Date: 2005-02-22
To: Trip Report - Shake Down Hike
Miles today: 0.0

Distance Traveled: from the commuter parking lot just off Route 7 at Snickers Gap, north on the AT to Crescent Rock (2.6 miles), and return (5.2 miles total). With the normal futzing around getting my gear together, organizing lunch, leaving the obligatory note for ¢She-who-knows-me-best¢ about my itinerary (something I¢m pretty careful about given what I¢ve learned about search and rescue operations), it was noon before I was at the trail head and ready to begin my hike. The skies were overcast, with low hanging clouds moving fairly quickly in an easterly direction overhead. Rain was predicted, but never materialized. The temperature was somewhere in the high 30s, and there was still the odd patch of snow in shaded areas, but the trail itself was free of ice. There was mud, of course, and the rocks were wet and slippery in places, so I was careful with my footing. Given the vulnerability of various joints, I am normally pretty careful, but when hiking alone in the winter time I tend to be even more so. My objectives for the hike were simple: first, to test my new, lightweight (17 oz!) backpack for the first time on the trail with a full load; second, to make sure that my boots were properly broken in and well-fitted, and third, to make a start (finally!) on getting my winter-degraded carcass into shape for climbing mountains once again. I¢m thrilled to report that all three objectives were fully met. The pack was comfortable, even with 35 pounds (including five days worth of food and 132 ounces of water). The boots were good, with nary a hot spot. The muscles, bones, joints and connective tissues were fine during the hike, complained loudly by the early evening, but awoke refreshed and raring to go this morning ¢ thanks, at least in part, to the wonderful little pink pills (a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication) prescribed by my knee doctor. Now I just need to keep at the conditioning, and I¢ll be good to go -- in just 19 more days!The hike itself was fantastic, and reminded me how much I had missed the mountains over the busy indoor time of the past several months. About half way to Crescent Rock the sun came out and bathed the woods in glorious brightness, adding luster to the dappled greens and grays of lichen-covered rocks and bringing life even to the dull tan of the fallen leaves that littered the ground. It has been a mild winter hereabouts, so there wasn¢t much frost-heave in evidence, but winter enough that the wildlife was disappointingly scarce. I heard a couple of woodpeckers hammering away, but they did not cry out so I could not be sure which kind. Piliated, I suspect, but possibly Downy. I did hear the ¢dee dee dee¢ of a pair of Chicadees, and the caw of a crow, and saw a hawk circling lazily above. That was about it. The deer are abundant in the area, but would have seen or heard me coming well enough in advance to make themselves scarce.I hiked slowly, enjoying the day, and stopped several times to take photos where vistas offered an interesting view or where the trail was lovely and stark, and for a sign or two, including the one that informed me that I had reached the State of West Virginia, and that Harpers Ferry was a mere 17.6 miles ahead. I reached Crescent Rock in about an hour and 45 minutes, where I rested and ate a sandwich. There was one hiker there when I arrived, and we chatted while I ate. He was in the second day of a two-day hike, and had stayed over night at the David Lessor Memorial Shelter ¢ a really nice one that¢s half way between Bears Den and Harpers Ferry. He asked what I was about, and I told him, only to learn that he was, himself, a through-hiker ¢ Class of 87. He said he hoped to do it again one day, and had made it a point to get his three kids out on the trail. My guess is that he will. He was younger than me, so obviously there¢s still time. While we talked, two other day hikers showed up. The company was good, and one of them said he hoped to do the trail himself when he retires, possibly as early as next year. After putting my boots back on and shouldering my pack, we wished each other well, and I set off on the return leg of my journey. It was easier going back, as the elevation was more with me than against. I¢m definitely faster going down hill than up hill, especially when I¢m not in shape. The return to the parking lot was uneventful, but the thrill of having accomplished all that I had set out to do added to the usual high that one gets from the exertion of the body and the freeing of the soul of a day on the trail. I plan to go back next weekend and do it again. I can¢t wait!Stay tuned,