Date: 2008-05-07
From: Bears Den Hostel

To: David Lesser Memorial Shelter
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: clear sky

6:30am   Even in the bunkhouse...hikers get up early!"Squire" was up & at it about 6am & everyone else began to stir...Jigsaw & I ate energy bars & had coffee here @ Bears Den hostel before heading out around 8:30am."Don Juan" (thru hiker from TN) spent the night here & left just ahead of us.Nice guy!(from Dayton,TN)We leave Bears Den hostel after Thanking "Redwing & Hopeful" & baby "Hikelet" & taking a few photos...We hike down & thru SNICKERS Gap (my favorite GAP!!!hehehehehehe)Hwy 7 is a very busy, commuter highway...so, it takes a minute or two to get across the road whith on-coming traffic. (the road goes into Bluemont, VA to the West & head to the Washington D.C. area to the East..about 50-60 miles or so)We hike UP, Up, & UP out of the Gap..Our first climb of the day & the last 3 miles of "the Roller Coaster" (be glad to get out of these rocks!) We pass over a good spring (theyve been having plenty of rain here..so, the Springs are flowing well)Jigsaw hikes ahead...& then MORE climbing!UP,UP,UP to Crrescent Rock...my altimeter reads 1500+feet elevation & the views were great from the summit. Todays weather forecast is 75 & Sunny! (a bit warm for me)...I'm already sweating....down from the peak...down, down, down...over another Spring with loads of boulders to obscure the water (it was HECK crossing this area!)...boulder hopping...not my idea of FUN hiking!After getting to the other side & climbing again...its OFF onto the "Devil's RaceCourse". (a stretch of a few miles of Zigs & Zags with plenty O' rocks thrown in)but not much climbing...then into a slight descent to Wilson Gap...I encounter 2 SoBo section-hikers today...didnt get their names...a mile later...the side trail to the Blackburn Trail Center (another P.A.T.C. hostel)I didnt go down to the Center..just stopped here for a short break & munched on a couple energy bars & drank some H2O. Then here comes Jigsaw up from the Blackburn Center.He said they were giving out free Sodas & water.We left herer together & hiked the next mile or so together...then i slowed & Jigsaw hikes on...hike,hike,hike,rocks,rocks,rocks...OUCH! OUCH! OUCH!Jigsaw said one of the guys @ the Blackburn trail center told him to "Be Alert" for rattlesnakes! He had spotted 19 just last week! YIKES!!!!!hike! hike! hike!..& I see a sign ahead...YES!!!its the side trail to the shelter...the David Lesser Memorial Shelter, our home for the night.Its a nice one! A log cabin design, open on the front , of course with a huge sun deck complete with benches all around...& a picnic shelter off to the side...with a firepit & a swing. "Marathon" (Michigan) is here for a short rest & munchies ...we talk for a few minutes before he heads out (this guy just completed a 47 mile day...WOW!)Jigsaw goes for water...a half mile downhill...(i dont object!)2 of our section-hiking D.C. buds ("Reese & Rob") arrive & rest for a few minutes before moving onto Harpers Ferry,WV (their friend, "Doug", wrenched his knee & got off the trail this morning)we might be the ONLY ones here tonite since Harpers Ferry is only a short distance from here...most hikers decide to push on. I call "D-bird" from here & talk a few minutes. Jigsaw also calls home.Its 4:30pm...i journal, then cook & call it a day.My feet are sore.We're gonna get an early start in the morning & crank out the 8.8 miles into Harpers Ferry, West VirginiaChicken & Rice for supper & a warm sleeping bag shortly after...i'm tired.Goodnite!                     11.4 miles today!