Date: 2009-05-15
From: Bear's Den Hostel

To: Harper's Ferry, WV
Miles today: 20.4

Woke up very early at the hostel as we wanted to make sure we got to Harper's Ferry before the ATC Headquarters closed at 5pm. We made an oatmeal breakfast, which I supplemented with the rest of the sweet potato casserole and three pieces of cold pizza! Hiking in the morning was a little rough until we crossed the Virginia/West Virginia border. Finally done with the longest state on the trail and up on a ridge where the hiking was easier. Ate lunch at a shelter 9 miles out of town and then got to Headquarters by 3:30. Got our traditional pictures taken as the 59 and 60 hikers to go through so far this season. Signed a big register and were able to find a picture of my god father and pops friend Dave Reeve from his thru hike in 1997. After headquarters we went to the outfitter to get me a temporary replacement knife and then went across the street to get some ice cream! At about 6pm we were picked up on the Maryland side of the Potomac River by Andy Dayton EA alum class of 1968. He had invited us to stay with him and his wife about a year ago. It was wonderful, he took us up a very steep driveway to there house on top of Elk Mountain. It is in a pretty meadow and has a great view. We settled in and showered before getting to know our host and sharing Episcopal memories. He then started cooking dinner for us and his wife Ekkie showed up and helped. The meal was delicious and huge. Its maincourse was prime rib! We ate and then slept very well.WVA birds: 55 New species: 4 (Great blue Heron, Black Vulture, Warbling Vireo, Baltimore Oriole)WVA list: 55 Trip list: 116Virginia Bird list: Blue-headed Vireo, Carolina Chickadee, American Crow, Black-throated Green Warbler, Pileated Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Golden-crowned Kinglet, American Goldfinch, American Robin, European Starling, House Sparrow, Morning Dove, Canada Goose, Song Sparrow, Eastern Phoebe, Common Grackle, Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay, White-throated Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Downey Woodpecker, Carolina Wren, Tree Swallow, Northern Mockingbird, Eastern Bluebird, Osprey, Eastern Towhee, Brown-headed Cowbird, Turkey Vulture, Tufted Titmouse, Broad-wing Hawk, Chipping Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Hairy Woodpecker, Vesper Sparrow, Barred Owl, Pine Siskin, Common Raven, Black & White Warbler, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Hermit Thrush, Red-winged Blackbird, House Finch, Eastern Meadowlark, Gray Catbird, Field Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Brown Thrasher, Louisiana Waterthrush, Cliff Swallow, Pine Warbler, Red-tailed Hawk, Hooded Warbler, Ovenbird, Worm-eating Warbler, Great-crested Flycatcher, Wood Thrush, Tree Swallow, Wild Turkey, Red-eyed Vireo, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Chimney Swift, Yellow-throated Warbler, American Redstart, Rock Pigeon, Killdeer, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Northern Parula, Cerulean Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Barn Swallow, Solitary Sandpiper, Canada Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Cooper's Hawk, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Acadian Flycatcher, Little Blue Heron, Veery, Blackpoll Warbler, Eastern Wood Pewee, Fish Crow, Prarie Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Least Flycatcher, Woodcock, Black-billed Cuckoo, Common Yellowthroat, White-eyed Virio, Swainson's Thrush, Northern Waterthrush, Kentucky Warbler, Black Vulture, Great Blue Heron .