Date: 2007-10-26
From: Bulldog's House

To: Campton Gap Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: moderate rain

mi. 11sleep shelterdest. Campton Gap Shelter day 106 It felt great to sleep in a warm place. The bed was a little strange. Nothing against the bed, just not want I am used to. I think when I get back I may spend some time on the floor, but most likely in the hammock. Luckily I have a hammock stand I can setup indoors. Bulldog came in and woke in up at dark:30. He had to be at work early. I loaded up and got dropped off at the trailhead by just after 7am. It was cold and looking like rain, but I was off. Thanks again to Bulldog and his family for taking me in for the night. It means a lot to me when someone takes me into their home. He started a thru this year and is planning on doing a thru sometime soon. I will definitly be sending him a care package at some point. I was thinking about it and I think I am going to start sending people I know one on their hikes. That might be my way of returning all the help that was given to me. I already know a couple people thru hiking next year. I'm sure that number will grow. The trail today wasn't bad at all. Some rocks and really small bumps, but nothing to speak of. Today I got to the trail for the Washington Momument. No way I was going to miss it. It was all of 100 yards or less off the trail. It was pretty interesting. It was only a couple stories tall. Luckily for me it was unlocked. I walked up the dark spirl staircase to the top lookout. Yup no views. Everything i socked in. I still took a couple pics. You could see the clouds coming in and out a little. I got a couple that I hope turn out going out. It is of the light coming through the door down the stairs. Very light at the end of the tunnel. I'll have to get them posted if they turn out. One of these days I need to upgrade my photo skills. Today I also walked past a campsite with showers. There is one in theis states with free showers. I almost took one. But it looked like rain and I wanted to enjoy being dry all long as possible. I did use the toliet for the second time today. The little pleasures in life. About 2 minutes after I left the misty rain started. So I put the pack cover back on and the rain jacket on. After that the sprinkling started. Now I don't mind hiking in the rain. I am just getting a little tired of it. It is also a little cooler out. So this is the cold rain. I decided to hit up the next shelter. It was under repair, but I figured it was worth a shot. It turned out to be .3 off. It was fenced in. I could have stepped over it. But it was all tore up inside. I did luck out though. This one has a covered porch swing. Only 2 people wide, but more importantly it was dry. So I sat down. I was tired all day. I stayed up way to late last night. After 12:30 sometime. I figured this was a dry place, so why not nap. I ate some lunch and got some sleep. Now the plan was t leave b 2pm and still b able t make i the 9 miles t where I originally wanted t finish today.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    I finally got started around 3pm. There was a shelter in 5 and the next 4 after. My plan was if I could make it by 5pm I would step it up and push on. Well I got to the first on just before 5. But I was sick of hiking in the rain. I was starting to get cold too. So I headed to the shelter. I walked up and who did I see sitting there but Shooting Star. I he was at a shelter back in NY. He is jumping all around. I was surprised to see him. We talked and he filled me in on everyone in front of me. It doesn't look good for me catching anyone. If I can't catch up with Firewook when he gets off for a few days. I know of 4 people just behind a day or 2. I can always slow down when I want some company. The shelter ended up being my fullest to date. The guide says it is make for 4. Probibly a conservative number. It is raining and I didn't feel like screwing with hammocking so I am in here. The total number is around 8. Nice and cosy. But there is always room for 1 more when it is raining. Tomorrow I am shooting for Harper's Ferry. I am told I am sleep on the porch at the outfitter. I am planning on spending some cash there anyways. I am looking at a Z-rest sleeping pad, new headlamp, some new waterproofing my pack cover isn't cutting it, and maybe some insulation. It is going to drop into the 30's starting on sunday. I am also going to be over 3000 feet again. An insulated jacket is in order.