Date: 2008-05-06
From: Rod Hollow Shelter

To: Bears Den Hostel
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Tue May 6 Day #116:30am We had some Southbound section-hikers come into the shelter last night.They built a campfire as Jigsaw & I were already in our sleeping bags.The same 3 guys were banging pots & pans @ 6:15am this morning (Wow! how dis-courteous!)All 3 of these guys have (what looks like) 60+lb packs (HUGE!!!).We get up on this Cooool morning (50 degrees maybe)...gonna be Sunny today & about 73 degrees.Today i'm gonna take it easy (still babying the heel wound)We leave Rod Hollow Shelter @ 9am.Jigsaw & I hike together for the first mile or so...then we hit "the Roller Coaster" (peaks & gaps that start close to 500 ft elevation & top out @ 1200 ft elevation in less than 1/2 mile)for the 1st mile...its not bad...then the rocks begin...Up & down, up & down, up & down...over a Spring (I re-water)..."Jigsaw" has hiked on...lots of wildflowers...i notice today...its HOT...i'm sweating my butt off...12noon   this "roller coaster thing is kicking my rear end!3 other section hikers (from the D.C. area) are heading NoBo too. They say theyre hiking 17 miles today, but they all have blisters...so, I expect to see them @ Bears Den where Jigsaw & I are headed.From the top of the peak...I stop & call "D-bird" (my lovely wife, Donna) Yea! Cell Service! We talk for a few minutes & then i hike on.Up, Up, Up & then....Down, down, down...one of my Leki hike poles hit some dead leaves & i heard a quick rustling...i thought it might be a lizard or gecko...as i turn i look over my shoulder...i spot NOTHING!....but, then as i turn-around...to take my next step foward...theres about a 3 foot Copperhead snake slithering across the trail...I FREEZE in my tracks!I let him pass without bothering him...in fact...he was already back in the weeds before i realized I didnt even take a photo. DARN!!!!I hike on....UP, UP, UP...& then DOWN,Down,Down...& then rocks, & more rocks on the trail....ouch! ouch! ouch!...& then back UP again!Past Sawmill Spring & Sam Moore Shelter (I stop in for water & a couple granola energy bars & rest for a few minutes before taking back off)As i exit the Shelter area...a thru-hiker from TN, "Don Juan" passed me going into that area.I hike up, up, & up...more rocks, rocks, rocks...i'm verrrrrrrrrrrry S-L-O-W.(Wow, am I ever!)..."Don Juan" passes me...hiking UPHILL!He is also headed to Bears Den...WoW!...i hit the top of the next peak...& here we are...the side trail (Blue Blaze) to Bears Den hostel (thats a good thing!)Jigsaw is already here...in fact..he greets me as I'm walking down the driveway. This is a SUPER nice place (formerly a private residence on a mtn-top now owned & operated by the Potomac A.T.C. )The caretakers are husband & wife: "Redwing" & "Hopeful" & baby "Hikelet"We eat pizza & have Ben & Jerrys ice cream for dessert (hikers' favorite!)We take a few photos around the grounds...& talk to other hikers now arriving:"Don Juan", "SouthSide", "Squire" & the 3 DC hikers: "Reese, Rob & Doug"...(Doug arrived about 3 hours after the other 2 DC hikers...he has a wrenched knee & will be going home)8:30pm I'm tired.Jigsaw & I did laundry (ahhhhhhhhhhhh...nice smelling clothes at least for now)Time to journal & then hit the bunk.Goodnight!                           10 Tuff miles today!