Date: 2009-06-02
From: Loft Mountain Campground

To: Pocosin Cabin
Miles today: 24.2

Even though I got no sleep, I felt that I had to get up early, as I wasn't sure I was legally camping and did not want to get in trouble! My foodbag was exactly as I left it. I don't even think the bear smelled it! I took the morning slow and headed off around 7:20. The wind remained strong along the open ridge, and only calmed when I got into the forest. I heard two (and saw one) bears crashing into the woods. They are incredibly silent when not breaking through the trees. The temperature and humidity steadily rose as I walked. At around 10, I stopped in at Pinefield Hut for a little break. A late- rising thru-hiker and his girlfriend were there, but did not acknowledge me. I don't understand why people can't at least say "hi". I ate 2 power bars and wished I could take a nap, but pressed on after collecting more water. The heat and lack of sleep began to take its toll. By the time I got to Hightop Hut, all I wanted to do was take a nap. Unfortunately, there was a group of people congregated there. I went down the hill to get some water, arrived at the shelter at 2:50 pm, took out my sleeping bag, and climbed into the shelter,making my way toward the back, through the people inside. I ate a snack, read the registry, and lied down. The flies were out in droves and I had to get inside my bag, even though it was too hot to be in it. The section hikers did not quiet down at all. They were shouting out names of bands that begun with "I" and "J", and talking about 'Jon and Kate Plus 8.' When I got up around 4, with 12 more miles still to do, one of the guys asked me if I had a good nap. ?? How could I get any rest with all of their yapping? To top everything off, I ended up knocking over my platypus and had to go all the way back down the hill to get more water.    As I climbed Hightop mountain, it began to sprinkle, which I welcomed. The section hikers were talking about how nice the temperature was yesterday (while I was inside writing all day). Unfortunately, the rain was brief. I put on my iPod and gave the animals in the woods a little concert as I walked along. Although the Shenandoahs are supposed to be easy compared with most of the other terrain we have covered, I was moving slower than I thought I would. There were a lot more hills than I expected, for one. My goal was to make it to Bearfence Mountain Hut (a total of 26.9 miles). It would be too far with the loss of time due to my attempted nap, along with the lack of sleep. I found myself on top of Baldface Mountain in the pitch dark, with a bear cub crossing the trail in front of me. I didn't think anything of it until I heard hissing coming from the other side and a pair of eyes that would not leave me. The mother! I yelled, "No!" and banged my poles together. The stares and hissing did not let up. I stayed in place and repeated my noise. The bear did not back down. I started to wonder what I should do if she came after me and backed down the trail a bit. Finally, the tension subsided and I cautiously made my way down the trail, looking into the woods and yelling "no" as I went. I was tired and wanted to camp, but that was not an option with these bears in such close proximity, and no camping spots in sight. I started disliking the Shenandoahs as I did not feel safe. Ahead of me, I saw another pair of glowing eyes! "Go away!", I shouted. I wanted the animals to leave me alone. I kept shouting and it would not budge! Then, I started thinking that maybe it was just a little bunny. I got closer and saw it's head. It looked rather like an alien with ears that were too big for its head. Finally, I realized it was a fawn! But where was its body?! It looked like it was buried! Only when I walked farther up, did I see its spotted body all curled up. The mother had left it alone while she went in search for food. I made my way along and saw another pair of glowing eyes, high off the ground. They startled me,as well! But then, I saw it was only a deer- probably the fawn's mother. As I went ahead and looked back, the mother had come out on the trail to take a good look at me.   I still had several miles to go- even to get to the next campground and felt tired and uneasy. At last, I came to a signpost which pointed downhill to Pocosin Cabin, where I heard people talking. It was now 9:30, and I was not going to walk for another hour and a half in the dark after such a long day. I thought it smartest to go down and see if the people would let me stay near them. "Who's that?", a woman called out as I approached the cabin. "I'm an AT thru-hiker," I responded. I asked if I could camp near them as I did not feel like being alone. They said I could. I went in search of two trees for my hammock, but found nothing useful! The woman wondered where I went. They said I could sleep on the picnic table (again with no sleeping pad) after finishing their popcorn and watching the lightening show in the distance. It rained during the night, but not for too long.