START LOCATION: Random Stream/Spring Campsite near the VA/WV border
FINISH LOCATION: C&O Canal Towpath Stealth Campsite
TODAY'S MILEAGE: 17.8
TRIP MILEAGE: 1,014.3
MILES TO GO: 1,164.8
We got up nice and early this morning. I was out of the tent by 6:30.
Just as we were breaking camp around 8:30AM a thru-hiker from our
distant past came walking by... To our amazement, it was Nobody. I
probably haven't mentioned him much, but that's because I haven't
hiked with him much. I first met him near Spivey Gap in Tennessee and
saw him off and on through the remainder of Tennessee. What was
amazing was, the last time I saw him was in Damascus on Apr 20. We
crossed into Virginia together that day. And here he was almost 6
weeks later coming out of the woodwork with 1/4 mile left of Virginia
to cross with us into West Virginia. It was a great reunion. We were
whooping it up when he arrived. We hiked together for the next 5 miles
telling stories and recounting our collective adventures since our
last time we were together.
A quarter mile into our hike, we crossed the border into West Virginia
and took pictures at the marker sign. The trail instantly got much
easier. We finished the Rollercoaster and rolled nice and smooth the
4+ miles into the Blackburn ATC Center and hostel for a quick water/
food break. We were having such a good time telling stories and hiking
that we didn't even notice that we'd crossed the 1,000 mile mark of
the hike until we reached 1,001.6. The caretaker was a young guy that
SoBo hiked in 2008. He was very cool. He showed us where to get fresh
water, he gave us a free soda and passed on some good info to prepare
us for our visit to Harper's Ferry. Nobody, being from New Orleans
explained much of the situation with the oil spill as he'd been back
home and lived some of the rumors, drama and implications of this
horrific unnatural disaster we have on our hands. It was awful stuff,
so I'll move on.
We pushed our way another few miles to Keys Gap. Here we walked .3
down WV-9 and ducked into a great little dive pub/minimart/restaurant.
We had delicious pizza and hot wings over a few beers. Another hiker
buddy I'd met before the Shenandoahs, Rock Steady from Somerville, MA
came rolling in and partook in the fun. We spent about 1 1/2 hours
there as opposed to the 5 1/2 we spent yesterday. We had Harper's
Ferry to reach. So, we wrapped up our leftover pizza, threw it in our
feedbag, waited out a quick passing thunderstorm and pushed the last
10k to Harpers.
It was a hot sweaty push. But, the terrain was nice and flat. We
rolled into Harpers Ferry around 5PM, checked out some of the
historical sights the AT passes, gorgeous little place, and we did
what every good thru-hiker does when they reach town... Find food.
Smokestack, Rock Steady and I went to the Town's Inn Pub where we
spent about 3 hours eating, loading up on coke and having a couple
beers. A very sweet mother and daughter sat nearby, Peggy and her
daughter with the trail name Honey Bee. They haven't thru-hiked, but
they've done lots of sections in the area and have always wanted to
thru-hike. We laid the whole trail experience on them. They asked us
lots of questions and we had good times recounting our fun, suffering
and motivations to tackle this dream. They were so sweet and engaging.
We hope that our dialogue might inspire one or both to go for it.
By 9PM, Rock Steady opted to take a local ex-thru-hiker up on his
offer to stay at his place. I needed to be in town early to meet my
family so Smokestack and I opted to try and stay in the next door
hostel, the Towns Inn. We should have tried earlier... They were full.
So, at 9:30 PM, Smokestack and I headed down to and crossed the
Potomac River which serves as the West Virginia/Maryland border to
stealth camp by the AT. Here we are. Stealth camping means camping in
a place that either isn't allowed or otherwise frowned upon. But, we
got here late and we'll be out early before anyone even sees us.
Smokestack and I are meeting some of my maternal cousins in Harpers
Ferry tomorrow morning for brunch and I am so looking forward to it.
They put us up for the night when my Dad and I were driving to the
trailhead in Georgia back on Mar 1. It blows my mind that I was just
here in Harpers Ferry almost exactly 3 months ago. What took about an
8 hour drive to Gainesville, GA from here took me 80 days to hike.
Looking back on Virginia, I must say, it was my favorite state so far.
A majority of my colleagues would disagree, but I loved it. My most
breathtaking and visually stunning moments came as I passed through
the pastures of Southern Virginia and the Tinker Cliffs of Central
Virginia. VA was more challenging than I'd thought, but it was still a
great stretch to push mileage and test my body's limits. I will look
back fondly on this 528 mile stretch of trail. It was fantastic.
Final thoughts on West Virginia... My most breathtaking and visually
stunning moments came as I passed through the doors of the restaurant
at noon and over the Shenandoah River this evening. WV was much less
challenging than I'd thought, but it was still a great stretch to push
mileage and test my body's limits. I will look back fondly on this 17
mile stretch of trail. It was fantastic.
Enough silliness...
-natedog
No comments:
Post a Comment