Date: 2007-10-15
From: Stealth Site near Doyles River Cabin, VA

To: Pinefield Hut, VA
Miles today: 7.9
Weather: overcast clouds

A pretty restful nite. I got a few chills, but just needed to wrap my bag around my neck tighter. Around midnight I got woke up though, by some animal out in the woods. Again, I tried to tell myself it was deer, and almost got back to sleep until I heard it chewing/chomping on something. It truly sounded like a mouth with LARGE SHARP teetch chomping on the big green hard shells that fall from the trees, they contain some sort of nut. Sounded much like a big dog chomping on a bone.I layed there and listened to it move around, and at one point I peeked my head out and looked around into the pitch black woods. (Apparently, I'd be that dumb person in horror movies that goes to check out the creepy sound and then gets killed huh?) I suppose I'd rather know what I'm up against. No eyes looked back, so that made me feel a bit better. I did grab my hiking poles and put them right next to the entrance of my hammock...just in case I needed to scare a pesky critter (bear, sasquatch, abominable snowman) away. Finally it was gone and I slumbered off to sleep again. I'm a bit sensitive to the sounds out here again.Then probably around 2 or 3 a.m., I hear this "Whoooooooop" almost sounded like a woman screaming, but then it was followed by the familiar sounds of an owl. I'd not heard that first part before. Really cool. Even Karen whispered over at me, "Hey...did you hear THAT?" So it was up around 7:00 a.m., temp in my hammock was 56 but was much cooler outside. Something is walking around gain...a deer probably. You are sharing the Senandoahs with some 600 bears and who knows how many deer.We got going around 9:30 a.m., after a leisurely breakfast where we enjoyed the brisk morning air. Karen said she got hot last nite, but she's trying to figure out her system, so I was glad sh was hot, because she's sleeping with a 40 degree bag and it got down into the 40's last nite.Today was absolutely beautiful, probably in the high 70's and I ended up in shorts and short sleeved (VERY STINKY ORIGINAL AT HIKING SHIRT). We had a few climbs today, first was Loft Mountain, but halfway up there was a side trail to a campstore where I just "had" to go. Hey...I'm back on the AT, I'm allowed to eat icecream again!! For those of you who know me as an ice cream addict, I've probably eaten the stuff 4 times total since July! Unheard of I know..but it is what I must do to maintain my girlish figure. So we headed up there, and I got so excited to just see the stuff in the store, but alas, no Ben n Jerry's so a Klondike and a frappucino had to make due. It was so beautiful, so we sat there at a picnic table for about an hour.Finally, we got with it again and it was an uneventful yet great hike. At Ivy Creek, we sat there and enjoyed this adorable whie fuzzy caterpillar climb around. Karen said she wanted tot ake it home because it reminded her of a fuzzy puppy. We got to Ivy Creek lookout and a lady drove up with her son. She came over to talk to us and come to find out, she knew of the town I'd lived in in upstate NY (Croghan)), and even knew about the infamoust Croghan Bologna! Cracked me up.We were "planning" on going to Simmon's Gap, where Karen's car was parked, but as always plans change. We decided tos top 2 miles short an stay at this shelter, we'd be here early, build a fire and enjo a beautiful brisk evening out here.So we did that..got here @ 4:00 p.m. Met a section hiker, Sugarbeet from Virginia, and later 2 SOBO's, Tom from Kentucky, Fast Enough from Florida, and Sarah, a section hiker from New Mexico.I'll admit it...I must brag, I built one absolutely kick-ass fire (with nothing but dry wood and my lighter!) and we are all sitting here as I type this, sharing stories, laughing, and just enjying this wonderful life AT has to ofer, be it for 7 months or 2 days.As I put our food on the bear pole, a young buck walked right up and stuck around for awhile. Still excited about deer...yup.Other than many piles of nicely layed beaer scat, no sightings of bear ,hoping for some soon.I know in my gut and hear it is right for me to be back and that the goal of Harper's Ferry is a good one. I've felt that perhaps I was supposed to get to HF and when I conmplete that, maybe the job situation will open up. All things happen for a reason, an dit feels so right and good to be beack out here. We'll see what happens.Oh, the spring here is not running at all, and someone left several gallons of water THANK YOU!!!! I did get to use my new Steri-Pen Adventurer this morning before we left our stealth site, and it was awesome. Really, I think it's the way to go.Well...need to get some zzzz's. More hiking to come. ~Certain