Date: 2014-06-18
From: Hemlock Springs Campsite (tenting)

To: Ralph's Peak Hiker (RHP) Cabin (tenting)
Miles today: 23.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 109, June 18, 2014 Good grief!! Some how I forgot to mention that Coop and I passed the 1400 mile mark yesterday. It seems like yestersay, around the 350 mile mark, that my friend Hans commented that I had walked the distance between Cody and Cheyenne. Now I have walked there and back and there again and am on my way back. Or I am making stuff up. Can't believe I forgot that but it just goes to show you AHF things change. I remember how excited I was to reach the 100 mile mark and the 500 and 1000 marks blew my socks off. Oh well, I am rambling again. Last night some People came into camp at around 1215. Cooper actually woke up and bark. How proud of a Momma am I? Ends up I knew one of the guys. He had done 30 miles and was planning on doing 30 today. Of course I asked why. Turns out he is trying to catch up with a gal. On the trail this is commonly referred to as pink blazing hehe. Have I ever talked about blazes? Oh well, here it goes again: 1. White blazes mark the entire AT. They estimate that there are approximately 165,000 blazes. 2. Blazes are usually painted on trees, poles, or rocks and measure 2 x 6 inches. 3. Blue blazes usually mark side trails (to the privy or a water source) or bypass trails. By pass trails could be as little as a small rock formation or entire mountains. 4. Yellow blazing means you are taking a car and skipping part of the AT and it's white blazes. 5. Aqua blazing is when you take a water route instead of hiking the AT. This most commonly occurs in the SNP. 6. And as stated above pink blazing is when a guy is chasing or following a girl up the trail. To qualify as an AT thru hiker on should make an effort to pass each white blaze. I believe I have done that thus far. So, today was rather uneventful trail wise. I woke up and made my way to the Appalachian Deli. Coop and I shared a ham and cheese omelette and some toast. Today there was an area with lots and lots of stone walls, all varying in size. At one place they had actually built up the trail to cross a gully. I want to know why all these walls are in the woods, when were they made and who made them. Really who, name, heritage, did they have kids, what education did they have..........also PA should take note and start using their trail rocks for walls. Geez they've had 75+ years. I was planning on stopping at Clarence Fahnestock State Park to tent. When I got there I looked across the lake and on the map and could not see where to walk to tent. So I keep walking north on the AT. Sort of bummed me out because I was planning on taking a shower. I am very stinky. A girl passed me yestersay and actually whiffed her nose at me. Embarassing. So, I kept walking. Planning next to hit the Shenandoah Tent area. On my way there I came to the peak of the Shenandoah Mountain. On a rock at the top someone had painted a 911 memorial flag. I paused in rememberance and reflection. Some how I missed the tent site too. I think my head was still up at the peak. So now I was committed to the next shelter. It was all down hill and I made it before I needed a head lamp. As I was walking towards it I was well aware you can order pizza from this shelter too (I think there are 3 or so on the trail) but when I got there everyone was in bed and it was not even 9 yet. I guess I didn't really want a pizza because I didn't even try calling. I just feed Coop, set up my camp and ate some mixed nuts. One last off topic item. So yesterday as I was setting up camp I met a young man who had walked the PCT. He stated something that I have heard on numerous occasions and I thought I would share. He contends that the AT, while much shorter than the PCT, is actually harder. From what I can gather the PCT is graded for pack animals where as the AT is graded for Bigfoot (thats for you Mandy and Mindy). The AT also doesn't have the huge sweeping views that are seen in the much younger Rockies. I definitely want to do parts of the PCT. Cowgirl and The Little Man Hiked today: 23 Completed: 1424.9 Remaining: 760.4 Start Point: Hemlock Springs Campsite End point: Ralph's Peak Hiker (RHP) Cabin (tenting) States Completed: 8 GA (76.4), NC (95.5), TN (287.9), VA (550.3), WV (4), MD (40.9), PA (229.6), NJ (72.2), States Remaining: 6 NY (88.4), CT (51.6), MA (90.2), VT (149.9), NH (160.9), ME (281.4) (5 photos)