Southwest Virginia_____The Appalachian Trail_____West Virginia/Maryland
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Friday, June 08, 2001
Star Haven Shelter-Bailey Gap Shelter
Today’s Miles: 16.2
Trip Miles: 633.7
ONE snake! Ha ha ha ha.
TWO snakes! Ha ha ha ha.
THREE! THREE snakes! Ha ha ha ha.
FOUR! FOUR snakes! Ha ha ha ha.
One, two, three, FOUR snakes!
I love to count!
Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha.
Yep, that’s right, I saw four snakes today! All separately in different locations, too – two gartner type ones and two blacksnakes. One was the biggest blacksnake I’ve ever seen! It was right in the middle of the trail and reluctant to let me pass. I’d nudge him with my stick, and he’d turn to strike at it. He eventually slithered a few feet off the trail and up a tree, sticking out a pointed tongue at me.
Alas, the word of the day is chafing. Oh, yes, chafing – in a most horrible and unspeakable form. Every step wreaks terrible pain and agony. Each and every individual step. I’d rather have ten blisters on each foot than this. It’s like – ah, well, nevermind. I’ll spare you. It’s bad.
Still, the trail was nice today. When is it not? Wincing on the verge of tears makes sixteen miles a long way, but hey, nobody said it would be easy. I miraculously have the shelter all to myself tonight. Big Bird and Ladyhawk are tented out nearby. It feels great to relax at the end of the day and go to bed a bit early. Life is good, even with nasty terrible unspeakable chafing.
Saturday, June 09, 2001
Bailey Gap Shelter-Niday Shelter
Today’s Miles: 27
Trip Miles: 660.7
Whoa! My biggest day yet! Twenty-seven miles!
I woke up feeling great – rested and cured, and was moving north early. It was a good, cool morning with a fine view from Wind Rock and some deer. The view had few marks of civilization, just green all round – an odd occurance. A break at War Spur Shelter revealed something interesting. A hiker a few days ahead of me wrote in the register that he saw a mountain lion a few miles back, in the area I had just walked. A mountain lion! He saw a rattlesnake too, but that’s somewhat common…
A mountain lion!
I believe it. There have been other isolated, dependable reports in New England and Virginia.
The next section was a nice stretch of trail. I’m not quite sure what it was – the weather, the arrangement of the forest maybe, I don’t know. It was just nice. Then it opened up into more scenic farm fields in the Sinking Creek Valley. Spectacular! The grasses waved in the breeze and lone trees stood proud, against a green mountainside backdrop and blue skies. I saw perhaps the largest tree of my life afer some amateur cattle herding. Actually, I’m not much of an amateur anymore, but anyway, it was a white oak. Huge! It’s apparently estimated to be more than three hundred years old – a grand sight to behold. And this one, unlike the poplar in NC, looked to be continously getting strong and growing. It must be eating its Flintstone Vitamins!
the steep climb afterward was slow and tedious – and hot! The humidity had struck. I was getting weary toward the end of the day too. All I had left around Sarver’s Cabin was a long ridgewalk and the descent to the shelter. Oh, but it seemed to take forever. Night was falling, and this ridge, no, it couldn’t be a nicely graded trail, it had to be huge boulders slanted at a forty-five degree angle! They were very difficult to walk on, as my ankles were constantly slanted and I was tired to begin with.
Suddenly, I came upon three goats lounging on the rocks! They looked up and me lazily and sort of indifferently. One had two little knobby horns. I set down my pack and stick to get out my camera. One stood up, and I feared it would run away before I could get a picture. Oh, if I only knew then what I was in for… it stepped toward me. The others got up and came toward me too. Cool!
Wait a second…
Oh my
Oh no!
The tonges came out, and they feverishly started licking the sweat off me! Everywhere! Ah! They’re obscene, perverted beasts with no shame or fear! I stepped away, and they kept coming, licking and licking! They got between me and my pack – one had stayed back and was going to town on the handle of my walking stick! Yuck!
Ahhh!!! Run away! Run away!
