Date: 2016-06-08
From: Ensign Cowall Shelter- Maryland

To: View Entry
Miles today: 139.0
Weather: fog

I have made some great progress since my last entry and have had some wonderful hiking. I crossed the 1000 mile marker some days back and have made it through Virginia (600 miles worth-the longest state on the AT). The Shenandoah in Virginia was very nice to walk in. Although the terrain did present some challenges at times (in the photo files you'll see a picture of a flow of rocks which is actually the trail in parts. In sections, there will be cleared areas, otherwise, its up and over!) Still it was easier walking. The wildlife was great. I have seen 8 bears to date; deer that are so unafraid of humans that they literally allow you to stand right next to them; raccoons that can get ornery and mischievous (I had one standing in the trail on hind legs just yelling at me as I approached-cranky!); toads, birds and florescent orange lizards (they don't look real-but they are); many beautiful birds. And snakes-as I've already mentioned and can do without. The flowers are beautiful, especially the Mountain Laurel.   Have some beautiful pics of these flowers in my photo log. I wish I had a camera that could take a good picture of the stars out here. They are so big in the sky. Beautiful.   As I am walking farther north I can definitely tell that there is more civilization around me. In the distance, I sometimes see city lights down in valleys. I can hear highway noises at times and find myself crossing roads more often than before. It is kind of surreal though, to be walking in thick, green, isolated forests only to appear through a small break out on to a busy highway. I cross the road to the trailhead on the other side and enter another small, barely visible path marked with the white blaze. On entering, I'm immediately enveloped back into nature like there is nothing else that exists but the trail. Its a brief contact that lets you know the world is still out there. One nice thing is cell service has improved,   Mary Jo was here visiting this last week and I was able to have a break from the constancy of the trail. She found me near Paris, VA and picked me up after a day of walking. I took one full day off but was able to do some slack packing on 2 of the days she was here. After sleeping very comfortably in an actual bed, she would bring me back to where she found me and pick me up farther up trail later in the day. Nice part of this is I could carry a lighter pack which gave me the opportunity to put in some good mileage. I managed to make it to Harper's Ferry, WV on the last day she was here. This put me right back on my schedule as I had intended to be there by June 7th. Yesterday, she brought me back to Harper's Ferry and she headed back home. I crossed over the Potomac River and was immediately in Maryland, where I am today. We had a great time while she was here. I managed to put a little needed weight back on as I've been losing too fast. Nice to be in the position not to care about taking in any and all calories I can get. Full meals, non-diet sodas, no food too rich. Today it was back to trail food. We also found an outfitters and I was able to buy a lighter, summer sleeping bag so I sent the heavier one home with Mary Jo. REI also stuck to their promise of replacing items purchased from them if there was any issue. I had a clip on my tent break 2 weeks after starting my walk. I was able to make a repair at that time thanks to a local man and some super glue, but have been worried about this clip holding up ever since.   They gave me a full refund and I now have a brand new tent. It's lighter than my other one by a few ounces (yes ounces matter in these packs!) And with my summer sleeping bag taking weight out as well, I think I did good.   We managed to find Portuguese while Mary Jo was here. He had contacted her the week before she left and they arranged a pick up location where we could find him. He has no cell phone so he contacts her through Facebook when he is in a town with a library. They set the time for 5:00 pm this past Sunday to meet on the Pennsylvania-Maryland boarder. It was an hour drive from where our hotel was but that's nothing.   The hard part was for him to show at this date and time and he had no way of telling us if he was unable to come. Anyway, we found the spot at 4:37 and he came walking up the trail at 4:38!. So nice to see him. The 3 of us went to a local restaurant and had a great dinner together, then we deposited him back to his spot. He is still a few days ahead of me. We walk similar daily mileage although I am planning to average a few more miles/day in the coming weeks (weather and trail permitting).   He rarely take a zero day but we are still hoping to meet up again as the walk progresses and hike together once more. He is a good walking partner and I enjoy his company.   Tomorrow I should be leaving Maryland and heading into Pennsylvania, my 6th state on the trail. I am a few days walk away from the halfway point and am looking forward to Part 2. The constant rain has let up-which has been a gift.   Wondering- About the obsession to lose ounces from my pack, but add pounds to my body.   Interesting dilemma...