Date: 2004-06-01
From: Molly Denton Shelter 

To: Myron Glaser Cabin
Miles today: 17.0

An impressive 17 mile day for Sam! Sam and I caught up with Flora, Fauna and Amy for lunch at Dick's Dome Shelter. We didn't leave camp too early, so it would be dark before we got to Myron Glaser. We found out there was a BBQ place near the road crossing at Rt. 50. The girls left ahead of us so we gave them the key to the cabin. They thought they might go by the restaurant, but by the time we got there it was a little late so we continued to the cabin. When we arrived after dark we found the girls there with BBQ, Potato Salad, Beans, Pasta Salad, Chips and BEER! What a great surprise. This was Sam's last night and we all had a good time eating, drinking and playing cards. Also had great nights sleep on a real mattress. I may have to shell out some bucks on a new sleeping pad in Harpers Ferry as mine is not very comfortable. Sam's Entry:Seventeen mile day planned, which I was not entirely confident about given my hunch that I was in need of a complete foot transplant. Despite my best efforts, large impact blisters were starting to form on both heels. I think my twelve-year old Vasques, as well as they¢ve served me, are in need of replacement. Since it was a long day, Sleeping Beauty was not to be permitted to lounge about all morning, and was reluctantly coaxed out of his sleeping bag into the frigid 75-degree air. Flora, Fauna and Amy set out (Ashtray and Lucky Lucy had departed at first light), I followed a bit later, then Sleeping Beauty shortly thereafter. The weather was beautiful, and I hiked the best stretch of the trip solo, which was quite enjoyable. Not that Sleeping Beauty¢s company wasn¢t welcomed, and he caught up with me about 2.5 miles in. Since I was hobbling a bit on the descents, I told him to go ahead and not wait for me. He did so, but within minutes I could tell the poor guy was tiring, because his tiny outline on the horizon stopped getting smaller and smaller. I made it a point to go extra slowly so that when he stopped to wait for me he¢d get plenty of time to rest. Yes, I¢m a giver.We made it to Manassas Gap shelter to find Ashtray and the ladies (thanks for the brownie, Ashtray), and stopped for a rest and fueling stop. The shelter isn¢t much to look at and is apparently known for it¢s copperhead population. Sure enough, Sleeping Beauty spotted one curled up in a bunch of honeysuckle right at the trailhead leading down to the spring. Beautiful animals, provided they keep their fangs to themselves. We set out for the next five miles to our planned lunch stop at Dick¢s Dome shelter, which also wasn¢t much to look at but was in a nice setting along a stream.   The ladies were napping in the sun when we arrived, but soon set out again. Sleeping Beauty and I had lunch, rested a bit, then pushed off for the final 7 miles to Glaser Cabin, which I had rented for the night. My feet were killing me at this point, so I figured I¢d stop at 2 miles and again at 5 miles for a break. Don¢t think Sleeping Beauty was thrilled with my slow pace, but he didn¢t complain. Actually, the uphill sections weren¢t bad, but the downhills¢and 5 of the last 7 miles was almost all downhill¢were a killer. And using your knees to cushion the blows to your feet only makes your knees hurt. You thru-hikers know this already, of course, and are no doubt mocking my whining. But it¢s my duty to warn any couch potatoes planning to chase Pat down the trail. [Note: Throughout the trip, he repeatedly demonstrated a selfish refusal to carry a cooler of beer with him as he walked.] Regardless, we (I) hobbled on to Ashby Gap (only two miles to go!), took a breather, then pushed on (mostly uphill, thank God) to Glaser under headlamps, where Flora, Fauna and Amy were waiting on the porch with the aforementioned repast. They¢re the best, even if they did try to kill me. We all slept in late (Mattresses! Real mattresses!) and I departed to meet Darrell for the ride back to Northern Virginia. In short, it was an enjoyable trip, even though my &*$^%# heel blisters made me walk like a 90-year-old lady by the end and generally pissed me off. I might be pushing 30 (Be quiet. Pat will happily back me up on that claim) but I looked much older. New boots it is. I plan to join Sleeping Beauty again in Maine; we¢ll see if I can keep up better then.