Date: 2015-10-31
From: David Lesser Memorial Shelter

To: Bears Den Hostel, Bears Den Rocks
Miles today: 11.2

I got up early and quietly packed up. I discovered that I was the only one who hung their food last night. Everyone who came in late last night did not properly handle their food and exposed all of us, including me, to being mauled by a bear during the night. LOVELY!The 2 guys with the dogs woke before I left. I nicely talked with them about how their dogs woke me several times and suggested they sleep in a tent rather than a shelter next time they bring their dogs. They apologized.Despite the cool weather the trail was loaded with noisy day hikers, about half with dogs, none of them on a leash. I stopped for a break at Buzzard Rocks, a rock outcropping about .1 off the AT with a beautiful view. I found a cozy little rock and sat down to have a snack and enjoy the view. Shortly after I arrived a noisy group with several grade school age kids arrived and basically took over. Rather than quieting the screaming kids, one of the adults took the easy approach - letting the kids scream and apologizing to me. I told him the kids were old enough to be taught LNT. He just gave me a blank look.There were several women in the group. Although there was plenty of room for everyone to enjoy the view, they decided to all stand very close to me, completely blocking my view, with their butts just inches from my face. One woman stepped over me as if I was a log.One of the women appeared to be some type of naturalist and explained some of the plants to the group. Then she started to lead the group back to the AT. But she stopped in the middle of the side trail. Instead of having them stand off to tbe side, she let her group completely block the side trail back to the AT.Thanks to all the noisy day hikers I saw absolutely no wildlife today. Again, I hate weekends on the trail. The White Mountains and Maine were difficult, but that weeded out a lot of the badly behaved inconsiderate weekend hikers. I never thought I would say this, but I miss the Whites and Maine!The trail was intermittently rocky. Where the tread was smooth I tried to make good time. When I hit a rocky area, I had to slow down to avoid turning an ankle or falling. And of course the pack still felt like it weighed a ton. It will take a few days to get used to the heavy pack again and to reduce some of the weight by eatting some of the food.After about 7 miles I entered a 13.5 stretch called "The Roller Coaster." It is nothing but a series of rather gentle ups and downs. But for the rocks, I would not have minded the roller coaster at all. Unfortunately the tread was no longer intermittently rocky. Instead it was consistently rocky, which slowed my pace.I took another brief break at Raven Rocks, where I saw cables for rock climbers disappear over the ledge. My fear of heights kept me away from the very edge, so I did not see the actual climbers, but I did enjoy the view.p>The wind was picking up and it became clear that rain was coming. I also needed a good nite's sleep. So I decided to spend the night at the Bears Den Hostel, which is just .2 off the AT. The hostel is owned by the ATC, but run by the PATC (Potomac Appalachian Trail Club). The hostel is an old house with thick stone walls, and was previously owned by a doctor as his summer home. For $30 I got a bunk, clean sheets, a shower, laundry, pizza, soda, and a pint of ice cream. Since I had recently done laundry the Caretaker gave me a few bottles of Gatorade instead of laundry.I ate pizza, grabbed a shower, and watched DVDs about hiking the CDT (Continental Divide Trail) and PCT (Pacific Crest Trail). The movies only confirmed that I do not want to hike those trails.In the bunkroom there was only one other woman, a northbound section hiker called Pink Hat. She and I had a very nice chat before turning in. I slept well.The AT is calling. Tomorrow is Sunday. I hope the weather keeps the day hikers off the trail.