Date: 2007-06-16
From: Bearfence Mtn Hut

To: Little Stony Mountain
Miles today: 18.1

On the trail by 7, which is normal for us. Crossed over Bearfense Mtn. and Hazeltop. As we had a little time before needing to be at Big Meadows at noon, Spock set up his pole cam. He attaches his tiny video camera to one of his hiking poles, then holds it above his head and records. He videoed me walking down the trail, then I videoed him. Spock took alot of video while I was with him. When his hike is completed, he'll edit all of it and turn his hike into a movie. As you might imagine in Shenandoah on a nice day, the trail was very crowded. We came into Big Meadows around 11:30 and found the Lodge. Five minutes later John, who arrived to take me home, found us. He was nice enough to drive us to the other end of the complex so Spock could have a nice restaurant lunch and do a little resupplying before continuing his hike. I then said goodbye to my hiking companion for the last two weeks and watched my brother head off. I was sad to have our time together end, but also happy to stop hiking. Two weeks was plenty. And now, a few private reflections.         What a wonderful experience to be able to share in Spock's journey and to know what the actual experience is like. Hiking is a pretty lonely thing, and can get incredibly mundane after doing it for eight or nine hours each day. One day, we set off at 8:11 am and got to the shelter that night at 8:15 pm, over twelve hours. I know he enjoyed having me with him. I think he worried more about me than he did himself, which helped. I remember after an especially grueling day of uphill, him clapping for me as I made it into camp and how it felt like a crowd cheering me to the finish line at the end of a marathon. He was very upbeat and motivational, doing all he could to keep my spirits up and I really appreciated it. We had pretty close to the same pace, and so were able to hike together the entire time. The Blue Ridge Mtns were really steep and tough for one who had to get into shape as he hiked, but I enjoyed the challenge and did the very best I could. I ended up going around 214 miles in two weeks and many of the other thru-hikers were impressed. Spock seemed somehow mellower in demeanor on the trail, and we got along really well. We talked alot about our growing up and played alot of silly games, like name that TV theme song. I don't really like the term "Bonding," but I don't know how else to describe what happened to us out there. We're much closer now for having shared this experience, and I get a little choked up thinking about it now that it's over. In short, we had one Hell of a time and I wouldn't have wanted to spend my vacation anywhere else. And I was lucky, all in all the weather the two weeks I was out there was fantastic. I enjoyed my new pack, especially the hydration bag. I had no problem with lack of water and only a little problem with eating. I didn't have any foot trouble except a couple blisters the second week. But, like I said earlier, I don't think I'm cut out to live that way of life for months at a time. A couple weeks is plenty and I'm very happy to be back home.         To close out today, Spock hiked about another ten miles to little Stony Mtn and set up camp on the mountain top. He called to tell me it was the best view so far in Shenandoah, and I said, "That figures." Also, he saw another bear. In Sheandoah, they have bear poles to hang your food on. In Shelters when there is no bear pole, Spock tosses a rope over a tree branch and hangs his food at night.