Date: 2003-05-30
From: Pass Mountain Hut

To: Gravel Springs Hut
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: few clouds

One of the first things I heard this morning, other than zippers zipping and unzipping and pack buckles banging on the platform above me, was "Why is the sky blue?" What?!? The sky is BLUE? And it was. All morning long, and mostly blue in the afternoon. I can't believe I had a sunny day in Shenandoah! It was a beautiful hike today, and relatively short, so I took my time, looking for bears. In vain. No bears. But still a beautiful hike today, especially this morning.Hotdog, Kellen and I hiked together again today, and once again, at the shelter are the three of us, plus Randy, Ray and Jason. Ray and Jason are done with their section tomorrow, and Randy is done the next day. We'll be leaving Shenandoah tomorrow, so it's our last night with Kellen too. It's been fun being around the same people for a few days in a row. It hasn't happened very often.We reached Elkwallow Wayside around 11am, having covered over half the planned miles for the day. Then, with lunch, resupply, phone calls, and fly swatting, we wasted 2 hours there before moving on. Kellen is now called "Fly Killer" because he killed over 50 flies within about 20 minutes outside the Wayside grill and store.We stopped at several overlooks today, since it was a nice day, and got some good views, especially from Hogback Mountain. There, the AT was above Skyline Drive and the car overlook, and we sat on some boulders looking down at the valley below, and watching the cars and people too. We were like the hecklers perched up there. Most of the people in the cars drove to the information sign and read it from inside their cars. We thought that was pretty funny. Some people even took pictures of us on the rocks. "Look at the hikers in their native habitats! Don't get to close, folks, as they seem to have a repulsive odor, and will eat the food right from your hand. They are not usually dangerous, but you should always use caution when near them."About a half mile farther north, we came to a hang-gliding launch, which had a good view too. We stood there for quite a while, looking down on the farms and houses below. I always wonder if anyone down below looks up at the mountains the same way we stare down. It's awesome to be up there. It seems so... almighty. I feel good standing up there, looking down at "civilization", and across to other mountains. It's difficult to explain, but wonderful to experience.Even with our stops for views, we arrived at the shelter before 5pm. It was a great day, and I found myself smiling and hiking, just because the sun was out, I was dry, and I was enjoying the walk. One day of sunshine has nearly erased the previous week of rain and clouds, and has made me want to come back here in better weather, and explore not only the AT, but also the other trails in the Park.Jason started a fire tonight, and we've all been enjoying it. In addition to others mentioned already, southbounder Homer is here as well. He recently started the southern half of the AT, after doing the northern half last summer. Nan, a college student, was out birding when we arrived, and is enjoying his time here as well. I believe it's his first time in a shelter such as this, but he fits right in.Meeting the variety of people is what has made this trip so special. And when I get to spend more than a day or night with someone, and enjoy their company, it's difficult when we no longer hike together. Pass Mountain Hut was the last shelter before US211 which is where Mountain Break was ending his section hike, and I forgot to leave a note in the register for him. Hopefully, he'll keep in touch, and perhaps I'll see him again in Connecticut, where he lives.It's the experience that makes this adventure, and people that make the experience. Nature is the venue.