Date: 2003-07-22
From: Jarman Gap

To: Blackrock Hut
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: scattered clouds

start Jarman Gapdestination Blackrock HutThere was thunder off and on all night, but just a sprinkling of rain early this morning. The water source is still too silty to filter well so I boil some water to carry with me. I am very much disappointed with the Shenandoahs so far. I thought the trail would be more level, and higher miles could be done. So far, it has been a roller coaster of ups and downs, and my time is worse than it was before. I fear that my lunch of yeast rolls yesterday and my pasta meal last night did not provide me with enough fuel to hike for today. By mid morning it is raining. A slow warm rain which is delightful since it cools me off and runs the bugs away. By noon the rain was gone though. I am dragging most of the day. Finally after a lunch of bagel and peanut butter, I begin to get some energy. Mudbutt and I are sitting on the trail close to a parking lot when Buzz and Chris drive in. We talk to them for a few minutes, listening to their stories of bear sightings this morning. We meet a couple of students hiking and spend lunchtime talking with them. I dig my radio out, thinking that some music would help the time pass faster. It is a cheap radio from Big Lots and does not pick up very well. When I do get a station, it wanders in and out. I put it away and trudge on. As is my habit, I wait for Mudbutt at all the road crossings. This is a safty precaution for both of us. I stay out of sight of the road until I see her. We take a long break late in the afternoon. We are both having a hard time with the ups and downs. The last 2.5 miles to the shelter seemed extremely long, but when I saw the water source I forgot all about the steep climb up out of here in the morning. There is a long pipe buried way back into the hill. Ice cold water flows out of the pipe and down the rocks that line the ground. I do not even filter the water. I drink a quart of water as I stretch. Having the pack off of my back makes me feel light and I walk around enjoying the freedom. I fix some mashed potatos for supper and a glass of instant milk. I long for cookies, double stuf Oreos to go with my milk. I settle for dunking a yeast roll in it. A huge rat runs under neath the shelter. I am grateful I have a tent to sleep in. He looked big enough to do some damage to a sleeping bag. There is a different kind of bear proof food storage here for the foodbags. It is a long pole anchored into the ground. There are several iron hooks on the top. A long pole with a hook attached to it is chained to the pole. The object of the game, and it was a game for Mudbutt and I is to put your foodbag loop on the end of the pole, raise it up 10 feet into the air and snag it on the hooks splaying out from the top of the pole. Now keep in mind how short we are and trust me, we are short. Then keep in mind how long the pole is to hook your food with. Probably a 10 foot pole. One would think that it is chained to the pole to keep it from being laid aside and lost. But no, it is chained to the pole to keep it from crashing into your head as you attempt to snag your bag. It sounds real easy. Hook your food bag, lift the pole and snag your bag on the hook. Yeah, right!! First of all the pole weighs a ton. My food bag weighs a ton. Secondly the ground beneath you is slanted. The laws of gravity are working against you. You are too tired to play foodbag toss. It reminds me of those performers at the circus that put a pole in their mouth and walk round trying to balance something on the end of it. I am certain that is what I looked like, as I played hook the bag. At least I got it done before the lightning started! It is just like the government to make something really hard out of something really easy. Remember we are in a National Forest!! A cable slung between two trees is just too simple. A severe thunderstorm moves in while we are eating. When I get through and go back to my tent, I have plenty of water that blew through my front door. I had neglected to put the flap up. I mopped up best I could with my pack towel. One last trip to the privey ( I hope ) and I crawl into bed. I hope two Tylenol PM will help me sleep tonight. That and the sound of rain on my tent. Last night my tentsite was sloped to one side. Tonight it is sloped front to back. Tomorrow night maybe I will get lucky and find a level spot. After a while the rain lets up and I hear a Whiporwil calling. It is a sorrowful sound, but puts me to sleep. total miles 11.8