Date: 2007-06-07
From: North Marshall

To: Jim & Molly Denton Shelter
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: overcast clouds

I got up early since I wanted to get into town (Front Royal) today. I got ready to go and said good-bye to SNP even though I knew I would be hiking in it for a few more miles, but this was such a nice spot. I have really enjoyed the park (even with the Wallygator day) and it will have fond memories for me. I got a good nights sleep so I was feeling good. I wasn't sure whether I would stay in town or not. I stopped at Compton Springs and hydrated. I took a picture of the kiosk and the sign saying I was leaving the park. I stopped in at the Tom Floyd Wayside Shelter since it was close to the trail and took a short break. It's the first register I signed in a long time. Now it was only 3 miles to the road. I got a ride fairly quickly and headed to the Post Office. My shipment was there (thanks Terri!). The laundry mat was close so I took my box there to go through. Since it seemed convenient, I decided to just head back to the trail It got pretty hot through the afternoon and people said it's going to be hot (about 90 or so) and humid for the next couple of days. I had a perfect amount of food in the mail drop so I didn't need to buy anything. I went back out to the main road to try to hitch back to the trail. I was there for awhile and then along came Laredo walking to the PO. We chatted a bit and then I tried again. The next thing I knew a police officer pulled up. He was very nice, but someone had called in to report a hitchhiker. He said I would need to go further toward out of town to try to get a ride back. I can't believe someone called on me...but the officer was really nice about it. So, I started walking. Ugh, I had walked 11 miles, now had a heavier pack, wanted to do 5 miles on the trail..I was hoping I wouldn't have to walk far. After only a few minutes, a man pulled up and asked if I needed a ride! He had met Laredo at the PO and offered him a ride, but Laredo said I needed one so he stopped for me. Thank you Joe!! And thanks for stopping so I could get a soda on the way out. Thank you to Laredo for helping me get a ride. There are some nice people out there. At the trail head I called my sister and caught up before starting to hike. I set out for the first shelter at about 4:30 so I had about a 4 hour break. I had about a 900' climb, but it was pretty easy. I met some people on the way in to the shelter. Time passed quickly and I was at this elaborate shelter around 6:30. It has a big deck with a 3 person Adirondack chair (hear that Tree?!), a bench, a nice clean shelter, a picnic table with a cover, a solar shower and a privy. Wow, what a place. I set up my tent to keep the bugs out, let the people coming in have the shelter, and then not worry so much about waking them up in the morning. They turned out to be a nice family (Alicia, Allison, Melody, Tom and the 2 dogs Bellvedere and Dixie) out on a backpack trip together. I think that's great. It was nice meeting all of you if you are reading this! It sounds like they're having a great dinner. The dogs are very friendly and well behaved. I'm going to help Alicia get a fire going and then off to bed.