Date: 2015-06-04
From: Blackrock Hut, VA

To: Pinefield Hut, VA
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 66, Blackrock Hut, VA to Pinefield Hut, VA - 13.2 miles:I woke at 7:00am to rain pelting my rainfly. Without needing to look outside I knew sloppy conditions similar to yesterday would be waiting. I killed time by eating a pop tart, an orange, and some chocolate while packing my gear. Wearing my shirt and boxers underneath my rain pants and nano puff jacket helped dry them overnight. Waiting for me, however, were my pants, jacket, socks, and boots still soaked from yesterday. I paid a visit to the nearby privy and, despite the unpleasant aroma that accompany most, the warmth inside caused me to linger for longer than I usually do.Returning to the tent sites hidden down in a valley where Moosehead, Burnsides, and I camped, I noticed none of us were in a hurry to start hiking with the rain falling. Moosehead invited me into his funky smelling tent and we blew an hour or so talking about the upcoming terrain and listening to music. Eventually the rain slowed long enough for us to break down our mud-soaked tents, pack them into our packs, and hit the trail at 10:15am.The only goal we made for the day was to reach the Loft Mountain wayside ~10 miles away, break for lunch while escaping the rain, and reevaluate from there. Our only logical options for the day were either Pinefield Hut at ~13 miles or High Top Hut at ~21 miles. Thick fog and off-and-on rain would define the day, eliminating the possibility of enjoying any of the views we'd pass. The terrain was easygoing, but the constant rain zapped our spirits and we'd average a gradual ~2 mile pace. Passing through Brown's Gap, we ran into the volunteers that hosted us at the Grace Lutheran Church in Waynesville as they section hiked on their day off.Soon after as we were climbing a gentle uphill, I spotted a mother deer and her fawn standing on the trail ahead. We continued towards it and only when we were within ~10-15ft did the young one run a few feet up the trail and its mother would follow. This continued for the better part of a couple hundred yards - the pair pausing and watching as we neared before retreating before repeating again. Finally the mother was able to persuade its young one to head off the trail instead of along it and we passed by as they stood hiding beneath a bush no more than 5ft away. It was a really neat few minutes we enjoyed. Mooshead also taught Burnsides and I the basics of improv and we'd pass several miles playing related games. Just after 1:30pm we reached the intersection of the AT and the Frazier Discovery Trail where Safari was hanging out on his phone. We exchanged a few comments before we took the FDT the half mile down leading to the Loft Mountain wayside and Safari continued on. He seems to be following his own agenda now which is cool. We reached the Wayside, void of any visitors for all the fog has the Shenandoah's feeling earely quiet so far, and took refuge inside for the next ~2 hours.The wayside was part cafeteria-style restaurant and part national park gift shop. I was able to get a passport stamp for my national park passport, something I haven't done since this past Fall. I'll be passing very close to several as I continue through the greater northern Virginia region, but will only be able to visit one more in Harper's Ferry, WV. We lounged in the wayside restaurant, enjoying our overpriced food - a BLT, side of fries, and a Pepsi for me - for a good while, having decided we were only going to cover another few miles to the first shelter. Burnsides and I even dozed off at our table for ~20 minutes before waking up and talking ourselves into returning to the weather outside. Fortunately no more than a few miles were left and we'd cover them in under 2 hours. On the way back to the AT, we took the second path of the FDT, a 1.2-mile loop intersecting the AT in 2 locations. We can now say we're officially thru-hikers of the Frazier Discovery Trail.Up and down some gradual small mountains and over Cross Ivy Creek, we'd reach Pinefield Hut by 6:30pm. The hut is full with 9 hikers and I'm on a top bunk, but I prefer it since I won't be shoulder-to-shoulder with anyone else. I quickly spread out my gear, hung up a few things to hopefully dry a little overnight scarfed down a meal of pb&j tortillas, sausage and cheese link, and a couple pieces of chocolate. I'm currently wrapping up this entry as I listen to a hiker below me who obviously thinks highly of himself from his nearth-death experience with an alligator, leading to his 5 minutes of fame on the worldwide stage when his video became viral.The rain is still falling like it has been for the past ~36 hours, and looks like it'll be continuing into the night. Tomorrow brings a smaller chance of rain so hopefully we're able to rebound with our mileage as well as potentially enjoy a view or 2 in the process. The high point has us topping out at 3,534ft and the terrain profile looks to continue in relatively the same manner as the past couple of days, with the addition of a handful of climbs.The highlight of the day will come soon after beginning in the form of the 900-mile mark which I'll reach within the first ~5 miles. We should end tomorrow having completed around half of the Shenandoah's as well. Onward.Here's to the feeling of dry socks at night, AT-hiking deer, and having completed 900 miles by the time this entry is posted.