Date: 2005-09-09
From: Near Manassas Gap Shelter, VA

To: Front Royal, VA
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: few clouds

14.5 miles todayTerrapin Station HostelFront Royal, Va. Even though I woke up earlier, I didn't start my stove for coffee until 6am. I had my coffee and 2 poptarts for breakfast and was packed and walking by 7am. I had about a 1000 foot down in about 3 miles to Manassas Gap and on the way, I saw 4 deer. A fawn took off first, then another deer that I only saw the rear of and a doe and 2 point buck that watched me for a while before they ran off. It's unusual to see a buck hanging around with a doe already, so maybe they were just friends. :-))) I walked another few miles and just before the Jim & Molly Denton Shelter, I saw a deer standing sideways to me in the trail. She didn't see me, so I walked quietly until she finally saw me and took off running. She had more of a greyish coat than the normal brown coat. I stopped at the shelter and signed the register before hiking on. I knew I had a real easy walk today. Maybe that's why I just couldn't get moving in my normal stride. I climbed up and back down about an 800 foot high hill. On the way down, I was about a mile from Chester Gap when I heard something step on a rock that clicked on another rock. I hurried to where I heard the noise and was just in time to see a 100 pound black bear getting a drink from a stream. When it saw me, it took off in the opposite direction. That's the first wild bear I've seen on this hike. I kept wondering when I would see one. I think this is the longest that I've gone without seeing a wild bear. I did see those 2 bear cubs when I walked through Bear Mountain Zoo in NY. The A.T. actually is routed right through the zoo. That's the only place that the A.T. closes down each day. I've had to take the blue blaze trail around the zoo twice before when the zoo was closed and walked through it only once before this year. I got down to Rt 522 and hitched a ride into Front Royal. I got a ride with the fourth car that came by. I had him drop me off by where the outfitter was. The outfitter is not there anymore. :-((( I understand they moved about a mile away on Main Street, so I figured I'd get my shirt later. I went to KFC and had lunch. I was really hungry for some reason, but only ate one meal. I went to the grocery next and bought more food than I need for walking through Shenandoah. I got into Front Royal at 11am and hitched back out at 1:20pm. I got a ride in about 5 minutes with a guy telling me how dangerous it is out in the woods. Funny, because I had been thinking how dangerous it is in the city. I started climbing up out of the gap and saw another deer about 15 minutes later. I kept walking and about one mile before Tom Floyd Wayside (it's a shelter, not sure why they call it a wayside), I ran into another bear. Two in one day after not seeing one for over 1200 miles!! This one saw me first and took off running. It was about 175 pounds and pure black. I figured I'd probably see some bear in Shenandoah, but these 2 were before I got into Shenandoah. I stopped at the shelter and signed the register. I mentioned about seeing the 2 bears today just so some weekenders that sleep there get a really good nights sleep. Ha!! ;-))) I hiked on and came to the self registration area for entering Shenandoah. I filled out my permit and walked another .2 miles to the side trail to Terrapin Station Hostel which is half a mile off the A.T. I had called Mike, the owner of the hostel, a couple days ago and warned him that I'd be there today. He said he had to work until late today, but he'd leave the door unlocked for me. I came in and got set up for the night. I took a shower and washed my clothes in the shower. I ate some chicken that I bought at the grocery and then started eating one of my breakfasts that I bought for the trail. I think I finally got full, but it took quite a bit of food to accomplish that today. I went to bed early to get well rested for my walk tomorrow.