Date: 2017-10-02
From: Stealthsite at 1123.7

To: Stealthsite at SB mile 1154.4
Miles today: 30.4

10/2/17 - Day 125 - 30.4 milesStealthsite st 1123.7 to stealthsite at 1154.4On trail at 6:45 as the sun is just coming up - any earlier and I'd need my headlamp. Seems like I finally have a good consistent schedule. Trying to get another 30+ mile day to set up a short day to finish. Crossed into Maryland at 7:30 and entered PenMar park. There was a water fountain so I was able to fill up my water bottles. It's such a luxury to have water that doesn't need treatment or filtering. It's really a speed thing. When you have to set up the filter or treatment drops, it can take 15 minutes or so just to get water.The trail looked pretty level on my app but the rocks were the wildcard. Just trying to be patient when I come across them and make good time when there aren't any. There were a few nice climbs of 500' and 800' and I was happy to have them knowing that there won't be any more.  Got hungry early so I had lunch around 11:30 at the Ensign Cowall Shelter. I stayed here a couple years ago on a weekend hike with the OCSJ. As I got to the shelter, I met a group of 3 guys out for their very 1st backpack trip. They were asking about the terrain up ahead so I showed them my app. They were very over-prepared and they knew it. They were all carrying huge packs and kept saying how it was their 1st trip. They were wondering if they could get 8 more miles today and I just told them to take their time and be patient. They had jeans and cotton t-shirts on - probably the absolute worse thing to wear for hiking.  Finished my lunch by noon and got moving quickly. No time for lounging around if I want to get 30 miles in. Passed the 1st timers in about 30 minutes on a nice steep climb. 2 of them looked miserable and I know that feeling of being wiped out on a climb. I tried to be encouraging letting them know they were almost at the top and that it was the last big climb of the day.  The weather has been incredible since the heat broke a couple days ago and I don't think I've had to hike in the rain since MA. I'll take it!! I came up to the original Washington Monument and climbed the steps to the top. It's only about 40-50' tall. There were a couple of guys up there with cameras getting pictures of the migrating hawks. The past couple of days have had a few nice parks that I'd like to visit when I have more time to explore. It was about 4:30 and the park had a pavilion with picnic tables so I figured I could have dinner here now and walk until dark instead of walking till I can't stand the hunger anymore. I cooked up 2 packages of Spanish rice, my last dinners. The food bag is getting nice and light!! My gas canister also ran out so it was perfect timing! Since I was in a park, there was also water and trash cans. I was able to lighten up my bag and it's really starting to sink in that this hike is just about done.  Tonight is my last chance to get some night hiking in so I had an energy drink mix at 5:30 - hope I'm able to sleep tonight. I had the last climb of my trip just as the sun was setting so I got some good views from the top and it got dark quickly as I headed back down. It was neat how as the sun went down, the bugs got louder. The trail also got pretty rocky and was tough to make any time, especially with the darkness. I put on my headlamp and moved along. After I got my 30 miles I started looking for a flat spot to set up on for the night. I'll admit I was getting a little creeped out at all the noises coming from the sides of the trail and it was tough to look to the sides with the rocky trail - I had to keep my head facing forward and looking down. At one point I stopped to look to the right and there were a set of eyes looking right at me! I thought it was a wolf or coyote just from the height of it so I kept moving. About 20 yds up the trail I look to my right again and there's another set of eyes but this time I could see clearly that it was a deer. I told him to get away or he's gonna get eaten by a wolf!  Finally found what I thought was a flat spot to set up on. Blew up the sleeping pad and got all set up in the tent and realized that it was sloped pretty bad - Oh well, I'm not moving now. Set the alarm for 5:30 to get an extra early start tomorrow and off to sleep.