Date: 2003-07-27
From: Big Meadows Campground

To: Pinnacles Picnic Area
Miles today: 12.3

Have you ever heard a car alarm go off at 7:00 am? Well, if you stayed at the campground with us last night, that is how you woke up! You have gotta love getting back to nature! :) Well, like yesterday, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em, so we packed up and took off down the trail. We were 17 miles from the town of Luray and were planning on getting there tomorrow. However, I had been harboring thoughts of getting there today. I have never done those kind of miles, but I know that my body is stronger than my mind, so I want to try it!   We are well into our hike before I get up enough courage to tell Bumpkin my thoughts on the matter, and it turns out that she is all for it! The first five miles go by in a flash, and we decide to hold off lunch for another three miles so that we could grab something at the Skyland Wayside. As I was hiking, I ran into several different people and enjoyed the opportunity to stop and talk.   Every person you see out here falls into two catagories...they either already love this trail, or they are ripe for inspiration! In both cases, they are definitley someone that is neat to talk to! I also ran into Kellen, the AT ridge runner than carried the watermelon up to High Top Hut a couple of nights ago.   It turns out that he used to work with out friend Doppler, so they had spent the evening before catching up. It was great to see Kellen again! The ATC hires such neat people for these ridge runner positions, and Kellen is definitley one of my favorite! We sail into the wayside at 1:30 having already done eight miles! This is so great for us!! Well, it turns out that they have a full service restaurant, so in we go. Now, keep in mind that it has been eight days since our last shower!   Those poor diners did not know what to think of these two grubby, grimy women sitting among them! But once again, the staff was used to it and before you knew it, we had food. Well, maybe this wasn't such a great idea.....sure enough, my lunch made me sick. So, we waited around for an hour and a half for my stomache to calm down. It never felt great, but we decided to walk on. What else are you going to do? The trail today is really neat. Most of it is slab cut into the side of a high mountain, so that every 50 feet or so you come up on a beautiful view! They were stunning! You could look out and see layers of mountains rolling out with small towns and communities tucked in between them. The trail went up and down long climbs and descents, and for the most part was very, very rocky. Kellen had told us that it was mostly flat, but once again, we find that when it comes to the Shenandoahs, it's all lies! :) Well, we hiked like crazy, me trying not to lose the rest of my lunch and Bumpkin following gamely behind. Neither one of us were willing to admit defeat! We finally reached the Pinnacle Picnic area and collapsed next to the water fountain.   Bumpkin looked at me and said, "This is not going to happen". It was after 7:00 and we were still five miles away. I was willing to night hike, but once we got to the highway, we both felt like it wouldn't be safe. Darn, darn, darn!! I was really loking forward to reaching that goal.   We were both disapointed as we sat and tried to figure out plan B. This is a very nice picnic area....water spigots, bathrooms, and...most importantly, some hidden flat spots for tents! Is it legal to camp here? Well.....it is kind of a gray area! :) So we did what any thru hiker would do, decided to pitch our tents and ask for forgivenes if we got caught! So, here we are, hiding in the trees like outlaws.   My stomache is feeling better, and we got! some great trail magic from some bikers in the form of homemade jerk chicken and zucchini bread. Oh well, I guess Luray is not going anywhere! :)