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Luray Caverns II

Luray Caverns

Luray, Va.

I have to say I was pretty pissed when I had to walk 4 of the eight miles to town before someone gave me a ride but these folks here really know how to party!  I had so much fun last night I have decided to stay another night.  I plan to see the Caverns and will post some pictures.

White Sierra Pants

Under no circumstances buy these pants.  They are already falling apart on me.  Left pocket has a huge hole that a wallet can fall through.  Front zipper is iffy at best.  I have had these pants less then two weeks.  Unbelievable considering the cost.

Acoustic Thunder, Speakeasy Pub,Va

Almost a View

Clouds came in by the time I had the phone booted up.

Gravel Springs Shelter

Had a big crowd the other night and a serious storm.  That was Tuesday night.

Shenandoah View

Yes thats been my view for the last two days.  Visability is about 25 meters.

Gravel Springs Hut, Shenandoah

I feel like I am waiting for the Confederates to come charging out of the fog covered mountains.  Very foggy and no views at 3000 feet.

I am beat after two 19 mile days and badly chaffed. I think I used to much detergent at Bears Den.  Haven't had chaffing issues since the wilderness in Maine.  Will have to go into town tomorrow or the next day and do laundry again.   Cannot hike with this. 

Floyd Wayside Shelter

Made it 19 miles up some serious mountains and through some not to bad rain.  I am about 1/10 of a mile from entering the Shenandoah park.

Black Snake

Jim & Molly Denton Shelter

Unfortunately the spring is to low to risk clogging the pump and the shelter is infested with stink bugs.  I will have to push on and risk getting caught in a down pour.  Have rain jacket on and it's relatively warm out so I don't think hypothermia is an issue.  Plus I ate a huge lunch.

Walking Stick Insect

No insects were harmed while taking these pictures.

Va. About 10 miles N. Of Shenandoah National Park

Virginia Rollercoaster

Just completed the Rollercoaster.  Ten ridge climbs of about 500 feet each in 13 miles.  I am beat. 

Bears Den Lodge & Hostel

Really nice but to early to stop for the day.

NOTE: I actually did stay here. Very nice place but I used to much detergent and had bad chaffing problems after I left.

View from Bears Den

Lunch

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Cake Icing!

Raven's Rock

Only 1000 Miles to Go!

That means I have walked 1178 miles.

Blackburn Trail Ctr., Va.

Drying out the tent.  Left Harpers Ferry with at least a weeks worth of food.  Pack must be close to sixty pounds.  It is definitely getting colder and windier.  I need to be more careful about getting chilled.  It's not that easy getting warmed up out here once you are chilled.

On the brighter side I am pretty sure I saw either a wild donkey or a small wild horse down the trail.  He ran off before I could get a picture.  I do know there is a herd of wild horses along the trail but I am not sure in what state.

Virginia

Harpers Ferry's Town Inn, Pub & Eatery

Harpers Ferry

Finally made it and just checked in to the Town Inn.  Was also able to get new hiking pants at the outfitter here.

I stopped by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) to register my hike and have my picture taken.  I am only the 94th South Bounder this year.  The fellow at the ATC said there are only about a hundred of us in a year where the NOBO's are around 1400.

NOTE: A quick update here. A recent article in the Star Ledger said that only 13 SOBO's were able to complete the trail in 2010. This winter is turning into one of the worst I can remember. It's to bad too because there were quite a few good and dedicated people who went very far.

I knew I was walking to slow to finish before January so it wasn't going to happen. You get very good at estimating the distance you can travel after about the first 500 miles.

Potomac River

Breakfast at Gathland State Park

Nothing like Spam, Raeman Noodles and half a stick of butter for breakfast!

From White Rocks Trail

Random View & Church

They'll have to kill me...

Before I quit!  Moment of weakness has passed.  Will add Cake Icing to the diet to up the calories.  That's what a lot of NOBO's were eating in Maine.  All those calories go right up the smoke stack.

View from Washington Monument

Washington Monument, Maryland

Finally something to see.

Free State Hiker's Hostel

I checked into the Free State Hikers Hostel.  Pretty nice place although I can't get their phone to work to order pizza nor their computer.  My phone won't work here either.

That being said, I checked in because I think I am starting to have problems related to losing to much weight.  I zero'd the scale here and weigh 175.  That is a five pound loss since last Friday.  Today I had major difficulty climbing hills that normally wouldn't be a problem.  I am going to try to rest up an re-evaluate the situation when I reach Harpers Ferry.  That may very well be the end of the line for this year.

NOTE: I am sure I was suffering from borderline hypothermia at this point. The next day I did twenty miles no problem. This was the closest point I came to being in serious trouble out on the trail. The fact is I actually walked right across the road this Hostel was on and only luckily caught myself before I went to far. This was a very close call.

Scenic Outlook

Deer Lick Shelters

Last shelter area in Pennsylvania.  It is a little early to stop but I was told to expect rain tonight and a wet tent is a heavy tent. 

Tomorrow I will be in Maryland.  I am so looking forward to it!

A.T. Half Way Marker

Pine Grove Furnace State Park

Down tree

I'm not positive but I think this tree came down in last nights heavy winds not twenty feet from my tent.  I didn't hear it fall but it was blocking the path I took to my stealth campsite this morning.  That sure could have ended my trip!

Hiker Caution Sign

Now I know how a deer feels! ;)