Date: 2015-06-07
From: Byrd's Nest #3 Hut, VA

To: Gravel Springs Hut, VA
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: light rain

Another cold night shivering despite wearing rain jacket and pants, nano puff jacket, gloves, balaclava, and 3 pairs of socks. For now I still think sending my sleeping bag home has been worth it since the extra room and loss of weight has made a difference. I know it's only a few days away via the mail should I decide I need it returned. Up at 7:00am and on the trail within the hour, our only shelter options were at ~17.5 and ~28 miles. Not caring to do 28 miles since we feel as though we've been making good time, we settled on a relatively chill sub-20 miler and would enjoy another enjoyable day in the process.We immediately found ourselves sitting atop Mary's Rock, a large outcropping on the summit of a mountaing providing just under a full 360-degree view. Moosehead, Burnsides, and I spent just under 30 minutes sitting along the highest point overlooking the the ridges extending into the distance - 5 that we could see through the morning haze. Knowing that today would be our last full day in the Shenandoah's, we found ourselves enjoying the beauty all around us. Tomorrow we'll exit the Shenandoah's as we pass near Front Royal, VA and head towards the flatter land to the north Through Thornton Gap, Pass Mountain, and Beahms Gap, the morning passed pretty uneventful until we stopped for a quick water break and were approached by a deer, curiously eyeing us from ~10ft away. I was in the process of enjoyingma Kit-Kat when I could tell the deer was asking me to break her off a piece. So I did. Which I don't suggest anyone doing, nor does the National Park service. However, on the opposite side of the coin, I thought it was a pretty cool experience sharing in the mutual chocolatey deliciousness with a deer. Back to it we soon reached our first checkpoint, Elkwallow Wayside, ~12 miles into the day. With less than ~6 miles left we decoded to take our time and relax while we were there. The wayside was busy with visitors quickly stopping by to purchase lunch or the typical national park T-shirt or refrigerator magnet before whisking away in their vehicles. A lot of bicyclists dropped in as well, their bright-colored jerseys adding an extra pop to the otherwise bland interior of the building, their shoes clicking off the pavement as they tiptoed around in their clip-on shoes.Moosehead, Burnsides, and I each got a club sandwich with fries. I also got enjoyed another Pepsi and Moosehead enjoyed a Sierra Mist that I had to buy him after losing a lame bet. Unfortunately the wayside only allows 1 free refill, but I scored 2 and felt satisfied with myself. With it being another sunny day and no seating inside, we happily enjoyed our meals as we ate out under the shade of a bushy tree. We then lounged around for an hour, buying a few additional snacks tlvhold us over for a few more days, charging our gadgets, and me even momentarily dozing off on a sidewalk beneath the feet of the bustling visitors. The trail teaches you to have no shame.As the afternoon approached 3:30pm we decided we needed to get back to the trail in order to reach camp at a decent time. Off we were for a couple of miles until we reached Hogback Overlook, another amazing spot offering a 180-degree view over the Shenandoah Valley to the west. Ridges lined the western horizon, running north-to-south in parallel lines, towering over the Shenandoah River as it meanders among the many farms and small communities dotting the valley. Knowing it could be our last awesome view while in the park, we spent another half hour hanging out along the rock wall where visitors quickly pulled up in their cars to take a picture before zipping off to one of the other 70+ overlooks offered in the park.Seeing that some visitors didn't even exit their cars during this process seemed kinda sad. Hiking may not be everyone's cup of tea, but we're willing to hike a few tenths of a mile off trail to see a view that's taken us 900+ miles to reach while some visitors find the comfort of their seat to be of more importance. To each his own. One vehicle, however, did stop as a gentleman asked if his 83 year old mother could take a picture standing with our packs overlooking the valley. Once an avid hiker in her younger years, she recently sold her farm that she ran as recently as January, and was now enjoying time seeing places she used to enjoy hiking through. It was our pleasure.Up and over Hogback Mountain, the final couple of miles would pass smoothly aside from me struggling with another round of chaffing. We rolled into the shelter just after 6:00pm and were greeted by the growling dogs of a few weekend warriors posted up in the shelter. It was quickly agreed upon that we wouldn't be in the shelter tonight. Instead we found a few decent enough spots nearby, set up, enjoyed another round of miscellaneous concoctions for dinner - tortilla-wrapped sardines, tortilla-wrapped sausage and cheese sticks, oatmeal, and a handful of cookies for me. Once again I did a poor job resupplying and will be rolling into Harper's Ferry with next to nothing in a few days. Not only is tomorrow my last day in the Shenandoah's with some ~13 miles remaining, but after reaching the summit of North Marshall Mountain at 3,368ft, will be the last time I'll reach 3,000ft in elevation until I enter Massachusetts. The next long stretch of trail will most likely take back my mountain legs and make me regain them once in the Northeast.Plans are to cover 20+ miles the next 3 days in order to reach Harper's Ferry, WV a day ahead of what we originally planned, hopefully by Wednesday evening, weather permitting. My time in Virginia has been a long one, but has been thoroughly enjoyed. A series of checkpoints will soon begin being reached as special mileages and new states are met. As always, thank you for them support from everyone as this journey continues.Here's to munching boxes of Kit-Kat's, every valley town looking like a potential future home, and walking through history.