Date: 2016-05-30
From: Bears Den Hostel

To: Harpers Fery WV High Street
Miles today: 20.5

At Bears Den we made our own pancake breakfast. They left the batter and griddle out so we mixed it and started cooking. I ate 5 pancakes and was full. I got going about 8am. I walked down to the parking area first to see the carving of a bear in a tree trunk. It looked really good. Someone has some skills! My goal was to go 16 miles to a campsite then tomorrow walk 4 miles into Harper's Ferry for breakfast. Not too far into the hike I reached the Virginia border into West Virginia. I hiked over 500 miles through Virginia to get here! Yes, another state left behind! The initial walk was more up and down,then I came out of the woods to Ravens Rock lookout. It was beautiful! Even though I am afraid of heights, I took off my pack and sat down with my feet hanging off the edge nice. More hikers showed up and decided to stay for a while enjoying the view. When I got back onto the Roller-coaster, the forest changed from very thick to new growth and it wasn't so full of vegetation. No more towering Ash trees. I finally reached to the north end of the Roller-coaster...fantastic! After that, the trail leveled out but there were many sections full of rocks so that slowed me down. The day was a little warm, about 80 degrees, but overall, it was a nice day. I stopped by the AT Blackburn Center for a break and was given a soda and some cake. It is owned by the AT club, they have functions there, and have bunks for hikers in a separate cabin. It was a quarter mile hike down and now I had to hike the quarter mile up. I started heading north again only to be greeted with more rocky parts. I made my way to the David Lesser Memorial Shelter which was very nice. I am actually going 6 more miles to a campsite. There is no water on the way and no water at the campsite either so I must stock up here and carry more than normal. It was quite a hike to get water, quarter mile down which means I have to come back up a quarter mile . It is tough doing miles that you don't get credit for. Aurora and Conundrum were already at the at the shelter with their tent pitched. I rested a bit after I got water. Simple Man, Pinky and Quirk were taking a long break there also, they have the same plan as I do.As I hike on, the trail is noticeably more rockier than earlier. That made it really tough to walk on. I was fortunate to see a lot of squirrels and chipmunks. You might have observed that I do not have any pictures of chipmunks...that is because they are so darned quick and shy. I've tried to take pictures but have not been successful. I arrive at the campsite and Spider-Man is there with his mother and brother. I talk to them for a bit and make the decision to walk to Harpers Ferry, 4 more miles. It wasn't much of a campsite so since I had the energy I thought I should move on. I give the other hikers most of my water and head out. I met a father and son who were section hiking and walk the rest of the way with them. They are finishing their hike and then heading out of town. The hike in to Harpers Ferry is pretty and there are some historical landmarks which I stop and read. I like to take my time and read all the historical markers. That made for a slow walk though. I arrived into the historical part of town and checked into Towns Inn hostel. It is an old building. I settle in my bunk, take a shower, go next door to the restaurant and stay there a couple of hours, relaxing, eating and drinking wine. What a nice ending to along day.