Stats: Sunday
night 6/5, MM 1022.2
(101 new miles, 1031 total miles)
(101 new miles, 1031 total miles)
Another good week! Almost made it through without rain, hit
a big storm on our last day into Harpers Ferry. Passed 1,000 miles this week,
and enjoyed another visit home.
Tuesday we hiked to Elk Wallow Wayside for lunch of burger, fries, and a coke. Mary and I did a day hike in that area last year, another familiar place. We had great weather but we were tired for some reason. We pressed on for a total of 17 miles that day.
We stayed at Gravel Springs Hut. Met Beerman – he brought 20 bottles of beer Trail Magic in a backpack, hiked in from parking lot to serve us free beer. Met Echo, who said she hiked 31 miles that day and had started the trail on April 6th. She was younger and in much better shape. Oh to be 20 years younger myself, I’d be somewhere much farther north by now!
Met Steve, a day hiker, he hiked with us on Wednesday. We went 19 miles on Wednesday, camped at Jim and Molly Denton Shelter. Had horseshoe pits, cold shower, and nice picnic pavilion. Played some horseshoes.
Also trail magic that day, at US 522.
Thursday we heard a bear, then saw him run through the woods. Met up with Bunny and Hawk along the way – I had gone with them to Natural Bridge.
We hiked 14 miles to Ashby Gap where Mary picked us up for another zero day. It’s good to be so close to home, definitely taking advantage of that. Thursday night we enjoyed pizza for dinner, then another visit to Carousel for some ice cream.
On Friday we went to REI; a zipper broke on my pack so I took it back. They are so good about backing up what they sell and exchanging broken items – I walked out with a new pack. Moondog bought a summer sleeping bag, then shipped his winter stuff home. After a great salmon dinner, we packed up to head out on Saturday.
The first few miles were not too bad, then we hit was is called the Roller Coaster: 13.5 miles of quick up and down 500-foot hills, 10 in all. We wanted to make it all the way through, but ended up doing only a little over 13 miles total, stayed at Bears Den Hostel. For $30, we had a bunk, pizza, coke, and a pint of Ben and Jerry’s.
Sunday we hiked the last 3 miles of the Roller Coaster, and planned to stop at a campsite 3 miles from Harpers Ferry (hiking 17 miles total). When we stopped at a shelter for lunch after hiking 11 miles, it looked like a storm was coming up. We waited a bit for it to pass, but then it seemed like it might not hit any time soon so we started out.
An hour into our hike, the skies opened up and it poured. We hiked 7 or 8 miles in the pouring rain (3-4 hours) all the way to Harpers Ferry because it was too wet to stop and set up camp. We sloshed through the water running down the trail; got soaked through, my shoes were like lead weights. We almost made it through a whole week without rain…almost!
 |
| AT Conservatory, Harpers Ferry |
After Mary dropped us off on Monday 5/30, we hiked a while
then stopped for lunch at Rock Spring Hut. This is the place I stayed last fall
on my first trial hike.
We ended the day after 17 miles at Byrd’s Nest #3 Hut. No one was there, which was very unusual. We set up our tents, and later welcomed one other person for the night. Except for the deer that hovered around our campsite (I heard it walking around every time I woke up), it was a quiet night.
We ended the day after 17 miles at Byrd’s Nest #3 Hut. No one was there, which was very unusual. We set up our tents, and later welcomed one other person for the night. Except for the deer that hovered around our campsite (I heard it walking around every time I woke up), it was a quiet night.
Tuesday we hiked to Elk Wallow Wayside for lunch of burger, fries, and a coke. Mary and I did a day hike in that area last year, another familiar place. We had great weather but we were tired for some reason. We pressed on for a total of 17 miles that day.
We stayed at Gravel Springs Hut. Met Beerman – he brought 20 bottles of beer Trail Magic in a backpack, hiked in from parking lot to serve us free beer. Met Echo, who said she hiked 31 miles that day and had started the trail on April 6th. She was younger and in much better shape. Oh to be 20 years younger myself, I’d be somewhere much farther north by now!
Met Steve, a day hiker, he hiked with us on Wednesday. We went 19 miles on Wednesday, camped at Jim and Molly Denton Shelter. Had horseshoe pits, cold shower, and nice picnic pavilion. Played some horseshoes.
Also trail magic that day, at US 522.
Thursday we heard a bear, then saw him run through the woods. Met up with Bunny and Hawk along the way – I had gone with them to Natural Bridge.
 |
| Yes, a nice bench in the middle of a meadow |
We hiked 14 miles to Ashby Gap where Mary picked us up for another zero day. It’s good to be so close to home, definitely taking advantage of that. Thursday night we enjoyed pizza for dinner, then another visit to Carousel for some ice cream.
On Friday we went to REI; a zipper broke on my pack so I took it back. They are so good about backing up what they sell and exchanging broken items – I walked out with a new pack. Moondog bought a summer sleeping bag, then shipped his winter stuff home. After a great salmon dinner, we packed up to head out on Saturday.
The first few miles were not too bad, then we hit was is called the Roller Coaster: 13.5 miles of quick up and down 500-foot hills, 10 in all. We wanted to make it all the way through, but ended up doing only a little over 13 miles total, stayed at Bears Den Hostel. For $30, we had a bunk, pizza, coke, and a pint of Ben and Jerry’s.
Sunday we hiked the last 3 miles of the Roller Coaster, and planned to stop at a campsite 3 miles from Harpers Ferry (hiking 17 miles total). When we stopped at a shelter for lunch after hiking 11 miles, it looked like a storm was coming up. We waited a bit for it to pass, but then it seemed like it might not hit any time soon so we started out.
An hour into our hike, the skies opened up and it poured. We hiked 7 or 8 miles in the pouring rain (3-4 hours) all the way to Harpers Ferry because it was too wet to stop and set up camp. We sloshed through the water running down the trail; got soaked through, my shoes were like lead weights. We almost made it through a whole week without rain…almost!
Mary was going to pick me up on Monday morning so I could
help her with a few things Monday and Tuesday, but she ended up coming Sunday
night. Moondog stayed in Harpers Ferry to visit, he enjoys the history so he
did the touristy things.
Overall we had a really good week, both hiking and visiting
home. And I know I won’t be there again for another 3 months so I enjoyed every
minute.
Had another question, this time about food. One of the most
important things is to get enough protein and overall calories. For breakfast I
eat a 20- or 30-gram protein bar – I like to get moving quickly in the morning.
For lunch, I’ve been eating a tortilla or two with peanut butter and pepperoni
(yes, in the same wrap!). Some people have tuna packets, I also eat those
sometimes. I have Snicker’s bars and jerky for snacks, and for dinner eat
freeze-dried meals – add hot water and stir.
I also have powdered Gatorade, and powdered “greens” that I
mix with the Gatorade once a day. Last but definitely not least, I have ClifBar
power shots – chocolate cherry liquid packs with 100mg of caffeine that I drink
mid-morning or early afternoon. Really helps with an energy boost to finish the
day.
I'll end with pictures of the most scenic state on the trail, Virginia. And I'm not just saying that because I live here, it really is beautiful.
Happy Trails, everyone!
Really enjoyed these beautiful pictures. Prayers coming at you and Mary. Blessings.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy watching your progress Nailgun! Keep going strong.
ReplyDeleteSteve (from Denton Shelter)
Thanks to you I appreciate that
DeleteGlad to hike with you vicariously! Hope your foot feels better.
ReplyDeleteThanks Diane comma I have my good days and bad days
Delete