Date: 2008-10-23
From: Wildcat Ridge Trail

To: Loft Campground
Miles today: 14.0

Today started very well, even if cold, in the middle of the day was a near disaser and at the end a good evening.I got up just before 6 and the temp in the tent was 34. Outside it was 30. But I had slept well and warm in sleeping bag and fleece. I left the fleece, long underwear that are my jammies on as I started out. I think I had 5 layers on the top half of me and at least 2 on the rest of me.True to form, after going down the trail for half an hour I stowed the down jacket and the long underwear top. I still get hot when I hike.The trails in Shenendoah are wonderful. They are well graded. There are no or few steep areas and not very many rocks either. It is a joy to walk on such trails, especially for an old lady with a gimpy knee.I was making spectacular time for me. By 10:10 I had walked close to 5 miles. I was contemplating getting water at the Black Rock Shelter and going on a couple more miles before lunch. At the rate I was going I might be at the campground by 3 in the afternoon. Wouldn't that be nice.I had just gone up the small knob before the shelter and though I would sit down on a long and rest. I reached my left hand to the log; my left knee was starting to bend when the right foot skidded out from under me on some small rolling nuts in the trail. Since my left knee cannot carry my weight when flexed very much, it folded like an accordian. Forced maxium flexion is not a recommended way to increase your range of motion. It hurt!I sat in the trail for a while. After all, I needed a break, just not like this. After a while the pain was bearable and I got up and limped to the shelter, maybe a mile or so.I filtered my water and ate my lunch with my leg up on the bench of the picnic table. After lunch it seemed to do better and with the help of some pain meds I actally got all the way to Loft Campground by 4:30.The knee is a bit swollen but not too bad. I will see what it is like in the AM. I hope it will not end my trip. It is very ironic that I have hiked over all kinds of rough trail getting here and then mess up the knee trying to sit down after getting to such a nice trail.I met some SOBO thru-hikers and also section hikers. First there was Seth and Rick. Seth recognized me and remembered me from last year! We had stayed the same night at Troutdale in North Carolina in the church hostel. He gets an A+ for memory!I also met Water Boy, a SOBO section hiker and Timber and Mountain Goat, a brother/sister pair thru-hiking. The last two looked young and clean and full of energy.At the Black Rock Shelter I met Coyote and Road Runner. These NOBO section hikers had missed water sources and were suffering from dehydration headache and resting for the day.Walking in these woods is interesting. I watch the seasons change from day to day. There are still some red leaves to make the day bright, but different ones. Going from Roanoke to the James River the red, I think, was an understory of Dogwood. Then when the wind knocked most of those leaves down, Sumac gave the red accent color. Now the Sumac is leafless but the maple trees are providing the red. I have learned at least 2 trees with very distinctive leaves: Sassafras and Tulip Poplar. I like knowing at least a few of these Eastern trees.When I got to Loft Campround there were 2 bucks with very nice points grooming themselves in my tent site. I think I saw 5 deer this evening. Everyone says you will see plenty of deer and also bear in the Shenandoahs but so far I have seen no bear.After putting up my tent I hitched a ride from a Baptist minister and his wife to the Wayside a mile away to get a hamburger and milkshake for dinner. I got a couple muffins and an apple for breakfast. The presence of these waysides at campground in the park means that I did not have to carry all my meals as I go through the park. Nice, though pricey.After I ate there were 2 gentlemen backing out of the parking lot and I asked if they were going back to the campground and would they give me a lift. And they did. I was happy not to have had to walk 2 more miles.So now I am snug in my tent after using the nice amenities of flush toilets and hot water. All food and smellables are in the bear locker and I am ready for sleep.I hope the knee is better tomorrow and doesn't really stiffen up.