Date: 2004-06-09
From: Waynesboro, VA

To: Calf Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: few clouds

¢Pack is way too heavy . . . I¢m dragging a very heavy anchor today. I think it came from the Titanic.¢- Myst, from Calf Mountain Shelter RegisterBoy it¢s great to be back out again! I purposefully left Waynesboro at 1 p.m. so I wouldn¢t be tempted to do a long day ¢ the first 2 shelters are spaced out at 7 and 20 miles from Waynesboro. I felt pretty good today, despite the 92-degree weather. I did feel winded and tightness in my chest a couple of times but that¢s more a function of this being only my fourth hiking day in the last 14 days.There¢s nowhere else I would rather have gotten back on than here in Shenandoah National Park where it¢s so nicely graded, and no ascents over 1000 feet. This is ¢excellent-good¢ walking. Tomorrow I¢ll push into the mid-teens, give my body a chance to get reacquainted with the hike, and maybe I¢ll be able to stretch the days out after that ¢ after tomorrow¢s forecasted 93 degree weather we¢re supposed to get cooler weather with highs in the mid-70¢s for a few days. I¢m carrying lots of water and Gatorade mix, and as per instruction, I¢m keeping my urine clear and over hydrating for a bit.I met a very cool couple on the trail today ¢ Ian and Norma (Norma thru-hiked in 1994 as ¢Miracle Whip¢) from Fairbanks, Alaska. We picked succulent wild strawberries atop Bear Den Mountain (2,885 feet). They are section hiking the Shanies, so they¢re only out for a week, and as I¢m taking it slow, I¢ll probably see them often. I also spotted a newborn fawn whose evasive tactic was to stick its head in a bush as if to say, ¢If I can¢t see you, you can¢t see me,¢ despite nearly its entire body being on the trail. It still has much to learn.The scene at the shelter is really cool. I see Mt. Doo and Wooly for the first time since Trail Days. They went home to Pennsylvania for a week. Also, Jabberwock, Yippie, and Moma¢s Boy are here. I hadn¢t seen them in nearly a month. Luna, Ian and Norma and 4 SOBO section hikers are here as well, and we all have an ¢excellent-good¢ time telling stories into the evening.It was an especially good day as I talked to my family and my friends at work for the first time since the hospital stay, and while surprised, they were all supportive. I had a great conversation with Dan Casten and Bruce Jurgens from my workplace (REI Boston) ¢ it was great to catch up on the news at work. Dan was especially enlightening, and helpful, by asking a simple question: ¢Are you having fun?¢ It took me aback and roiled in my head all day ¢ just what the hell am I doing? And why was I pushing so hard at one point?While I¢ve never considered thru-hiking unadulterated fun, but an endeavor that is physically and psychologically satisfying, it begged the question ¢ ¢Why don¢t I have a bit more fun, and relax?¢ It was great to hear that several colleagues from work want to come out and hike with me when I get closer to the Northeast. That would be ¢excellent-good¢ as I would have to take it easier and slow down and enjoy good company. This prospect lightened my day, and now I¢m considering not attending graduate school this fall, and eliminating the September 6th deadline and stretching out the hike to insure that I have enough time to complete the thru-hike and allow for a more leisurely pace.There¢s still a long way to go, and many things can occur, but this is a great restart!