Date: 2015-05-17
From: Bears Den Hostel

To: Unnamed campsite
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: light rain

First: thank you Brian, guestbook commenter, who pointed out that we saw a shrew, not a mole. This is what happens when I don't have a readily available Internet connection. How did people manage before Wikipedia?The Bears Den Hostel was very cool. We spent the day watching the old "Star Wars" trilogy and basically doing nothing. We ate our pizza and ice cream supper with Shay, a thru-hiker we hadn't met before and Michael, a guest at the hostel. Of course, the puppy, named Chang Kai-Chek, was adorable. All shelters and hostels should have resident animals - some daily zootherapy to lessen the day's aches and pains.We left the hostel late (after a pancake breakfast) and tackled the remainder of the Roller Coaster. By nero-ing at the Bears Den, we ended up divided this harsh section into three parts, which is not bad, as I would have hated doing the whole Roller Coaster in one go. Sharp inclines, rocks as the predominant feature - more of the same. It is a very tiring and especially dull portion of the AT. The day was warm and muggy and small bursts of rain would fall though only momentarily.The guidebook indicated that we would cross the "Devil's Racecourse", a boulder field. With a name like that, I was terrified of a potential mountain of jagged rocks to overcome. In the end, I didn't even know where the Devil's Racecourse was because there was not any distinctive marking, terrain variation or even an increase in rock density. Guidebook, WHY would you scare me like that?!We finally finished the Roller Coaster and came across the Virginia-West Virginia state line! While exciting, we were still technically oscillating between both states for a few miles. Still, VA's end was near.The rest of the day's hike was alright as the Trail smoothed out a bit. We reached Keys Gap, the landmark dividing VA from WV. While I still think we are not fully out of VA yet (still a couple of miles to go), I will write up my NORTHERN VIRGINIA SUMMARY:- This segment is only 40-ish miles long and 13 of those miles are the Roller Coaster. Prior to arriving to the Roller Coaster and immediately after exiting it, the terrain was flat, well defined and cleared of any debris. Not a rock, stone or mineral in sight. I think Northern Virginia took pity on us :"Aight guys, listen. I know there is the Roller Coaster, and I know it's shit. Totally pointless. But, here's what I can do for you, I can make the segments before and after real nice, but that's it, man. Hope that's chill." It's OK, Northern Virginia, I appreciate your efforts.- Roller Coaster - rocky, viewless ridges. Worst "ride" ever. 1/10, would not go back. - For some reason, there were many, many small streams to cross. Rock hopping is not my idea of fun, especially when I need to skip from one angular, uneven and slippery rock to another with a still-weakened ankle. I managed by going very slowly and calculating the optimal path before attempting the stream crossing. Shrugs would patiently wait behind me and, once I finally crossed, would simply extend his long, sinewy legs and bounce across the stream in one leap. SO UNFAIR.- Bears Den Hostel was very cool. 10/10, would revisit.I am so relieved that Virginia is finally over. If I had to describe this state in one word, I would say that Virginia is an asymptote function reprensenting our progress towards the VA state line. When you leave Damascus, you feel like you are flying, like this state shouldn't be so bad. All the new, cool and exciting places, namely the Greyson Highlands, a definite favorite, and the numerous farmlands and cattle pastures are right at the beginning. However, as you progress through the miles, and the terrain and surrounding grow increasingly familiar and monotonous, you feel as though that border crossing is unobtainable, out of reach. The closer you get, the more that limit taunts you. Virginia so longPonies, cows, deer and racoonsNot flat like they sayTomorrow we hit Harpers Ferry.   - Axon