Date: 2019-06-07
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

This shakedown hike was the one I have been waiting for. All totaled I covered just shy of 80 miles in 3 1/2 days. My body did not complain (too much), the weather was perfect (for the most part), my gear selections are working out well and I had the opportunity to meet and talk with a lot of like-minded individuals.Day 1 (06/07/19, 11.2 miles) - My wife and I drove to the AT Conservancy Headquarters in Harpers Ferry, WV which is where this shakedown begins. We arrived there around 3:30 PM. My wife joined me for the first 20 minutes of the hike along the blue blaze trail that leads from the AT Headquarters to the AT itself and then NOBO into the touristy section of town. At this point my wife headed back to the car as I headed across the Potomac River on an old steel bridge and onto the C&O Canal Towpath. Several hours later another section hiker that I had met and I decided to call it a day at Crampton Gap Shelter. It was getting dark when we arrived so I decided to sleep in the shelter rather than hanging my hammock. All in all it was a very good first day!Day 2 (06/08/19, 20.7 miles) - I was packed up and left the shelter at by 6:20 AM. It was another beautiful day and I stopped and had lunch while gazing at the beautiful westward view from atop the Annapolis Rocks overlook. I called it a day at 3:30 PM when I reached the Ensign Cowell Shelter. I had plenty of daylight left today to hang my hammock and socialize. Another great day on the trail. Day 3 (06/09/19, 24.7 miles) - Got up a bit earlier this morning and was back on the trail at 5:30 AM. I stopped at Deer Lick Shelter for lunch and had good conversation with two NOBO¢s who had also stopped there to take in some calories. One of them had planned to spend the night there and have family pick her up the following morning for a week off the trail. I continued on and arrived at Rocky Mountain Shelter at 5:00 PM. Like yesterday I had plenty of daylight left to hang my hammock and socialize. It was quite windy later in the evening and I was concerned about falling branches/trees. Some rain fell during the night. Legs were a bit tired by the end of the day and had some minor blistering going on. Still another great day. Day 4 (06/10/19, 22.7 miles) - Back on the trail at 5:30 AM again this morning. It was eerily dark and drizzly and I had to use my headlamp for the first half hour or so. My feet got wet very quickly and I was concerned as to how they were going to handle it. I stopped at Tom¢s Run Shelter for lunch and had a great conversation with two sisters that were camping at nearby Pine Grove Furnace and had decided to go on a day hike. My hat is off to them for braving the not-so-pleasant weather to be in the great outdoors. I then continued on to my final destination, the General Store at Pine Grove Furnace State Park, arriving there around 3:30 PM. My wife was unable to pick me up until 6:40 so I killed the time by sucking down a delicious cheeseburger and fries, boy was that good, and socializing with several NOBO¢s and section hikers that were staying at the Ironmaster¢s Mansion, right next door to the store, that evening. Conclusion: I gained a significant amount of confidence as a result of this section/shakedown hike. I have my gear pretty well nailed down and am fairly confident that I can manage the physical demands of day-after-day big miles on foot in the mountains. What I am not so confident about is my ability to handle the absence of my wife and family. During my shakedowns I was pretty much able to speak to my wife morning, noon and night every day. During my SOBO that is much less likely to happen, especially for the first month or so. Ouch!!