Date: 2003-07-24
From: Loft Mtn. Campground

To: Hightop Hut
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: few clouds

start Loft Mtn Campgrounddestination Hightop HutThe one thing you can be sure of, is that the weather here has absolutely nothing to do with the weather forecast. When I woke up this morning everything was covered in a grey mist. And it was chilly! I grabbed my clothes bag intending to get out my jacket. The one I just mailed forward to Harpers Ferry. I put on my rain jacket instead. I made a BIG cup of hot tea to go with my peanut butter and bagel. I also drank the bottle of grape juice that I bought last night at the camp store. By the time I left camp, the sun was shining and the skies were a dazzling blue. It was a perfect day for a hike. I hiked through forests with the smell of earth permenting everything. Whenever the growth was sparse enough to let light in, the smell changed to a hot piney smell, with honeysuckle mixed in. Then came the real treat!!! Raspberries!! Bright red, juicy, delicious raspberries. The limbs hanging heavy to the ground with little red balls of fruit. MMMnnnnn. I picked and ate my fill, then picked some to put in my thermal cup. These will be for my supper tonight. Fresh fruit! Real trail magic! I stopped at an overlook before lunch and waited on Mudbutt. There was this great view, and a cool breeze, so we decided to have lunch there. With all the splendor of the mountains for our dining area. I eat more of the yeast rolls with some honey. Mudbutt gives me a jerky steak that she had had enough of. I eat the Almond Joy bar I got last night, along with a pear. What a varied meal! The rest of the afternoon was literally uphill all the way. I would climb for an hour, then make a sharp descent. Then repeat the same thing all over again. I have finally figured out why the AT books say this part of the trail is fairly flat. Because the trail itself is fairly flat, and well graded. It is just that the trail goes over and down, around and back through the mountains. The trail surface is flat but the path it takes is not. I just keep on hiking. I come around a bend, intent on watching my feet, when I look up and there is a young deer standing in the trail 10 feet from me. I stop and just look at him. His antlers are still small and silky looking. I take a step forward and he eyes me but does not move. Another step and he plants his front legs apart and takes a step back. This is repeated until I am 4 feet away from him. He reminds me of a puppy wanting to play. His steps back small and inviting. I take another step toward him and he bounds off to the side of the trail, looking at me as I pass. More magic! By days end, I am pooped. My hips are screaming and my feet hurt. I pushed myself hard the last few climbs. It is a giant relief to see the sign for the shelter. I pick out a site and set my tent up. It is not too long before Mudbutt and I are eating supper. The raspberries I picked earlier are sweet and sticky, but delicious. The ridge runner for his area comes over to us with fresh slices of homegrown watermelon someone had given him. My plans for Oreos dipped in milk fade away as I chow down on some fresh fruit. It is sweet and juicy, I spit the seeds out and marvel at this piece of trail magic. There is a group of Eagle Scouts here, they give us some instant tea packets that is left over from their hike. That strange metallic sonding bird is back. His song quiets me and I snuggle down into my sleeping bag. The same one I almost sent ahead to Harpers Ferry! It is suppose to get down into the 50's tonight. That will make it even harder to get up in the morning. total miles 14