Date: 2014-06-25
From: Bearfence Mountain Hut

To: Byrds Nest # 3 Hut
Miles today: 22.4

We were doing a big day today and first big checkpoint of the day was to get to the Big Meadows Wayside for some breakfast,it was seven miles over some relatively easy terrain so I wasn't too worried.   I hiked out by myself and had an enjoyable hike to the wayside. I met a couple who were walking past me on the trail and let me know they scared off a few bears not too far ahead of me so for the rest of the hike I kept the music off and scanned the horizon to make sure I wasn't going to accidentally bump into a bear.    I got to the wayside first which was busy with mostly tourists shopping at the gift shop or eating at the restaurant and here I come up all smelly and dirty with a pack on. I got a few looks especially when I was emptying the empty bottles of beer I packed out from Atlas's birthday party, have to adhere to the Leave No Trace principles out here,wish more people did. By the time I got into the restaurant Delaware and Eyes Adjust were already there and ordered, blackberries are a big deal down in the Shenadoahs so I ordered a blackberry milkshake and a breakfast platter which were both delicious. Afterwards we went over to the visitors center which had a really interesting interactive display on the history of the park which we got sucked into for awhile. I had my first really true hiker trash moment today and it occurred when we were in the small gift shop and having three thru hikers standing side by side emits a lethal odor which was definitely smelt by some tourists as they crinkled their noses and gave us a look, it was pretty funny.   After lounging around the wayside for too long we finally got back to the trail, I was getting worried because we had 15 miles left and it was already three o'clock. When we got back to the trail,it was by an overlook which everyone say down by and relaxed, I did for a few minutes but I get antsy and I got up and hiked out. I've been doing some solo hiking the last few days and it feels good, I love hiking my own pace and just enjoy the music in my ears and the nature all around me. I had some really great views today and everything was good until I got to the Pinnacle Picnic Area which was on top of Pinnacle Mountain and looking into the valley a black cloud of death was heading my way and the rumblings of thunder confirmed it. I had a signal so I checked my radar app and saw I had about an hour before it hit, this is one of the few times technology has really saved my butt out here. So my mission was 2.5 miles in less than an hour to the shelter or be soaked so I got up and hiked as fast as I could and got to the shelter about 20 minutes before it rained. There was a father/son section hiker combo in the shelter and a few other section hikers in hammocks behind it.    I ate dinner and waited around and started to get worried when an hour passed and no one fork the group showed up, I hoped they were able to find shelter somewhere when the rain came. Two hours passed and I was about to head to bed and hopefully see everyone in the morning but as always, they all started trickling in soaked to the bone. The last ones to show up were Atlas and her sister who I can't believe hiked 22 miles on her second day,see how she feels in the morning.   We all crammed into the shelter for the night and had to deal with a level one snorer who woke everyone up multiple times. He definitely stopped breathing and then would erupt in what we called snore bombs than erupted throughout the shelter. It was a long day with big mileage and I felt good throughout it all, keepin' the positive mindset through the Shenadoahs.