Date: 2015-06-13
From: Harper's Ferry, WV

To: Dahlgren Backpack Campground, MD
Miles today: 17.2

Moosehead and I woke around 7:00am and slowly got ready over the next hour, squeezing in a quick breakfast of a hodgepodge of what we found in the box of snacks we donated to the cause. We were off an heading through the historic downtown for the last time before making our way across the Potomac River via the Byron Memorial Footbridge. As we climbed down the stairs and onto the ground below, we were officially standing in Maryland. Above us leading into a mountainside of solid rock, a railroad tunnel entered and disappeared into the mass of rock where, at the entrance, stood a large stone tunnel with the inscription "1936 Harper's Ferry," etched on it. It must be a neat view for train passengers as they exit the river valley on their way to DC and beyond.At the base of the bridge was a sign signifying that I would be passing through a couple of miles of the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, a footpath running parallel along the Potomac River for miles in either direction. Needing to cover only ~2 miles of the path, the morning consisted of a leisurely walk along a perfectly flat path, the only obstacles being bikers speeding by. I'd heard from Moosehead's uncle that the Potomac River around DC is a disgusting sight and felt glad we were able to walk along a relatively scenic stretch before we climbed out of the valley.The only real climb of the day would immediately follow as we climbed ~800ft to cruising altitude for the day. As we neared the ridge top, we detoured off the trail to visit the Weverton Cliffs which provides anvaerial view of the Potomac Rover, silently flowing below, and only a hint of Harper's Ferry now ~4 miles away. Feeling a bit sluggish, Moosehead was immediately sleep almost as soon as he laid back on a rock outcropping. I followed suit by sprawling out on a rock of my own and setting my alarm for 30 minutes. In this time we both fell into our beautiful versions of sleep comas. I woke in what seemed minutes later to the sound of a passing train horn, rolling up from the valley below seconds before my alarm rang. I found some Pistachio shells under a rock and spent a few minutes trying to wake Moosehead from a distance. Luckily he woke soon after I ran out of ammo. Having only covered ~4 miles at 10:30am, we decided we needed to hit the trail again Passing the Ed Garvey Shelter, I remembered that I was contacted the day before by a trail angel from Maryland. Vicki, having followed me on trailjournals for some time, reaches out to me offering to meet me and spoil me in trail magic if possible. I shot her an email with the details of our day, assuring her that I was open to the idea of potentially meeting. As we entered Brownsville Gap, I heard from her again and we'd spend the remainder of the afternoon texting in order to confirm a meeting location. As Moosehead and I rested in Gathland State Park near a beautiful stone monument commemorating the war correspondents of the Civil War, Vicki and I were able to confirm a meeting place at a road crossing ~5 miles ahead. We were soon off, passing the Crampton Gap Shelter, White Rock Cliff, and Lambs Knoll in the process, covering easy ground at a 3mph pace.Moosehead and I exited the woods just moments after Vicki had arrived and we greeted one another in an embrace of hugs - each meeting someone we really appreciated for a different, yet connected reason. She immediately offered us sodas ( a Coke for me proving she did read my journals) and then we were off heading to a nearby creamery, South Mountain Creamery. A very local and very successful operation, it doesn't get any more farm-fresh than this. With a couple hundred head of cows, the operation uses the milk in order to produce milk, cheese and ice cream to the greater DC region. Vicki treated us to a 3-scoop bowl of delicious ice cream as she and I talked abput the trail, her trail magic experiences, common hikers we know (she plans to meet Rocky Mountain High tomorrow,) and got to know a little about one another. During this time Moosehead got lost in the engineering intricacies of the operation and had a look around.Afterwards she took us to our destination for the day, Dahlgren Backpack Campground, and let us set up our tents and drop off our gear before the majority of hikers moved in. During this brief period, a man leading a large group of kids and adults interested in bugs said Moosehead and I should come over and get some of their food. Feeling a little awkward since we were in the process of already being spoiled, we said we'd accept some after we returned fromvbeing dropped off where we were originally picked up and slackpacking the final ~2 miles. We were told that our payment was to return later and explain to all the kids some of the adventures we've had along the trail so far. We said deal. Vicki then zipped us back up to the point she had picked us up and dropped us off with nothing but our trekking poles. While we covered the next ~2 miles, she ran to a nearby store to grab food for our dinner. Moosehead and I quickly covered the ~2 miles in just under 40 minutes, not feeling like hikers in the progress. We were even able to jump a few times as we zoomed down the trail, forgetting what the sensation was like without a ~30lb pack on your back.We returned to camp where we were immediately ushered by man to come get our food - spaghetti, green beans, and garlic bread. He piled on a healthy serving of each, we said thanks, and returned to our part of the camp to enjoy. Knowing Vicki was returning with food, I gave my food to another thru-hiker and his girlfriend who had just joined him yesterday. Vicki returned with bags full of hamburgers, hotdogs, veggie boats, chips, and Cokes. So much food, in fact, we would end up sharing with a few more hikers in the process. Vicki put me in charge of grilling the food which I happily did. Vicki had to leave not too long after seeing as though she had a ~45 minute drive ahead and it was nearing 8:30pm. I couldn't thank her enough and the only thing keeping me from hugging her more was that I was in charge of the food that was in the progress of cooking.Vicki is a firm believer in being happy and that giving back to people can help achieve that. I hope she knows she has earned the right to be happy as a handful of plump hikers will be going to sleep tonight with her in mind. Although Vicki regularly spoils hikers in a variety of ways, it was a special feeling knowing she seeked me out simply because she enjoyed my journals. It really felt that I had my own personal trail angel for a few hours, but I was more than happy to share her generosity with others. Unfortunately not much time is spent in Maryland on the trail and I'll soon be out of her territory, but she most definitely will have made my brief time in this state a memorable one.It's currently nearing 3:00am as I wrap up this journal. I've been sitting on a counter in the men's bathroom in the neighborhood of ~5 hours in order to catch up on my journals I put off during my time in Harper's Ferry. I figured it'd be worth a tired day tomorrow in order to have those current again. I appreciate my readership and I hope you all know I appreciate you in return. A storm has since come and gone in the time that I've been here. Fortunately Moosehead closed my rainfly for me, but there's no guarantee water didn't make its way in, thus soaking all of my gear. It'll be a surprise as I soon return to my tent. I also was able to speak with my brother Ryan, a couple of hours ago. He'll be traveling to North Carolina tomorrow and he said he'll be looking for the Appalachian Trail in the process. I suggested he bring a few Coke's just in case he saw any hikers. It's never too late to be a trail angel. He also mentioned the idea of a possible future adventure together. It has me excited just thinking about it. Time will tell.For now, sleep is calling and the morning is already around the corner. Maybe I'll delay in the morning in order to get a little sleep. I'll make a game time decision in a few hours Here's to cliff side naps, fresh from the utter ice cream, and, for at least a few hours at least, my trail angel Vicki.