Date: 2018-10-12
From: Garvey shelter, MD

To: Lesser Shelter campsite, WV
Miles today: 15.6

After dark last night a few hikers came in during a hard downpour. They were on the first floor so I didn't see who it was but I felt bad for them. Later, after the rains finally stopped the winds picked up. This morning strong winds hit the shelter. Branches were hitting the steel roof making it difficult to sleep. At 4:15 a.m. I decided to pack up. Being on the second floor of the wooden structure I was careful not to make any noise. The winds helped cover any noise I might have made. I got all my gear together then slowly opened the door trying not to have the spring make any sound. Outside I closed the door slowly and walked backwards down the steep steps. I think I was successful in not disturbing anyone. I was on the trail at 4:55 a.m. I was early because I did not reach my destination yesterday. Today I am to meet Southwind in Harper's Ferry. I met him as he was hiking the AT in New York and New Jersey and he invited me to stop. He is teaching after 11 a.m. so I want to stop in the morning. The wind was ferocious as I headed down the dark trail. I was a bit nervous. The trail was muddy and rocky. The sky was full of beautiful stars as I looked through the swaying trees. I heard a loud crash to my left in the darkness. My shirts were both wet so I didn't put them on but instead used my fleece jacket. My hands were a bit cold but otherwise I was warm. After an hour an a half the trail descended steeply via switchbacks. While going down I heard another loud crash in the woods. The wind was relentless. I dropped to a road and crossed it. The trail hugged an embankment of another road then a parking lot. The streetlights brightened my walk on the trail. A short time later I went under US 340 and then to the railroad tracks. Morning had arrived and I turned off my headlamp. Just after I crossed the railroad tracks an Amtrak commuter train went by, perhaps to Washington. I walked on the C & O Canal several miles to Harper's Ferry. On the way two trees were blown down by the winds blocking the popular trail and bike path. At 8:10 a.m. I crossed the Potomac River and entered West Virginia. I walked through the historic downtown and up the trail beside Jefferson's Rock. Then I took the side trail to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy office where I'll stop later. Southwind lives just a block away and he was expecting me. I stopped at his house about 8:45. We had breakfast and talked nearly an hour. He has a beautiful historic house overlooking the Potomac River. Around 10 I thanked him and said goodbye as he was to head out to teach. I walked back to the ATC office. I talked with a woman volunteer awhile. I left my pack and walked to the 7/11 for resupply. On the way I stopped at Country Cafe and they were still serving breakfast. I had a second breakfast in two hours. Then I went to the 7/11 and back to the ATC office. I saw the four guys there who tented near me last night. They said they didn't get much sleep due to the wind and fear of trees falling on them. I had my picture taken for the hiker catalog then packed up the food and left. I was back on the trail at 12:13. The trail quickly dropped to US 340 and crossed the Shenandoah River. The trail looped under the bridge then began a hill climb. After an hour I ate the foot long Italian sub I got at 7/11 and drank a Dr. Pepper. Later I met Double Blaze. She broke her ankle in Maine back in July and just restarted today in Harper's Ferry. The trail was rocky but the elevation stayed steady for miles. I crossed busy Route 9 in Keys Gap. At 5 p.m. I came to Lesser Shelter and went in for water. At the shelter's camping area were the four guys that tented near me last night. They invited me to come over later when they got their fire going. So, I decided to stay. Water was downhill a quarter of a mile. I went down, got two liters and returned to the shelter where I left my backpack. Then I found a campsite and established camp. While there, another group from Delaware invited me over to their fire. I went to the first fire where the four guys were. Three were from York, PA and one from Roanoke, VA. We talked and they gave me some extra food which I ate right away. Guess I was hungry today. Then I went over to the three guys from Delaware and talked a bit. At 7:30 I said it was close to hiker midnight and excused myself. A crescent moon was shiny to the south. It's chilly tonight. Haven't heard any katydids yet. I'll miss the summer sounds. "I still can hear the whisper of the summer night. It echoes in the corner of my heart..." from the song Desert Moon.