the ridgelines were all clouded in so that the vistas of the Virginia countryside below were a mystery. Second, I saw a beautiful red wildflower whose identity still remains a mystery.