Date: 2015-06-08
From: Blackrock Hut

To: Stealth Camp North of Powell Gap
Miles today: 18.7
Weather: broken clouds

For the first time since I started the hike, I am camped all by my lonesome. And wouldn't you know it, I saw a bear while cooking dinner. It's going to be a long night...I didn't get a very early start this morning, maybe due to my late night last night, but as usual, the morning miles came easy. There was the Loft Mountain camp store to look forward to, followed half a trail mile later by the Loft Mountain Wayside. Food! Trash cans! Flushing toilets! It's almost too much excitement for one morning.A mile or so before the camp store, I ran into McFly who was taking a break and a few minutes later we were joined by Laces, a woman who I have seen many times but whose name I had never gotten. The three of us hiked to the store together in search of cookies and fruit.The store is under construction, but open (why they can't do that in the winter when all facilities are closed is a mystery to me). There were some outlets available so I plugged in my phone (oh how thru-hiking has changed in the last ten years!) and got some chips and a Coke. 500 calories in one fell swoop, I call that efficient!Next up was the wayside, which is basically a cafeteria and gift shop, and the waysides here are famous for their blackberry milkshakes. I had one at Elkwallow wayside some time last year and was decidedly underwhelmed, but of course that was back when I had standards. It was .3 down a steep side trail to get there and I was beginning to think this little excursion may be a mistake. Then when I ordered my milkshake, I was told their something-or-other was broken and they could not do milkshakes of any kind. Sigh.But they redeemed themselves with a surprisingly good BLT so it was no wasted trip in the end. I hope the whatever-it-was that was broken is working at Elkwallow though!It was now noon and I had only done about eight miles so it was time to get some hiking in! For the next few hours, I only saw a few Sobo's while I hiked to the first shelter of the day. This one was at 13 miles from my starting point and despite all my side trips, it was really too early and too low mileage to stop for the day. I did stop for a break and found Good Enough doing the same.We were now in the middle of a series of ups and downs, and while definitely more strenuous than yesterday, even those were pretty minor. Still, it was getting late and I didn't think I'd want to try to make it to the shelter at 21.4 miles from my starting point. The shelters in Shenandoah are not conveniently spaced for me!I had gotten enough water earlier so that I could stealth camp, but sites are few and far between. If it's level, it's usually rocky or covered in vegetation, often including what I think is poison ivy. Not so good for camping.Shortly after I passed the 900 sign (a bit wimpy, this one was, but yay for 900 anyway!) I spotted a possible site and went to scout it out. It was nice, level and soft with ferns all around. I did have to go through some prickly brambles to get there, but I saw no poison ivy. By now it was thundering mildly and raining half heartedly so I decided to take it. I got myself all set up and had just put up water for tea and dinner when I heard a noise behind me. About 40 yards away was a smallish (not cub size) bear. Usually when I see or suspect a bear, I bang my trekking poles together to alert them to my presence, but my poles were already holding up my tent. So I resorted to yelling 'hey' and after a second, the bear skedaddled. I now have my pot and lid ( which I only use to boil water so it doesn't smell of food) in the tent with me, in case I need to make noise again. It is currently raining and I hope that drowns out anything I might hear! The bear bag is hung, I am cozy in my tent, all I ask for is a bear-free night!Open map in new windowWant to add a map to your journal?