I bopped one on the nose, to no avail! Relentless! It just looked up at me with that dumb, glazed “I want to lick you” stare! No fear, no shame. They chased me in circles for quite a while, until I finally manged to get my pack back on and get out of there.
I caught my friends at nearly nine o’clock at the shelter. “How was the day?” somebody asked.
“I’ve been violated by goats!” I said.
They laughed. So were they. Life is good.
Sunday, June 10, 2001
Niday Shelter-Dragon’s Tooth
Today’s Miles: 13.4
Trip Miles: 674.1
“The Niday Massacre” …a night that will live in infamy.
I did my longest day yesterday. I was spent and needed sleep, passing out in a matter of minutes. It must have been about three hours later when I awoke, itching. Itching, itching. I tossed and turned, and couldn’t get back to sleep. It was hot, too, making matters worse. Ugh, what torment. Gradually, I realized the others in the shelter were rolling around too. It seemed everybody was awake. I got frustrated, sitting straight up, deciding what the heck to do. I was wide awake now. Then I realized it – there were bugs, tons of them biting. No-see-ums! I heard Drizzt and Moe speaking in irritated whispers. Moe got up, and started chain smoking cigarettes, one after the other. It was about three am now. It was hell. All we could do was toss and turn and scratch ourselves.
All of a sudden Leatherfeet thrashed in his sleeping bag, jerked straight up, standing, and screams “I can’t take it anymore! @#$%&!! BUGS!!!” scratching and swatting himself furiously. Haha, he lost it! So did we, and the three of us others joined in. Profanity flew into the dark night, skin was scratched franticly until it was bleeding, and nobody slept. Somebody shined a light in the air. There was a thick swarm. Drizzt and Moe pcaked up and hiked started hiking at 4:30 am. The rest of us rode it out, and I managed to get an hour or two of light sleep.
So naturally, I got a late, late start today, on another hot and humid one. I always tend to wait until the hottest part of the day to begin my hiking! I got what little rest that I could in the morning, as the no-see-ums were still around. The day went slow, with two significant climbs and an extended midday reading break. The place that I’m camping tonight is called the Dragon’s Tooth. That’s exactly what it looks like too, a large, thin, pointed triangular rock outcropping in the shape of a tooth. The views are awesome when you climb it. The sunset was spectacular. I stayed up there until nearly dark, when the first stars came out. I saw a few sparse headlights drift on a country road far below. I’ll sleep well in my tent tonight, bug free. Life is good.
Monday, June 11, 2001
Dragon’s Tooth-Campbell Shelter
Today’s Miles: 12.1
Trip Miles: 686.2
I woke up early to check out the sunrise. It wasn’t really all that spectacular, so I went back to sleep and got some much needed rest. I didn’t start hiking then until about noon, a few moments after Leatherfeet had gone. Easy Day, Songbird, Lucky, and Chickpea left well before us. The descent from Dragon’s Tooth was steep, but actually sort of fun. I was soon feeling dehydrated on this hot day though, clambering along a few winding, low, open ridges, but suddenly came upon a cooler by a road filled with soda! Nice! I’m always amazed at the people that leave these things for hikers.
I had to make a pit stop at a store down the road as I was just about out of food anyway. I love these places that still exist in America called the “General Store.” I don’t know, they all just have a certain charm about them. It was interesting to sit out on the curb in front and eat some of my goodies, watching the people come and go – reminding me of doing the same thing around my hometown on summer days before I or any of my friends could drive. It was nice to see that summer is in full swing in the outside world now too.
The rest of the afternoon went along wonderfully, as I bounced ahead fully caffeinated. Dehydrated again upon reaching the Catawba Mountain Shelter, I drank water at its cold, sacred spring like I never drank before! Then I attacked the climb up to McAfee knob like a runner. And the view from the knob itself… oh!
The place is incredible! I spent some time and explored up there for quite a while with Leatherfeet, Geckobunny and Madcow, and suggested we have our dinners there and stick around for the sunset, then night hike down to the Campbell Shelter. All obliged. The sunset was indeed magnificent, and wow, I just felt so good being up there!
