My Trails

6/23/12 – 979 miles
The motel provides a free shuttle back to the trail so I didn’t have to worry about hitch hiking this morning. It was 8:30 by the time I got back on the AT, later than I like to start but still earlier than many other hikers get going. At least the oppressive heat wave had passed, it was only supposed to be in the 80’s today.

I think my pack is on the heavy side again. With my ravenous appetite and craving for certain foods, I had a stuffed food bag. I also picked up a pair of light shorts at the second hand store, and Karen ordered another shirt for me to replace the one mice chewed up in the Smokys. There are other small things I keep adding, also. All the little ounces add up to pounds before you know it.

I’m camped at a shelter called Dicks Dome. It was made by the Boy Scouts a few years ago in the shape of a geodesic dome, quite unique in design but reeking in wasted space. There is only room for four people.

Tomorrow I enter a section of trail called the Roller Coaster. The builders and maintainers in this area are very proud that they challenge hikers with continuous up and down trail. Most of the hikers that have done the Roller Coaster say it is more annoying than much of a challenge to us at this stage of our hike.

I only have a couple more days to Harper’s Ferry so Karen and I pushed back the meeting place for our hike to Pen Mar Park at the Pennsylvania / Maryland border. Nate will also be joining us on our hike which makes me happy.

Don’t be worried if I don’t answer your questions, I rarely answer any questions. I tried to email you but your address must be wrong. All I can tell you is nobody you know but Blue Sky is still on the trail. I see no posts from Metric, Sticks, Knife, Gabe, John in the registe

More Thruhikers

Robo and Tink

Rocky and Spicy

6/21/12 – 963 miles
I slept well in my tent and managed to crawl out just as the sun was coming over the mountain. It was already hot. A heat wave has hit the area, sapping the energy and strength from our bodies.

We only walked a few miles to US 522 and caught a ride into Front Royal with a nice guy that does a lot of hiking. Just after we exited Shenandoah Park earlier, I saw another bear. CK saw it first and called for me to look. I would have walked right by if it weren’t for her. I probably walked by several bears in the park but never saw them.

I’m at a motel in Front Royal waiting out the heat wave. It’s supposed to be hot again tomorrow and then cool slightly by the weekend. I will pick up my mail drop, resupply, and rest for a day. I think CK will stay here tonight. She was going to push on but the weather changed her mind.

6/20/12 – 957 miles
Only one more day and I will be out of the Shenandoah National Park. I must say that I have – for the most part – enjoyed the hike through here. If it weren’t for one day of rain and one day (today) of 90 degree heat, it would have been perfect weather. Most of the trail is smooth, well graded, and rock free.

I’m the one that’s always up first in the morning so I asked everyone last night if they wanted me to wake them at 5:00 am. Everyone said they wanted me to get them up for sure. Blue Sky, Comma-Kaze, and I were going to breakfast again at Elkwallow Wayside and Rocky and Spicy were planning a long day to get to town. When I tried to wake them at 5:10, all I got was groans from everyone, but eventually they all started to crawl out.

We arrived at the wayside before it opened. There we met Robo and Tink and Pesky already waiting. Everyone was being questioned by a park ranger. It seems that someone had camped on the lawn during the night and the ranger was very upset about that. He was looking to hand out a ticket to someone.

After much food and conversation, we all headed out to face the increasing heat of the day. We did make it 19 miles but everyone was totally whipped. I’m camping here with CK. Everyone else is headed on to get closer to Front Royal.