Date: 2009-06-06
From: Tom Floyd Wayside Shelter

To: Stealth site 3.5 miles before Rod Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 23.4
Weather: overcast clouds

There were no early risers in the shelter that morning. The other two thru-hikers were only hiking the couple of miles into Front Royal. I had no need to stop there, as I had a maildrop at Bear's Den Hostel. I think I got on the trail around 8:40 with my wet socks and shoes. (One thing that I have found on the trail, is that it is the men who are the biggest complainers about their comfort level. They complain a lot about putting on wet shoes, about being cold, etc, whereas the ladies seem to just take what comes their way!). I heard gunshots all morning which, again, made me very, very sad. Coming out of the Shenandoahs, I dislike hunters more than ever! It's not right to take the wildlife out of the woods!   I passed by a large chain-link fenced area, which used to be a zoo. Later, I crossed over a boardwalk, then a road, and headed back into the woods. All of a sudden, I saw an animal lying right in the middle of the trail, which caused me to scream! Then, I noticed it was dead! It was some kind of cat (probably a bobcat) and was eaten up by flies and maggots. I wondered how long it had been there!   I finally reached the Jim and Molly Denton Shelter, which also had a large deck, as well as a wooden bench with a backrest! Nice! I took off my shoes and socks to give my blistering feet a break. The wetness of my footwear was causing my skin to rub off on my heels and toes, and several of my toenails were crushed and becoming black. I sat in the sunlight, dried my feet, snacked, and put on some moleskin. Mississipi and Blue Steel were still there from the night before. Later on, Check 6 and Old Goat came in, followed by Stud the Dud, Leif E, and McBride.   At the top of the first climb was a wooden bench. An older hiker was taking a break there. My blisters were causing me pain, so I decided it would be best for me to stop there and attend to them. The moleskin had already come off, so I used my remaining bandaids and moleskin and wrapped duct tape over them, leaving me no more supplies. It was a very warm day and I wasn't moving too quickly. I was disappointed with my new shoes. I hadn't experienced such problems with my first pair.   I stopped in at Manassasas Gap Shelter for a late lunch, now trailing the people that had come into the Denton shelter after me. It was now around 4 o'clock. There were two black rat snakes living in the rafters of the shelter, so no one wanted to sleep in there. In the trail registry was a recently drawn cartoon about stabbing the snakes with hiking poles. After waiting for McBride and his buddies to finish their fake card scoring in the register, I took a quick look, went to collect water, and moved on. I had hoped to get to Rod Hollow Shelter, but it was getting late.   I passed by Dicks Dome shelter, and moved beyond the snacking boys by the stream. They were planning to camp near the trail to the Sky Meadows State Park Visitor's Center. I told them I would see them there... Somehow I missed the spring, and came to signs reading no camping allowed within the state park boundaries... Great... It was getting late and I didn't know where the boundary ended! I passed through a nice field, where I saw a deer in the evening light. I pressed on and on, finally reaching the park boundary at Highway US 50. Well after 8 pm, with the sun setting, I headed across the busy road, and back into the woods. I had a climb ahead of me and there were no camp spots in site. Darkness was falling and I knew I was going to have to set up my hammock directly on the trail... I really didn't have a choice. I was very tired, my feet were all blistered, cut up from the duct tape, and at least two toenails were black. I scanned the trail for two well-spaced trees for my hammock as I continued to climb. Finally, I found some. I would have to step into the brush and hope there was no poison ivy. My hammock was all twisted up from trying to use the underquilt as a sleeping pad in the shelters. It was now dark and I was frustrated, trying to untwist it. Then, I heard voices coming down the trail in the dark! I tried to condense my pack contents and move them off the trail. Two men came along. "Are you a thru-hiker?" one asked."Yes.""Would you like some fried chicken?""ummm.. Okay." I had not expected such a question and didn't know who they were, but I was learning not to turn down food. The last thing I wanted to do was cook ramen noodles right on the trail in the dark.Jeff and Ramsey had hiked up fried chicken, biscuits, brownies, root beer, and beer to the Rod Hollow Shelter for the hikers. Unbelievable! I had not experienced any trail magic for the longest time and had forgotten what it felt like! I did not make it to the shelter, but it was a good decision for me to press on and be lucky to meet them on their way down. They had no more drinks, but gave me fried chicken, 3 biscuits with honey, and a baggie of leftover brownies. How surreal to find myself on the side of the trail, in the pitch dark, all alone after a very trying day, eating fried chicken and biscuits (albeit with cockroach-like insects landing on me and getting inside the plastic bags!)!   How quickly everything can turn around with the presence of a couple of kind and generous souls... Thank you SO much Ramsey and Jeff! You made a difficult night for me 1000 times better!!