I had my Campbell’s soup I bought at the store there, specifically because I’m staying at Campbell Shelter tonight! Ha!
McAfee Knob
Tuesday, June 12, 2001
Campbell Shelter-Troutville, VA
Today’s Miles: 15.4
Trip Miles: 701.6
Today’s hike was pretty uneventful – essentially just a run to town. Fifteen miles into town, though, was more than what I bargained for. Getting an early start helped out a lot, but the heat is really setting in, if it hasn’t already. Madcow and I were EXTREMELY dehydrated by the time we stumbed in. It was bad. I was totally zoned out and having visions of heat exhaustion as I plodded along for those last miles.
Tinker Cliffs was an awesome spot with a great view, but strangely didn’t strike me amazingly, as I had just been at McAfee Knob the night before. Leatherfeet and I had fun zig-zagging down the loose grave on descents, picking up the pace and swerving back and forth looking for the best footing. We likened our movements to skiing, and soon were making “kshh, kshh” sound effects as we banked off the sides of the trail.
I got to the first road in town about half an hour before the post office was scheduled to close at five. I knew the PO was supposed to be a long way out of town, so I dropped my pack in the room I’m splitting with Madcow tonight and headed out to it, rushing. It was starting to look like I wouldn’t make it, so I actually started running down the road, then finally sticking out my thumb in desparation. Miraculously, a guy in an old classy station wagon stopped for me and drove me all the way up to the front door of the PO. I picked up my maildrop at 4:55 pm.
From there I walked directly to the Cracker Barrel for dinner still unbathed, and I advised that the kid at the podium seat me in a corner. (Man, I just referred to the host as “kid.” He’s was only really high school age…). The “kid” that was waiting on me must brought me at least six Cokes by the time I was through, without any encouragement from me except an empty glass. I was still quite dehydrated. They tasted great.
I was thrilled this evening when Madcow informed me that the motel here has its own laundry facilities for guests. Life is good.
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Wednesday, June 13, 2001
Troutville, VA-Wilson Creek Shelter
Today’s Miles: 11.2
Trip Miles: 712.8
I spent most of the morning doing my town errands, resupplying with food and what not. My sent my sleeping bag, the lid of my pack, my rain pants and some other odds and ends home. I had grown attatched to my sleeping bag, and it was difficult to part with it, but it has simply grown too hot. I sent it home on the premise that one of the motels in town would have a sheet they could sell me. It wasn’t to be – they only had “stained” ones available. No thank you! I’ll just have to make do.
I wasn’t out of town long when I began to hear thunder in the distance. It became louder ever so gradually, and the wind began to make the treetops sway about. I stopped for a break at Fullhardt Knob Shelter, and briefly debated whether or not to continue on six more miles with a high likelihood of getting rained on. I decided to go for it.
“Wow, you’re very brave,” a female hiker there said.
Ahem. Why, thank you, thank you very much.
And then I “bravely” dashed north up the trail.
The rain held off for a while longer, but then the thunder suddenly grew louder and seemed sure to hit. I was very happy when the trail descended from the exposed ridge, which wasn’t soon enough. I came upon Baltimore Jack and Emma at Curry Creek scrambling to set up their tents in time. I stopped too, put on my packcover, and continued on. The storm had passed by the time I got to the shelter for the night, anticlimactically leaving me quite dry.
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Thursday, June 14, 2001
Wilson Creek Shelter
Today’s Miles: 0
Trip Miles: 712.8
Didn’t feel like hiking today at all. No way. Not quite sure what it was … maybe the heat. It was maybe the hottest and most humid day yet – at least one of them. I lounged inside the shelter all day, and still managed to sweat buckets. I even thought briefly about maybe hiking back to Troutville. Didn’t.
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Friday, June 15, 2001
Wilson Creek Shelter-Cove Mountain Shelter
Today’s Miles: 13.7
Trip Miles: 726.5
Had a good, motivated, early start today. The trail is beginning to criss-cross the Blue Ridge Parkway. After an afteroon drying out at Bobblet’s Gap, I accompanied Drizzt and Moe here to Cove Mountain, where I’m going to call it a day at fourteen miles. I’m spending most of the evening reading. Life is good.
