Date: 2008-04-14
From: Front Royal, VA

To: Manassas Gap Shelter, VA
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Ok it's official, I'm hiker trash again! This morning, Karen and I were in no hurry, but several small children on the floor above us woke us up @ 7:00 a.m. YUCK! So we finished our card game from the nite before (yup.. I won again hee hee), ate some breakfast, and got on the road @ 10:30 to head to the trail head on US 522. As a surprise, I got out of the shower,and Karen was dressed in her hiking clothes. She wanted to start me off at least for a few miles, and I was thrilled. So we got to the parking area @ Chester Gap, and I really thought I was going to vomit, but didn't thankfully. We started hiking @ 11:10 a.m. Pretty brisk day in the 50'S all day. It was still amazing to be back, and we took a few breaks to enjoy it all. The town water was disgusting, so @ the first stream, we dumped that water out and got "natural" water. I love my steri-pen by the way.We hiked until a bit after noon, and then we had to part ways so she could head back and drive home, one of us has to be the adult and actually work for a living! It was easier to part since she hiked with me, but I still had some tears as I headed up High Knob.Soon, I got into my rythym, but it was one of those days that I got hot/cold constantly. I was so glad the sun was out..that always helps mentally.The trail was a bit of everything, dirt, mud, rocky, grassy fields, etc. I had 3 climbs today, none were that bad. I'd be lying if i said today was anything but spectacular. Despite being off 6 months, I still felt some power in my legs and could keep going up hill. My right butt cheek is hurting though, I think it's residual pain from a hamstring strain I got about a month ago. I pushed a bit too hard one day, running during my lunch hour @ work. I'll be fine though. Just short of Jim & Molly Denton Shelter, I had to stop and eat lunch. It was about 2:00 p.m. and I was starving. Then I got to the shelter..man what a great place. A shower and all! I soaked up the warm sun on this great bench while I signed my first shelter register for the year. I looked @ the begining and saw some 07 hikers I had met, but I didn't see Persistent in there.I almost decided to stay, but figured I should take advantage of the weather.I got to VA 638 and met a man with a camper who was slacking his 2 friends for over a month. One of the hikers will complete his section hike of the trail. Pretty cool.The guy was from Portland and had a litle white dog named Chance. Nice guy, but I had to get going.I got over the 2nd climb of the day and was @ Manassas Gap and took a shoes off break. I wanted to check my feet, and as I'd hoped, these Keen Voyageurs are rockin. No hot spots.There is a small wooden bridge the PATC club is redoing. It's nice and I left them a thankyou note. I left again at 4:00, which would get me @ the shelter @ @ 5:15 p.m. Not bad for getting such a late start huh?It was up the 3rd climb of the day. I was in a trance, but I did notice my feet started aching @ the 4 hr mark earlier today. I expected that though.Just before the shelter, I ran into a man who lives nearby...super nice and he was scouting some places for turkey hunting. He said his wife was always getting on his case because they never use the wonderful trails in their backyard. I encouraged him to explore the AT.So right @ 5:15 on the dot, I'm @ the shelter. There's a cool guy here named Aaron, from Baltimore. He has been out for 5 days, going southbound, and I swear has 75 lbs of gear. He's hilarious..a burnt out chef, and we swapped stories and cooked dinner together. He built a small fire which was nice.I was definiely out of my flow for camp set up. It took me a bit longer, but here I am...back in my hammock where I love it. I"m a bit concerened about the cold tonight...it's supposed to get to 32 degrees, but I didn't bring my sleeping pad. I'm wearing all my normal cold weather stuff, but I added my new rainpants and my Frogg Togg jacket too. It's curently 49.4 degrees @ 8:19 p.m. I'm a bit chilled, so I should get zipped up.Oh, only took 3 tries for the bear bagging...also not bad considering how long ago I did that!I'm pretty wiped, so I'm going to get some zzzz's. Alarm is set for 6:15, we'll see how it goes. It's great to be back (even if it's cold!)~Certain