Date: 2016-05-01
From: Dahlgren Backpacking Campground

To: Pen Mar Park 
Miles today: 23.8
Weather: light rain

It rained all night. It kept raining as I packed up camp. I dragged my gear into the bathhouse to dry off and pack up, then dragged my heels getting started. I seriously considered stopping for brunch at the tavern, but they weren't open yet, so off I went. There was a picnic shelter in Washington Monument state park, about 2 miles up, where I planned to cook breakfast and have coffee.This was a bad plan, because I first had to walk 2 miles in the rain without coffee in my system. My feet were a little sore, I was stiff from 3 bad nights of sleep, and I started the day with a climb... Needless to say, I was feeling sorry for myself. After a dreary hour, I saw the sign for the park. I had plans to call my mom to whine, drink many cups of hot cocoa, and generally wallow in self pity for a bit. Then I heard it, over the sound of rain on nylon, the distinctive sound of a jersey accent shouting "Cincinnati!!!" And damn if it wasn't Hardcore and Road Runner, who had called it quits early the night before and stealth camped in the picnic shelter, with a roaring fire in the fireplace. Apparently a park ranger had come by at nine the night before to tell them that they're weren't allowed to camp there and that *wink wink* the next ranger would be by at 7:30 the next morning. The Jersey boys offered to wait for me while I ate so we could hike together, since we were all headed to Ensign Cowall shelter, 12 more miles down the trail. I hesitated to accept, since I had big plans to sit alone and feel sorry for myself, but they wouldn't take no for an answer, so I had two enthusiastic hiking buddies for the day. While I was eating, the rain stopped, so we hiked together in the mist all morning. Road Runner tweaked his knee and was in a decent amount of pain, but he powered through like a champ and the three of us spent the day swapping stories and laughing. Hardcore is a bombastic, cheerful guy who knows everybody and has a story for every occasion. Road Runner has a mind like a steel trap when it comes to movie quotes and a truly awful singing voice. We had fun. We ate lunch with the PATC (Potomac AT Club) Ridgerunner at his picnic table at Annapolis Rocks, even though the view was totally socked in with fog. The guys mentioned to the Ridgerunner that I was picking up trash and he got a bit offended by the idea that I could find trash on his section of trail. I have to give him kudos, his section was damn near spotless. Most of the trail has been, actually, except where day hikers roam. Hardcore did find a half full Dunkin Donuts iced coffee sitting on a stump that afternoon, though.We encountered our first Boulder field that afternoon, which was brutal, then rolled into the shelter to a welcoming crowd around 6:30.We played Asshole as a group, me, the Jersey Boys, Stuck, a fast moving NOBO who started in GA in March, the Two Sisters who were section hiking with their wonderful dogs, and Eric with no trail name from PA. Road Runner was president nearly every round and I was the Asshole because I'm terrible at card games. We had a lot of fun, though I had to admit that I can't shuffle cards, which was a vaguely humiliating moment. We were all in bed by nine and slept pretty well, despite the rain and Stuck violently kicking Hardcore in the head in his sleep, which woke the whole shelter.The next morning Hardcore pulled everyone's food bags down from the bear pole because he's a gentleman and also to wake everyone, then we slowly trickled out into the mist. Stuck took off first and quickly put quite a few miles between us and him. Eric left next, but planned to meet us in Pen Mar to get a ride to Waynesboro. I left with the Jersey boys (as a side note, they don't know I call them this) and the two sisters took their time- they were headed south to Harper's Ferry.As The trail led us through foggy pastures, Road Runner sang theme songs to 90s cartoons. After an hour the sun miraculously came out for the first time. Hardcore had a nasty blister and it was only nine miles to Pen Mar so we took our time, relishing the warmth and the ability to see more than 200 feet.After a steep descent we found ourselves at a beautiful river crossing. I took my shoes off and sunbathed on a rock with my feet in the water. RR just jumped on in the water in his skivies. It was cold, so there was a great deal of hooting and hollering. A few miles later, next to another beautiful stream, Hardcore finally booked his 1000th mile on the AT. We stopped for pictures and a bit more hollering. As we crossed the creek, very full from the continuous rain, RR was offering me directions on the best way to cross the slippery rocks when Hardcore interrupted to say "Dude, I don't think she needs our help." That was a nice moment. So many people have been skeptical of my solo thru-hike, and there's a lot of, let's say, benevolent sexism, with people who only want the best questioning every move I make, so having the former marine, whose trail name is Hardcore, for god's sake, realize I could hang with the boys, was a nice change.These guys have been great hiking partners, offering up everything from Nutella to their apartments so I can take a zero day on the beach in Jersey and go to one of RR's girlfriend's yoga classes. I am super lucky to have met them.Anyway, we had another big climb up ahead, but it dumped us out at a rock outcropping with stunning views. It was the first time any of had seen a long view in Maryland, so we took our time and ate lunch there. RR has insane taste in food that culminated in a jam, jerky, and curry powder sandwich that he relished. He insisted that we all try it. He and Hardcore had some back and forth where Hardcore reminded him that he was one of only a few men he fully trusted, and to not throw that trust away over a disgusting sandwich. I politely declined to sample.The afternoon was more climbing, more views, and a staggering descent through a boulder field that had Hardcore cursing the sky for his blister.When we hit Pen Mar, Eric was waiting and we agreed to split a hotel room because there were big storms on the way. The Jersey Boys were ready for a beer and a burger so we pulled into the first place that had both- an Applebee's. It was surprisingly delicious, but then, I had been in the woods for 4 days. They insisted on picking up the tab because they're the best guys ever, and then even drove us to the Walmart to resupply. I was tired, so my resupply is mostly snickers bar, poptarts, and Biscoff cookie butter, which the Jersey boys sampled using their knives before they dropped us off at the hotel.The hotel has comfy beds, laundry, a hot tub, and high pressure shower heads. I took advantage of all of these things, happily. I was craving root beer, for some reason, and downed 2 bottles as we watched South Park. A thunderstorm rolled in around 9:30 but we were already asleep, and snoozed right through it.