Moe
trail insanity
Saturday, June 16, 2001
Cove Mountain Shelter-Bryant Ridge Shelter
Today’s Miles: 6.9
Trip Miles: 733.4
Miserable day today. Hot, starved, thirsty, stinky, dirty, tired, and homesick. Even thought about getting off the trail. Maybe I would have just for a revitalizing Coke, but the trail fortunately was rerouted away from a road. My spirits were lifted a bit when I stopped at this shelter. Vowed at least to make it home in Pensylvania. It’s a nice night, and this is a beautiful spot, but the bugs are annoying. A 1970′s attempted thru hiker revitalized, named Charlie, is good company.
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Sunday, June 17, 2001
Bryant Ridge Shelter-Matt’s Creek Shelter
Today’s Miles: 22.7
Trip Miles: 756.1
Awesome day! Perfect weather! There were clear blue skies, and a solid, steady breeze. I climbed up Floyd Mountain from Bryant Shelter, and moved swiftly along the ridge, loving life. I caught a good view from Blackrock, passed over Apple Orchard Mountain, crossed the Blue Ridge Parkway again just as two Harley dudes sped by, and walked through and under a rock formation called “the guillotine.” Many of the trees along the last stretch were dead because of gypsy moth devastation, but it made for beautiful continuous views in the late afternoon and sunset. It gave it the feel of autumn. I made it here after nine p.m. in essentially full darkness – my latest hiking yet. I caught a lot of friends here too.
along The Blue Ridge Parkway
Monday, June 18, 2001
Matt’s Creek Shelter-John’s Hollow Shelter
Today’s Miles: 3.8
Trip Miles: 759.9
I crossed a magnificent footbridge over the James River in the morning, and tried to hitch into Glasgow to resupply with food. I finally got a ride after a long three hours next to the road, and ate a whole pizza in the small food-mart. The hitch back to the trail was a breeze. I spent the evening gathering wood, and got an awesome fire going tonight. I packed out hot dogs to cook over it, and Leatherfeet packed up sloppy joes! What a feast!
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Tuesday, June 19, 2001
John’s Hollow Shelter-Brown Mountain Creek Shelter
Today’s Miles: 17.6
Trip Miles: 777.5
I had a late start, but still got some decent mileage in by the end of the day. I took my first break at a place called Salt Log Gap, where there was actually a big log! I sat down on it and had snack before climbing Bluff Mountain, which went by without too much sweat. The memorial to Little Ottie was just shy of the summit. I had lunch at the Punchbowl Shelter, situated at a picturesque pond, and there met Daddy Long Legs, as well as some southbound section hikers. From there the trail brought me across the Blue Ridge Parkway again and to Pedlar Dam, and shortly thereafter in the early evening I caught Trilia and Moose, just beginning their hiking for the night. They’ve been hiking from about five pm to five am every night since the weather got so hot. Leatherfeet and Geckobunny were surprised to see me come in this shelter near dark. “We didn’t think you’d make it!” they said. Never fear, Duct Tape is here. And hey, the register here is just about full, and it was placed originally by Sweeper! I think I’ll leave my own blank one here and pack this out and send it to him. I sort of get the feeling that I’m the person who’s “supposed” to, if you know what I mean.
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Wednesday, June 20, 2001
Brown Mountain Creek Shelter-The Priest Shelter
Today’s Miles: 22.7
Trip Miles: 800.2
I must have seen at least twenty deer today – no exaggeration. It was a long day, but still, there’s deer everywhere! They must spread down here from the not so far off Shenandoahs to the north. I went over a bald section with a lot of nice wildflowers this afternoon. Much of the rest of the hiking was green tunnel, but some cool ferns lined the trail in places. I met a hiker named B-man at the Seeley-Woodworth Shelter. He walks with a hockey stick! It must be awfully hard to try and hitchhike with that thing. The view from Spy Rock was nice, apparently an old Civil War watchpost. “General Lee! The Yankees are coming!” I got to this shelter at dusk, and I’m the only thru-hiker here. There’s a group of eighth graders here as well, and two of their teachers, taking them out on a summer trip. It’s weird to relate more easily with the teachers than with the students. I feel so old!
