Day 1 Harpers Ferry Black Burn Center, Approximately 10 Miles
Temp 42 degrees – Overcast and showers
Terrain – gradual climb / mostly flat ridge tops.
Time: 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Critter Count: 6 deer.
Had a good day! Started slow but steady. Left the Comfort Inn after a good night sleep aided by 5 beers and a soft bed and T.V. Walked around Harpers Ferry. Stopped into the ATC Headquarters chatted with them. Trail was not too bad. Sort of strewn with sharp rocks had to keep my head down. Found the Blackburn trail center at 3:30 after a 9-10 mile Hike. Sort of a hostel for hikers. Have a roof over my head and a fire in the stove! Excellent. Had a large pot of beans, rice and tuna. Munching ginger snaps before reading some. Not sure if anyone else will show up tonight, it’s already after 5:30 whoops! 3 Ladies are at the door. They’ve been at it since Sunday.
Day 2 Black Burn Center to Bears Den 9 mi
Temp 40 – 65 degrees overcast / sunny
Terrain – up and down not too steep but challenging
Load – Still Heavy
Time: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Critter Count: 2-3 Squirrels, 1 Dog
Today began at the Black Burn Center saying goodbye to my overnight companions. Three ladies hiking four days together. They will be home in their own beds tonight. I will be amongst 5 Hikers in the Bears Den Hostel. With “Tent Shaker”, Grizzly Adams and Me … “Honking Hiker”. I came up with that cause of the horn on my stick. The Bears Den is a full service hostel. So I’ve had a shower, done laundry, updated my blog and emailed, eating pizza and had soda and ice cream! Will sleep like a baby! I am sure tomorrow is predicted to be warm with Thunder storms and the “Roller Coaster” which are ten consecutive hills over then miles. So should be promising. Haven’t taken many pictures yet as it’s been as it has been too wet and don’t want to chance ruining the camera. Have encountered many more people on the trail than I expected close to 30 High School kids on a Spring break trip overnight on the AT. Two young studs in their 20’s started mid February and are here already. They are both nursing injuries / Knees are wrecked, I think I have installed some moleskin on four suspected blister spots. But in general feet great. I climb good, stop every 45 – 60 min and have never felt hungry. Still have tons of food, I feel will last at least 10 days or more, until fuel (gas) runs out.
Day 3 Roller Coasters Bears Den to Rod Hallow Shelter
April 3
Temp: 50 -65
Partly mostly sun
Terrain: Roller Coasters / very Step
Pack – Too heavy ready to pick stuff out for shipment
Time: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
With light rain filling we left Bears den after saying good-bye to new friends. Everyone was encouraging, even after seeing how big and heavy my pack was. These guys are traveling 25 – 30 mile days. Carrying 25 – 35 lbs. They are really young and fast hikers. I feel good, feet are iffy, some blisters but no otter problems. Today’s hike thru the roller coasters – 10 hills in 10 miles was pretty hard. I was in camp at 5 p.m. Griz made it in at 6:45. First night in a shelter. My inauguration into the brother hood that is an AT Thru0 hiker.
Day 4 Rod hallow to Dicks Dome
April 4
Temp: 42 – 65,
Clear and Sunny
Time: 9:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Terrain: 9 Miles Easy almost level with 1 long climb
Critter Count: 0
1 Major Road crossing
Had a great night sleep at Rod Hallow only one mouse attack. Slept for the first night on the trail. Today had a leisurely breakfast of bagel w peanut butter & honey, oatmeal & coffee. Snaked some GORP and a bar for lunch. And got to camp at 2:30 p.m. not a very hard day but wanted to time my arrival in Linden to coincide with the opening of the post office. Will mail a few things home. Par of socks, bowie knife gloves, rain pants, broken Steripen. The Steripen has been a huge disappointment. The streams are all clean and I could collect my water a lot quicker if I didn’t have to pump! Brice is leaving tomorrow for a few days home…. The GF wants a night or two I guess! We probably won’t be able to reconnect. I’m a bit faster and getting lighter. My food supply is still ample and don’t think I’’ have to resupply for 5 days yet. Hopefully the full week last the long Will enter the National Park Thursday next week and there are usually restaurants and snack shops and the like open. But I am a week or two early.
ok, so you caught me!! I ran home for a quick change out of winter to summer gear. the airport was in ronoake and I was 10 mi away. the temps have been consistently warmer and I’m carrying a zero deg bag, and way too many clothes. so rather than send everything home via ups and looking for new stuff, I decided to suprize deb and do some shopping at the alpine shop and rei. plus I have a ton of stuff in reserve ready to go. so here I am till tomorrow. here are some new pictures!!! enjoy!
