Date: 2010-06-06
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Miles today: 0.0

Update:This has been the weirdest hike of my three attempts so far. The injuries to my knee/tibia are totally deja vue from my 05 hike, but the health issues in the Shenandoahs were new. As I mentioned in my last entry, I am beginning to think of this year's adventure as "Hikus Interruptus". Having gotten back on at Waynesboro on May 24, I was pleasantly surprised to find that my trail legs were still mostly with me. I started with a short 7 mile day into the Calf Mt. Shelter, followed by a 13 miler into Black Rock where we all lost a lot of sleep to a local Whipperwill that kept us up all night with his song. Then I did a 15 miler, stealth camping under the nose of the Rangers at the ranger station, and than an 18 milers into Lewis Mt. Campgrounds - half way through the SNP. The next day I did another 18 into Skyland, with a stop in Big Meadows for lunch. Just before lunch, I discovered an issue that seemed to involve the proper functioning of my kidneys. Following copious amounts of water and diet pepsi with lunch at the wayside, the problem seemed to resolve itself. Unfortunately, when I arrived at Skyland, the problem returned. Without going into detail, let's just say that I was sufficiently concerned to head for home to get checked out. Early the next morning I working on arranging a shuttle, and by that afternoon was back home. Unfortunately, since it was Friday afternoon of the Memorial Day weekend, my Doctor's office was closed. The on-call physician referred me to the emergency room, so that's were I ended up. Numerous x-rays and various samples and tests later, the ER Doctor concluded I had one of three possible things, and prescribed an anti-biotics regimine, which I immediately began. Then I had to sit around waiting until Tuesday am when I could talk with my personal internist. Meanwhile, the interesting symptoms had not returned, so I proposed, and he agreed, that I would return to the trail for another five days, and then visit him on Monday, June 7 for another set of samples and tests. If all systems were functioning normally, he would release me to continue north.So, by Tuesday PM, my good wife deposited me back at Skyland where I, once again, resumed my hike north bound. My first stop was a 10 miler into Pass Mountain, with all systems functioning normally. The second stop was going to be Gravel Springs Shelter -- a 13 mile day, which would set up two 18 miles days and a final 10 mile day into Bear's Den. Unfortunately, upon my arrival at Gravel Springs, several of my hiking companions were busy packing up to move on, after reading a notice about a rogue bear in the area who was, apparently quite successfully, harrasing backpackers for their lunch. Or breakfast, in the most recent case. It was only 3:30 in the afternoon, but the next shelter was 10 miles away. I was hopeful I might find a place to stealth camp not too far up the trail, as I really didn't want to attempt a 23.5 mile day -- especially not with the temperatures in the high 80s. But sticking around to deal with a rogue bear, all by my lonesome, is not my idea of a good time. So....camel up on water, hoist the pack, and off we go.Long story short, I reached the Tom Floyd Wayside shelter around 7 pm, bushed, but in better shape than I had any right to be after nearly 24 miles of hiking. It was strange, but that very morning, I wondered what it would take for me to gain back the confidence I'd felt back in Tennessee, just before I went down with my knee injuries. I have to say that, having done that long a day, my confidence is back. After that, I did a couple of more long days, into Manassas Gap and then Bear's Den. My wife picked me up and I've spent the weekend resting up, getting my gear back together, and setting up my mail drops for the second half the trail. I see my Doctor at 7:30 tomorrow morning, after which my wife will drop me at the ATC HQ in Harpers Ferry. I'll do the standard photo op thing, and then head north. I figure 7-8 days to Duncannon, depending. My journal, I know has suffered. To even the score, however, I've just visited my guest page and discovered all those wonderful messages from folks who have been concerned and/or wished me well. Somehow, those have not been getting forwarded to my MSN.com account! I have no idea why, as they were up until I fell off the trail. I don't know if the problem will continue or not, but at least now I know to check the guestbook whenever I can sign on. Unfortunately, given my technological challenges, I still haven't had time/figured out how to download the software to make the big-boy keyboard work with my blackberry, so I'm going to just have to try to do occasional updates, like this one, whenever I can get my hands on a computer. Sorry about that! Damn pocketmail anyway.Meanwhile, I know there are lots of friends out there still hiking, and I'll be just a bit behind or just a bit ahead of many of them, so I'm sure I'll be meeting up with them over the coming weeks and months. At this point, I am optimistic about making it to Katahdin, but then I have always been an incurable optimist. It's just my nature -- I can't help myself. So, thanks again for all the good wishes. Let's do stay in touch!