Date: 2008-05-15
From: Bears Den Hostel

To: Harpers Ferry (then home in Silver Spring, MD)
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: light rain

Got up around 6am at Bears Den Hostel. There were probably ten other hikers (none were thru-hiking from what I could tell). No one else seemed inclined to get up, so I quietly packed and ate my breakfast of oatmeal and poptarts in a ziplock with water added. Yum, yum. Also, a cup of cold coffee. Can it get any better than this?Out the door at 6:45am and began making excellent time. That was until I came to Virginia Highway 7. You should have seen all the cars driving into work. Believe it or not, these folks live out here and commute in to Washington, DC every day. That's over 60 miles each way. Anyway, I felt like I was taking my life into my hands by trying to cross. I almost wanted to throw my pack and poles across first so that I could gain more speed when I crossed. Eventually, though, I made it across.My memory seemed to recall that today's stretch was pretty flat and along a ridgeline. I think my memory is beginning to give out on me. There was a decent climb on the other side of Route 7. Throughout the day there were a LOT more rocks than I remembered in the past. This section would be a great introduction prior to doing the Pennsylvania rocks.As during the past two days, the streams were running fast and high. Sometimes you can't win for losing - I had gotten my boots partially dry last night, only to get them wet a number of times today. At least the sun stayed out the majority of the day. It was supposed to start raining but nothing came down prior to my finishing the day's hike.I was approaching the descent into Harpers Ferry when I saw a small tent with some guy inside cooking his dinner with a stove. On a nearby line his clothes were drying out. The weird thing was that the clothes weren't hiker clothes. They were slacks and a button-down dress shirt and black, dress socks. Something made me think he might be making his home there. I said "hi" and he said "hi" back. When I was crossing the Shenandoah River bridge two uniformed, armed park rangers passed me and went back towards where the guy was. I'm guessing they take their "no camping" law pretty seriously.I also ran into a mid-20's female with a large pack. She was just sitting on the trail and said she was trying to locate some other hikers that she had lost in the past three days. I told her I hadn't seen anyone like that. She said she was going to go hitch a ride to Skyline Drive but didn't know how to get to a road. If she thinks she can get a hitch this afternoon all the way to Skyline Drive, more power to her. I don't think there is any way I could manage it.Forgot to mention that in the past couple of days I have seen several snakes sunning themselves on the rocks on the trail. One was a combination yellow and dark brown, about as thick as my thumb. The other was a light gray, same thickness. I don't like snakes, poisonous or not. I took my hiking pole tip and banged on the rock were the snake was. He didn't move. The only way I got him to move was by actually touching him with the pole. Then he slithered into the woods. Maybe snakes sleep while they are sunning themselves?Okay here's my plan for the upcoming weekend. Trail Boss is picking me up at the Harpers Ferry (Bolivar) library (where I am entering this) around 8pm. I think we are going to go over to a classy restaurant called the Anvil for dinner. Whether they will let me in (I'm still in hiker garb and odor) remains to be seen.Tomorrow Trail Boss has to work but I get to chill at home. I'm going to explore all the neat drinks and food in the refrigerator. Plus run some errands. Saturday I promised Trail Boss I would help with a volunteer community flower planting. Truth be known, I didn't really want to go - but after all she has done for me I couldn't refuse. Saturday night we are going to hit a steakhouse and a movie. Sounds real good to me.Sunday we drive me back to Wind Gap for the continuation of the hike. Weather looks like rain for several days. Have to suck it up! Actually, I'll be in Delaware Water Gap midday Monday. So I have the option to crash at the church hostel if I want.I've got a few pictures from the past few days that I will upload over the weekend.Happy hiking.