Date: 2007-04-19
From: Bears Den Hostel

To: Harpers Ferry
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: light rain

I'm sitting in Memphis Tennesse, the place i call home. Flew in from DC today and am here to visit family for 2 short days and back on the trail on Sunday. I just gotta tell you that being tossed right back into society after 52 days walking in the gloriously simple woods is really, really, really weird. but i'm gonna save that topic for after the hike is complete. since i havn't updated this thing since rockfish gap, i'll just do a quicky about my trip through the shenandoah national park. can you say WEATHER............My friend dropped me off on thursday the 12th with some very promising weather. what a joke. thursday i did a pretty easy hike to black rock hut and had the place to myself until 3:45 am, that is right, at 3:45 am eight kids from michigan busted in like it was a train robbery. i was like, do you guys know what time it is? anyway, i got up about the time they were winding down and friday ended up being a pretty day into hightop hut. it was the only day i really had any views of the park. the next three days were a blur of rain, rain, wind, cold, rain, wind, cold, rain, wind, cold and some more of that stuff i just mentioned. monday, the wind was blowing 40 with gusts on the ridges of 75. i was getting blown around like a rag doll. BUT....in a weird kind of way, i liked hiking through the stuff. it was so challenging to stay out there and hike in that stuff and not duck the weather in a hotel and i really think i got stretched alot by staying out there. i'm seriously glad i didn't cave. and you know, in the end, it really wasn't all that bad. i mean, i still have all my fingers and toes and all so i think i may have learned al little about traveling in inclement weather. i am a bit upset though that i didn't get better weather through the SNP because i am sure it is one pretty place on clear days. i ran into sweet sixteedn on sunday night at a shelter desighned for 8 but with all the rain we had 13 crammed in there like cord wood. it was cozy. monday, i did a long day and made it into front royal for an unplanned overnight at the center city motel. the hitch in and hitch out, i got picked up by the second car that came by. o.k.that gets me to tuesday. and tuesday was FUN.......about 6-8 miles into the hike i am checking out a shelter journal and see that Hobbit and Groovasaurus have taken a 0 in front royal a day ago and they are now less than a day in fornt of me. man, i have been reading these guys journals for sooooooooooooo long and i had a hunch that they may be at the bears den hostel that night, so guess what i did. i went for it and after a really fun, challenging, hilly, (the roller coaster) really cool hike, i pulled into the bears den at about 7 to find the Hobbit and Groove at the hostel. MAN, it was so good to meet those guys. i was really beginnig to feel like i was never going to see another through hiker. getting a little lonely really. we ahd a great visit and i had the pleasure and honor to hike inot harpers ferry the next day. hobbit broke out two cigars when we hit the 1000 mile mark (we marked a tree with green marker tape so the class of 07 would know the exact 1000 mile point and we had a little party in the woods. hobbit broke out his camera and we made a pretty funny video we hope to load up to u-tube. we marched into harpers ferry together (with the faithful hugo smells, the dog groove found about 300 miles back) like we were conquering heros. my friend dennis tokk those boys to the grocery and to a hotel and we parted ways. dennis took care of me last night and got me to the airport this morning for a quick trip home. will be back on the trail at 1 on the 22nd.a real big thanks to dr dick up at elk meadows for the great trail magic and the offer to help through the bad weather. thanks man......to the bears den hostel.....amazing place. really am kinda speechless about that place. to hobbit and groove. although we only hiked a day together, i feel like i've known you for years. thanks for letting me hang out with you guys. i hope to see both of you on up the trail.i'm gonna post some pics today or tomorrow.peace to all.......woodstock