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Thursday, June 21, 2001
The Priest Shelter-Rusty’s Hard Time Hollow
Today’s Miles: 13.6
Trip Miles: 813.8
The descent from The Priest sucked. It took forever. Something insane like twenty-some switchbacks. At least. The climb up Three Ridges sucked even more. It was oppressively humid, and I brilliantly decided that I didn’t want to carry the weight of water up the climb. Stupid move. There was a blue blazed trail that bypassed the climb too, but I brilliantly chose to do only the whites. The place I’m staying tonight does not suck. In fact, it’s amazing. It’s the home of a very unique person that takes in hikers, a few miles away from the trail. One of those great little gems of the trail – it’s very cool.
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Friday, June 22, 2001
Rusty’s Hard Time Hollow
Today’s Miles: 0
Trip Miles: 813.8
Spent another night at Rusty’s. Relaxing and having fun.
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Friday, June 22, 2001
Rusty’s Hard Time Hollow
Today’s Miles: 0
Trip Miles: 813.8
Still at Rusty’s Good times.
Rusty’s in winter
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Sunday, June 24, 2001
Rusty’s Hard Time Hollow-Paul Wolfe Shelter
Today’s Miles: 16.1
Trip Miles: 829.9
Pulled myself away from Rusty’s today and resumed hiking. I didn’t see too much out of the ordinary in this Virginia greenery I’ve become accustomed to, well, except for one thing.
I heard a rustle to my left about ten yards away, no louder than a squirrel. I stopped to look.
Bear!
It was only a cub, but…
Bear!
My first one. It’s head popped up out of the brush, seeing me, and before I could react it bolted away from me – a ball of fur thumping its paws quickly away through the brush. I stood for a moment, amazed and glad to have finally seen a bear, then heard another rustle off to my right. Uh-oh.
Mama?
That would put me BETWEEN her and the cub. Not good. I didn’t stick around to find out, and heard nothing more.
I met two hikers named Mike and Zebadiah late in the day, and we hoofed the rest of the way to the shelter, making great time. I’m looking forward to getting into Waynesborough tomorrow, a hikers’ landmark in this endless state.
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Monday, June 25, 2001
Paul Wolfe Shelter-Waynesborough, VA
Today’s Miles: 5
Trip Miles: 834.9
It was an easy five miles this morning to the road crossing, and I churned it out in zero time. I saw Mike returning south on his short section hike, and we exchanged contact information and goodbyes. I got a hitch into town without even asking! A past thru hiker pulled over to inquire about the whereabouts of his friend that’s on the trail this year, and naturally inquired if I was looking to get down to Waynesborough. Things are a little spread out here, but it’s a fairly large town and has everything I need. I was surprised to see Bman today at a pay phone – I thought he’d still be stuck at that place I spent the past few days. He continued on up the trail today. As for me? I’m livin’ it up here and totally sucked in. Yes, another round of all you can eat pancakes and Coke please…
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Tuesday, June 26, 2001
Waynesborough, VA
Today’s Miles: 0
Trip Miles: 834.9
Took the day off. Got sucked into a television. That’s about it. Oh, and I cooked a number of Lipton Noodle meals in a coffeemaker. And there’s air conditioning.
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Wednesday, June 27, 2001
Waynesborough, VA
Today’s Miles: 0
Trip Miles: 834.9
Got trapped in the vortex of town for one last day, even though it seems every town feels uglier and busier as I get farther north. I ate at a McDonald’s. It was strangely reassuring, yet disgusting at the same time.
I also met a cool group of people who caught me, as I’ve taken a number of days off recently, and we stayed up late into the night. Some old friends caught up too. I’m looking forward to hitting the trail tomorrow, and possibly making a mad dash through the Shenandoahs to get to Harper’s Ferry in time for Fourth of July celebrations.
