Date: 2008-06-12
From: Hogback Mountain, Shenandoah National Park, VA

To: U.S. 522, Front Royal, VA
Miles today: 16.7
Weather: clear sky

I woke up at 4:40am because I wanted to get an early start and get into Front Royal.I ate the donuts that Hog On Ice brought me a few days ago and drank some water.I got all packed and started walking north on the Appalachian Trail at 5:35am.I got to watch the sun rise up over the distant mountains. I kept stopping to take pictures of that.I walked past where Gator and Grits were both tented at.I should have walked the extra 2 miles last night...I would have had data service and could have sent in the day's journal and pictures.I didn't write my journal last night because the headband broke on my headlamp and I didn't want to hold the light in my mouth to see the keyboard. I did send the rest of yesterday's pictures in this morning when I found the data service though.I crossed Skyline Dr and saw a deer hop off over the side of the hill to get away from me. :-)I was walking along and saw the 9th bear I've seen on this year's walk. He was off to my left and in some bushes about 15 yards away. He looked to be about 150 pounds or so.I walked another minute down the Trail and I saw the 10th bear I've seen on this year's walk. He was walking towards me, but turned and ran when he seen me. I outweighed the little bugger by 140 pounds. :-)I saw another bear about 5 minutes later. He ran off to my right.There was another bear just past him on the Trail that was standing up looking at me. That one was about a 200 pounder. He watched me for a while, then ran off fast to my right.I kept walking and looking around and I spotted the biggest bear I've seen this year. It was over 300 pounds and it was laying down in the rear, but up a little in the front and watching me.It was only 20 yards to my right. I took a picture and walked on...hoping to see still more bears.Those were my 11th, 12th and 13th bears that I've seen on this year's walk.That ties me for the most bear I've seen on a thru hike! :-)I walked past the sidetrail to Gravel Springs Hut without stopping, then climbed about 700 feet up to Marshall Mtn.I descended to Hogwallow Flats and was looking for a spring, but I missed that somehow.I kept walking and got to Jenkins Gap, then started climbing to the summit of Compton Peak.I was real glad when I came up to Compton Spring. I had been out of water for about 5 miles.I drank about a liter of water, then sat down and ate an early lunch of diced peaches, Fritos, raisins, cashews and some candy for dessert. :-)I filled my water bottle and walked on after I was refueled and refreshed.I walked another 4 miles and got to Tom Floyd Wayside Shelter. Southpaw was there and I met Always Fine who finished the whole AT over a period of 16 years and has walked from GA to here this year.I finally got to sign a register and use a smiley face sticker. All the shelter in Shenandoah are 1/10th to 2/10ths of a mile off the Trail, so I didn't bother stopping at one for over 80miles.I walked on and met Groundhog as I was making my last little climb of the day. He was walking south and had two friends with him. We talked a while, then I headed on.I saw Southpaw start talking to them as I left.I got out to U.S. 522 and started hitching a ride to town.Southpaw came out and sat down across the road and said he wanted to watch and see how long it took me to get a ride.I waved goodbye to him when about the 10th car stopped and took me to Front Royal. :-)I got a room at the Quality Inn, got a shower and washed my clothes, then walked up and got a rotisserie chicken for lunch....and dinner.I needed a new headlamp, so I walked over to the outfitter.I met HiLo on the way. She showed me her stuff that she left outside her tent and got chewed up by a rodent....her hiking pole handle, her shoes, her backpack and a few other items. That's why ALL my stuff stays in the tent with me at night! :-)The outfitter wasn't much of an outfitter because they only had one headlamp and it wasn't what I was looking for. Well, they weren't much of an outfitter for what I needed today, but it did look like they had plenty of other stuff.I walked back to the motel and saw HiLo talking to Kyonite, Sunbeam and Bus Driver.I stopped and talked for a while, then went and vegetated the rest of the afternoon. :-)Another great day on the Appalachian Trail. :-)