Date: 2013-07-08
From: Tom Floyd Wayside

To: Gravel Springs Hut
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Tom (Molasses):Day 11 - Monday July 8 ¢ Found that a sleeping bag on wood is not nearly as comfortable as on ground. Think I¢ll stick to the tent ¢ although the tent is more work.   Shortly after beginning the hike today, we entered Shenandoah National Park (SNP) at the northern boundary. We will be in SNP for next 100 miles or so. Much more moderate terrain than previously. Did our first double-digit mileage day ¢ 11 miles. I think the legs are now ready for the longer mileage days, but aerobically I need improvement. The uphills are absolute torture. Every 100 steps or so, I have to stop and regroup. Maybe that¢s why we are only averaging a wimpy 1 mph. We keep passing a lot of northbound hikers (NOBOs) who have been hiking for the past 3 months, so of course they are in great hiking shape and are averaging 3-4 mph. Hope I can build up to that speed at some point. Most of our hike today criss-crossed the skyline drive in SNP ¢ one spectacular view after another. Arrived at Gravel Springs Shelter at 5:30 where we met Water Tank, Nukon, and Bill. Nukon and Bill are SOBOs (southbound hikers) like us, some of the few we have encountered so far. Nukon turned 61 today ¢ his birthday! Bill had been at the shelter for 2 days recovering form a copperhead snake bite. He went to the privy at night without a headlamp and stepped on the snake. We decided not to go to the privy that night! He is planning on continuing his hike after the swelling in his foot goes down¢¦ it looked twice the size of a normal foot. If I had been bitten by a copperhead, I¢m pretty sure that would have ended my AT hike. Met another hiker ¢ Dixie Grits ¢ from Mississippi. He is a bear stalker ¢ loves taking photos of bears. Chases them thru the woods. He sleeps in a hammock holding an airhorn in case attacked by bears. Also met Funny Feet and Coffee who were in tent next to ours. They were just hiking for one week. Funny Feet is my age and her son is about 40 ¢ from Columbus OH. Great people who ended up hiking with us for next few days and we enjoyed getting to know them. Had to sleep on unlevel tent site again. This time the slant was downhill so didn¢t roll into Scott but kept thinking I was pushing thru the foot end of the tent!I have sent some photos to Cassie from my iPhone which she has posted on this site for us, but I have hundreds of pics on my camera which I haven¢t been able to upload until I get the right computer access. Hoping I can do it from my sister and brother-in-law¢s house in Afton VA when we get there.Scott (Mac&Cheese):We left Tom Floyd Wayside Shelter and entered Shenandoah National Park (SNP). It is well kept and the trail is flat with less obtruding rocks. We met northbound thru-hikers that were very friendly. ¢Lifesaver¢ was ending her hike and was sad. ¢Snickers¢ took one week off to visit his family in South Dakota where he played linebacker for the SD State college football team. Part of the forest was burned. I am eating less and we are hiking more miles. I trust the Good Shepherd to care for my needs. My pack is digging into my left shoulder but I get by. At Gravel Springs Hut we met Bill. He was previously bitten by a copperhead and went to the hospital. Also met Dixie Grits, a thru-hiker who chases bears! ¢Coffee¢ and his mom, ¢Funny Feet¢, camped next to us. I love them! Our campsite was slanted and my Dad slid down the tent once again.