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Thursday, June 28, 2001
Waynesborough, VA-Calf Mountain Shelter
Today’s Miles: 7
Trip Miles: 841.9
Registered to go through the Shenandoah National Park. There’s a lot of hikers at this shelter tonight. We packed in hot dogs, smores, etc. Tenderheart and Shepherd of the Hills caught me, and I hadn’t seen them since the GA/NC border. Nice! Another great time in the evening. At dusk, we spotted a bear at the edge of camp. It sauntered away, but somebody spotted it at the far OTHER side of the area a few moments later. So – it’s essentially circling us like a shark! I guess I’ll go to bed now…
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Friday, June 29, 2001
Calf Mountain Shelter-Blackrock Hut
Today’s Miles: 13
Trip Miles: 854.9
A good day of hiking in the Shenandoah National Park. The terrain has turned out to be as forgiving as they say. This shelter has the best, probably coldest spring on the trail thus far. Alas, the shelter’s also been conquered by Boy Scouts.
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Saturday, June 30, 2001
Blackrock Hut-Pinefield Hut
Today’s Miles: 13.2
Trip Miles: 868.1
Met Master Bob from Holland, and a few others. Stopped at Loft Mountain Wayside for hot, greasy food. Grunted at tourists. Met T-Bone of ’99. Hiked through a light rain in the evening. Saw an incredible rainbow.
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Sunday, July 01, 2001
Pinefield Hut-Lewis Mountain Campground
Today’s Miles: 19.9
Trip Miles: 888
Saw PeeWee, Lady Hawk, Manchester, and Jiff for the first time in a while. Somebody payed for a campsite at this campground for thru-hikers. Sweet! And ah, there’s sodas, frozen pizza … good stuff. Sat on the bench in front of the camp store late into this stormy night chatting with Master Bob and Garfunkel.
Monday, July 02, 2001
Lewis Mountain Campground-Rock Spring Hut
Today’s Miles: 12.2
Trip Miles: 900.2
Hiked as far as Big Meadows Lodge, and waited there all afternoon for them to open for dinner. Enjoyed a good meal with By Noon, Tenderheart, Shepherd of the Hills, and PeeWee. It was so funny how they sat us in the FAR corner of the dining room, and sat all the other guests all the way in the other corner! We then hiked a few more miles in the evening, I watched a great sunset with Garfunkel, Turtle and Master Bob, and hung around for some star gazing.
Tuesday, July 03, 2001
Rock Spring Hut-Pass Mountain Hut
Today’s Miles: 15.3
Trip Miles: 915.5
Had lunch at the Skyland Dining Room. Got to love the Shenandoahs! Just a walk in the park. Met a lot of day hikers today, including a great family from Stroudsburg, Pa., near my hometown. Hiked the last part of the day with Turtle, Sugar Daddy, and Eggman. I caught a great view from Mary’s Rock where we could actually see clouds and fog developing below us, rolling in swiftly.
Wednesday, July 04, 2001
Pass Mountain Hut-Gravel Springs Hut
Today’s Miles: 13.1
Trip Miles: 928.6
Happy Fourth of July! Went through the final restaurant in the park and spent four hours there! I ate a LOT! Had many sodas as well, naturally. Met Basketball Jones and The Accomplice, a very cool father and son pair from North Carolina. The Accomplice is only about thirteen years old. A great kid! I could hear distant fireworks just as I was drifting asleep.
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Thursday, July 05, 2001
Gravel Springs Hut-Tom Floyd Wayside
Today’s Miles: 10.5
Trip Miles: 939.1
Finally out of the National Park today, and at this shelter with Badfrog and Indian Summer. Throughout my time in the park, I saw a million virtually tame deer, and five bears! Just about every thru-hiker saw at least one bear in the Shenandoahs. One of them scooted down a tree trunk right in front of me! The others were a mom with two cubs that ran from me, and another single young one that didn’t care less about my presence. That makes a grand total of six for the whole trip so far, not counting the eyes of that one at Calf Mountain Shelter.
