Date: 2008-04-23
From: David Lesser Shelter

To: Harpers Ferry Hostel Yard
Miles today: 19.5
Weather: few clouds

Today has been my biggest day to date. It got broken up and was done out of necessity. I was one of the last ones out of camp yet again today but I needed the time to get my feet prepped. I had a great hike in the morning going through the fog and the early morning light as it filter in to the forest. The trail for the most part was pleasant but there were a few stretches that got pretty rocky. I was amazed to find myself coming up to the sign saying ATC headquarters 1.9 miles and it was before lunch time. The original thought was to get to the Hostel and then go and get my car out of the parking lot at the Park Service and do whatever running around including a trip to the ATC. As I was walking into town I just felt that it would be wrong to drive up and just felt right to make the side blaze and walk up the ATC. I did this and am glad that I did it that way. I stopped and signed the book and had my pic taken as Section hiker 24 for the year. I saw Transfats and Double Cheese¢s pack there and they were out having a bite of lunch before the outfitters.I pushed on and crossed through town. I felt like and Animal in Yellowstone as everyone was staring at me because I had a big pack on. I felt like saying no I am only a beat up section hiker. I am not a Thru Hiker by this point in their journey they have the big pack too but they are making this look simple. That¢s one way you can tell the difference. About 2 miles or so down the C & O which was great walking looking at the river all high from the past tow days rain I made the turn up to the Hostel. The trail which is not official as it crosses the Train tracks at a non authorized point heads straight up a steep hill. Its well marked but a bit of a climb. When I got up there Doggiebag was setting up camp. I sat down and proceed to tell him my great plan as I took the boots of my screaming feet.Here is the great plan that I came up with. I decided that for me to do 20 miles tomorrow and then get in the car and try to drive the 6 hrs home would not be a good thing. A) either I would not make the 20 miles in any good time or B) I would make it but be falling asleep while I drive. I put C) I will be short of completing the section by a few miles. Right out of my mind. This thing was going to get completed. Here was the plan. We would shuttle the cars and do what ever errands we needed to do. I would have a good dinner and take a bit of a break during the heat of the day. (today was very sunny, even got a bit sun burnt on my head and neck) and then tonight I would hike back out of here and get picked up at Compton Gap. This would take about 7 miles or so off of what I needed to do the next day. Doggie agreed that this might be the best idea. He did change it some as he still thought I was biting off a bit much give how my feet were feeling. He knew I would be moving slow and he was comfortable and ready for a break at the hostel so instead of him sitting out in the dark at some road crossing in BFE he would drive me north and I would limp my way back to the hostel. This way as I was dragging my sorry ass in late at night he could be snug in his hammock thinking ¢ been there done that¢At 5:50 he dumped my butt off at the head of the section of trail for the night. It was going to be almost closer to 8 or 9 miles rather than 7. A bit down the trail even with the trail being nice and wide and smooth I had to stop and work on my feet. I had put a gauze pad under the biggest blister on the ball of my foot. The problem was this was putting pressure across the tops of my toes so they felt like they were breaking. I did some repair work and headed back down the trail. It did not feel good but it felt better than it had. After a while I made it to the Ed Garvey shelter where I met Donkey Legs. I had been seeing his entries in the shelter logs for a few days so it was neat to meet him. As I sat and talked to him Double Cheese rolled in. He said that Transfat and two others Liquid and Trail Foot were not far behind him. About 15 min after leaving the shelter I ran into three hikers but it was not the ones that I was expecting. The ones that I met were Unknown Hiker (aka Jaws) Stromnnorm and Waterbear. I spoke to them for a bit as I had been following their Journals for a while so it was great to have had a chance to meet them on the trail. Ten minuets or so after leaving them I ran into Transfat, Liquid and Trail Foot. Transfat is loving his new set up it is so much lighter he feels like he is flying. This from a guy who already can cover some serious ground. I would have loved to hang out with all of them and just listen to the stories that I am sure they had to tell but I still had a ways to go and my feet were killing me. As I went down Weaverton Cliffs I had to turn on my headlamp. I though that I had good light but sure enough I really jammed my left foot into a rock and could feel my big toenail just throb. A few times I found myself having to hunt and peck for the trail through here but for the most part it was not too bad. I got down and found my way over to the C & O canal path and knew that I was now only 2 to 3 miles from camp. It seemed like it took for ever. I found the blue blaze and dragged myself up the steep narrow path. I guess when I came out of the woods I had the look of someone who was a bit shell shocked according to Doggiebag. All I know was that it was a long day but tomorrow would now be do able. Today Numbers Ascended 2120 Descended 3720 Duration 9:17HrsDaily Miles 19.5 Grand total 371.4* with the ATC side trail and two trips up to the hostel I am sure I walked over 20 today.