Date: 2015-06-09
From: Manassas Gap Shelter, VA

To: Bears Den Hostel,VA
Miles today: 22.8

Day 71, Manassas Gap Shelter, VA to Bears Den Hostel, VA - 22.8 miles:Up and out of the shelter by 7:45am with a breakfast of pop tarts and cookies in me. A nice, sunny day awaited along with ~23 miles needing to be covered. Falling in line with Moosehead and Burnsides, we covered the first few miles together past Dick's Dome Shelter before Burnsides hurried ahead to find a good stopping point in the sun in order to dry out his clothes that were soaked in last night's storms. Moosehead and I cruised through Sky Meadows State Park, a large series of open meadows atop a ridge offering views of windblown grasses and plenty of sunshine. We stopped for ~15 minutes for a quick snack and so I could address a blister that formed yesterday. Even with panty hose, a sock liner, and 2 socks on I couldn't deter one from worsening throughout the day.Reaching Ashby Gap around 11:30am, we scurried across the 4-lane highway into the woods and found Burnsides eating lunch with his gear spread out around the trail drying. I enjoyed another round of pop tarts, Snyder's pretzels, cookies, and a Snicker's knowing that the Roller Coaster began in a few miles. I was off before the others and wouldn't see them for the next several hours as I pushed past Rod Hollow Shelter and the start of the Roller Coaster, a series of small(er) mountains, one after the other, stretching for 13.5 miles. Over the next few hours I would ascend and descend a series of ~5-6 mountains, passing Bolden Hollow, Buzzard Hill, and the Sam Moore Shelter in the process. Sitting at the 999.9-mile mark, I knew the much-anticipated 1,000-mile milestone was soon approaching.Cresting another rocky hill, I met a hiker named All The Way standing in the middle of the trail next to stones on the ground marking the 1,000-mile mark had been reached. We exchanged pleasantries and I took a couple of pictures for him, but decided to wait for Moosehead and Burnsides before crossing the mark. I sat against the tree and enjoyed another pop tart, peanut M&M's, and some cookies as I waited close to ~45 minutes for them to arrive. Although a bit corny, we did the first thing that came to mind and held hands as we crossed together, cheering in the process. We sat down and celebrated over the next ~30 minutes in the best way we knew how - eating while listening to music. "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" and Ben Howard's "Lonely Pines" highlighted the music selection. Having hiked 1,000 miles is truly an accomplishment and we shared in the moment of how much we've already seen and experienced in that time. However, we also realized we still have to hike another 1,000 miles and still won't be done. It's a long journey ahead still and I can only hope it brings as many memorable moments as the first 1,000 miles has.With ~3 miles remaining until Bears Den Hostel, our destination-before-our-destination for the day, we continued on. Hobbling through Spout Run Ravine and up and over the last decent climb of the day, my foot began reaching its limit as the pain from the blister could be felt with each step. We reached Bears Den Hostel, an old stone building surrounded on all sides by a low-standing rock wall, helping to give the appearance of a miniature castle atop a wooded mountaintop. We entered with the intentions of charging our gadgets and enjoying a beverage before continuing to a campsite, but ultimately ended up staying as a result of our own physical conditions. For $20 I was able to camp in a lush, freshly mowed yard, shower and do laundry for the first time in just over a week, charge my gadgets, consume my own personal pizza along with 4 sodas, and enjoy a movie (Mr. Deeds). It is very refreshing to stay at a place that appreciates hikers and offers very reasonable deals instead of taking advantage of them. It was a much-needed stop even with Harper's Ferry a day away.Tomorrow shows 20.5 miles into Harper's Ferry, WV and the end of the Virginia, a state that has taken us over 500 miles of hiking to complete. Plans aren't set in stone yet, but I'll be taking a zero at some point. An optional second zero may be taken as well depending how my foot responds. I'd also like to visit the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (based in Harper's Ferry) as well as the Harper's Ferry National Historic Park. Along with my normal town chores that must be taken care of, I'm not sure if I can cram all of that into a single zero. Plans fluctuate and change on a daily basis out here so I'll make a game time decision as needed.It's nearing 12:00am and I'm wrapping up this entry. Hopefully the pain in my foot subsides enough to allow me a little sleep. The morning will be here soon where I'll go take advantage of a pancake breakfast before returning to the trail and heading for West Virginia. I also have my first care packages awaiting in town and am excited about that as well.Here's to a free ride on the roller coaster, a mountaintop oasis, and reaching 1,000 miles.