Date: 2005-05-12
From: Blackrock Hut

To: Hightop Hut
Miles today: 21.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Blackrock Hut (868.2) to Hightop Hut (889.6) 21.6 milesWhat an interesting day it has been. I decided to skip hiking the long way around Loft Mountain campground since it is closed. I did 4.4 miles in just over 2 hours then switched to Skyline Drive. I headed for the Wayside across the drive from Loft. It was not suitable for food resupply having just candy & snacks but I got what I could. It did have a small restaurant so I did get a big breakfast. I should have gotten a sandwich or two to go but did not. Duh. I stayed on Skyline Drive to Weaver Mountain where I noticed a big black thing about 30 feet ahead of me on the side of the roar. I stopped. It moved. It was a bear but it did not see me. I backed up about 50 feet then turned and walked about 100 feet further away. I took pictures using zoom. The bear noticed me, walked up onto the right lane and stopped to look at me. It then went to the left lane and stopped again to look at me. No traffic to scare it away. The bear then went left into the woods. I waited a couple of minutes for the bear to get further away & then continued down the road. That bear had sat about 20 feet into the woods and watched me walk by!! I was glad it did not seem to know than backpackers carried food.About 100 yards later, I saw 2 hikers crossing the road & warned then about the bear then continued down the road. The couple I had warned later picked me up and gave me a ride to Smith Roach Gap (889.6) where I hiked to Hightop Hut where I am staying the night. She was a section hiker and slack packer. He was the driver and support. During the day, I met ? and Mary Jo who had just gotten married in August 04 and had origionally planned on 9-11-04¢¦the day we did get married. He was selling an auto repair business and was retiring. They live in Elmyra, NY near Buffalo. They topped off my water bottles for me and I was grateful. It was another hot and humid day. Later on, I had stopped at an overlook for lunch and a couple stopped to see if I was Ok and if I needed anything. They gave me a pint of fresh picked strawberries. In the last mile to the hut, I met Flapjack who is hiking for ¢a while¢ and Humbug who is a southbound section hiker. There are 2 thru hikers who started at the end of February and ones girlfriend here at the hut. They are not tremendously communicative.Tomorrow, I am hoping to stop at Bearfence Mt. Hut (902.0) with a stop at Lewis Mt. Campground for the camp store. Hopefully, lunch too. Rain has been threatening all day. It is 3PM and already getting cool today. I think I will fix an early dinner in case it rains. Two adults with eight young men came in late in the afternoon. They are all Mennonites and are nice, interesting people. One adult had clearly been burned badly at some point in his life. They are tenting behind the shelter. The three in the shelter have become more sociable. We played hearts. It is getting cooler. Last night it was so warm that I did not zip my sleeping bag. My feet held up pretty well today considering that I had 2 long days in a row. I plan on 12.4/11.5/15.3/13.1 miles days next with dinner/lunch potential 4 times. Also overnight stays in rooms or cabins twice!! Then Harpers Ferry in about 4 more days. Then again, maybe Front Royal over night then Harpers Ferry. We¢ll see.