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Friday, July 06, 2001
Tom Floyd Wayside-Dick’s Dome Shelter
Today’s Miles: 18
Trip Miles: 957.1
Got a late start today. It was good to see Dolphin Boy, Indian Summer, and Shakey Leggs again. Stopped at the concession stand of a local pool off the trail with Garfunkel and Jamie. The radio there was playing a ton of bad eighties songs, and it was fun to reminisce. I caught Charlie later on and hiked with him for a few miles.
I walked a mile and a half off the trail to resupply in Linden, down this beautiful country road. It was perfect, and so was this General Store. it was sort of like your typical convenience store, but it’s in the middle of the country, had an old soday machine out front, a gravel parking area, the works. And it was obviously privately owned.I love places like that, good and old fashioned.
I loaded up on Coke, bought fresh batteries for my headlamp, and proceeded to embark on my first night-hike. It was amazing – the fireflies, the stars, the moonrise, the sounds, a world of cool air, silver and black, the confidence … oh, the confidence. Who knows how would have felt about being alone in the woods in the middle of nowhere in the pitch dark of night only a matter of months ago. Now, it’s like just stepping blindly through the living of my house without turning the light on. I saw a big rat in a supposedly copperhead infested shelter. It must have been a foot long. I eventually set up my tent next to a creek without the rainfly, feeling wonderful going to sleep on this phenomenal night.
the final meadow on the AT in Virginia
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Saturday, July 07, 2001
Dick’s Dome Shelter-Sam Moore Shelter
Today’s Miles: 15.9
Trip Miles: 973
I stopped today at another general store on a road off the trail. It was also a taxidermist’s workshop. I hiked with Basketball Jones, The Accomplice, and The Italian Scallion most of the day. Bball Jones was pointing out different kinds of trees to us.
I began the roller coaster section late in the day, but the weather was still searing hot, as usual. We came upon Huffer + Puffer of ’98 at a forest service road near the top of one of the hills with a cooler full of soda, not to mention cookies! Awesome! We talked with him for a while, a cool guy. He mentioned he’s been following my journal online here, perhaps the first person that’s told me that so far.
It was just about dark when I got to the shelter, after hiking much of the rest of the way with Italian Scallion. There was a tree that stuck out at one of the views at the top of one of the roller coaster mountains, and we posed for pictures there. It won’t be long now until I’m in Harpers Ferry, and the 1,000 mile mark! …not to mention finally out of Virginia!
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Sunday, July 08, 2001
Sam Moore Shelter-Blackburn A.T. center
Today’s Miles: 10.9
Trip Miles: 983.9
It rained hard in the early morning, and the rest of the day was humid and muggy. I spent most of the afternoon at a family pub a bit off the trail, eating with Bball Jones, the Accomplice, and Gump. I had a huge order of fries and a cheeseburger, and it was so good that I had a second huge order of fries and a cheeseburger! That was one of the things I wanted to do at some point on this trip – order a full meal, and say, “That was so good, I’d like another one!”
Stuffed with grease, I climbed up and hung out at an overlook, watching a storm pass by just barely to the south of me. I eventually made it here to the Blackburn AT Center for the night, an outpost of the Potomac AT Club. I met Trailboss and Wildchild of the PATC, along with another dude, and a thru hiker named Treebeard – Treebeard as in the character from the Lord of the Rings! Harpers Ferry tomorrow!
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Monday, July 09, 2001
Blackburn A.T. center-Harper’s Ferry, WV
Today’s Miles: 11.8
Trip Miles: 995.7
A surreal day. I’m in Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia, and I’m finally OUT OF VIRGINIA! Not only that, but I’ve come one thousand miles! Nearly halfway! The descent to town was so much fun, just knowing that I was almost there. The trail also went through some old trenches from the Civil War – pretty cool. A view of the Shenandoah River opened up before me, and a guy on a canoe and I caught each other’s attention as I was crossing the bridge. We both sort of “raised the roof,” acknowledging that we’re each pretty cool cats, loving life. The ATC Headquarters were closed when I got in, so I just did laundry at the KOA, showered, and crashed. Not without ample Cokes, of course.
Southwest Virginia_____The Appalachian Trail_____West Virginia/Maryland
