Date: 2004-06-10
From: Simmons Gap

To: Riprap Trail Parking Area
Miles today: 18.8

I slacked packed south today. Most enjoyable. I saw many of my fellow hikers including Quest, who took leave due to illness.Scholar and I started together but she seemed quiet--more than usual. She was also lagging. We stopped at Pinefield Hut (they don't call them shelters in the Shenandoah's) and found Pooja Blue still sleeping like a baby. I read her entry in the registry. She saw a cub and its mother, a rattler, and deer the day before. If only I could be so lucky.We ran into Southern Man who was in a bit of a panic because he did not pick up a permit. The Benders gave us a blank one to hand to him and he was most gracious.We also saw Hawk who intended to do an ambitious 22 miles today. He wanted to know when we would hit the Taproom in Big Meadow. I forgot about that feature of the park.Our path leads us past the Loft Campgrounds and the store. Scholar admitted that she wasn't feeling well and said she was going to go back to her tent at the campgrounds around the corner. I offered to go with her in case she changed her mind but no doing. So after eating lunch, I headed south alone with the keys to Jitterbugs jeep. Damn! I was hoping to not drive for six months. Oh, well.I bumped into more thru-hikers. We talked about headaches and how it may be due to dehydration. It was very hot yesterday and I had a migraine last night as well--first since I started the trail. I consciously started to drink my water.Surprisingly, I ran into Mountain Dew and Woolly. They were back from their graduation and making a fine jumpstart into the mountains with 26 miles. It was good to see them again and it looked like Mountain Dew replaced his duct taped glasses for contacts.Then, of course, a storm rolled in and soaked me. So much for worrying about dehydration. I made a futile attempt to sit it out under a tree but got bored. Blackrock summit was very cool and a preview of Mt Washington, NH. I felt like I was straying into a junkyard of black boulders. I would have scrambled up a few if the rain wasn't turning the trail into a river.Shortly, I bumped into Jabberwacky and Yippy. Jabberwacky got poison ivy on his feet from walking barefoot. They hoped to hike beyond the next shelter and find camping.Then to my surprise, I saw Catdog and Wags. She was pulling a 20 miler and commented on how easy the terrain was. She seemed chipper and we chatted for a bit before I headed on to the jeep.It was close to 4:30 when I drove into the campgrounds. The long day was a result of my eagerness to socialize with the northbounders. Jitterbug and Hoover were worried about me (or more likely their car) but all is well. I tried to get one last Blackberry Milkshake but they had no more icecream at the Wayside.I met some new hikers today...Luna and Momma's Boy. Momma's Boy also had trailjournals and a pocketmail. C!B! is also here at the campground planning to slackpack tomorrow.Scholar has decided that her migraines are becoming more frequent and will head home for a bit. After discussing it with the Benders, I have decided to head out tomorrow with my full pack. The thought of taking on the 30 plus pounds makes me nervous. It has been almost a week since we've been together.