Date: 2004-12-31
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Miles today: 0.0

Can't believe I haven't written in my journal since the Doyle. Well actually yes I can believe it.   I really wanted to finish my journal back in December but just never got around a computer long enough to write.   Sorry.Well I finally completed my thru hike on December 11, 2004.   Almost exactly 3 years after completing my first thru hike.   It only took 10 months and 1 day to complete this years hike.   I thought this was enough time to beat Stumpknockers record of 8 1/2 months but he's still hiking this year. It looks like now he'll actually beat me by maybe even as little as a day.   I can't believe it. I worked so hard on taking as long as I could to complete my hike. Damn him!   I enjoyed the last few weeks of my hike.   We did start carrying our packs again like real hikers.   That was interesting. And we even camped in the woods!   We did have a better menu for the camping. The nice thing about cold weather is that you can take just about anything out of town with you to cook. We started eatting like kings.   It was great. I gained 5lbs.   After finishing my hike I didn't just stop hiking and go home like other hikers. I stayed on the trail to keep hiking with Stumpknocker down to VA where he will complete his 2004 thru hike.   We jumped around on the trail a little.   we made it down to 18 miles north of the PA/Maryland border before we jumped down to VA to meet up with Grassy Ridge.   She had a section of trail to complete and wanted some company to hike it.   It was great to have someone else with us out on the trail.   We went down into Shennadoah national park and started hiking north from Big Meadows to Front Royal.   Actually I started slacking Grassy Ridge and Stumpknocker through some of those sections. Hey why not I already hiked this area and it was COLD out there. I'm not freezing my ass off just to hike a section I have just hiked a few months earlier. So my butt stayed in the truck with heat while they hiked.   Good thing too because it started to snow and the temps dropped.   I did start hiking with them into camp around Route 211.   We had to hike into Pass Mtn Hut for the night.It was a nice walk in the snow to Pass Mtn Hut.   The temps were dropping quickly. That night it got down to -1*F in the valley below us. Damn that is cold.   I have to say my Exped 5*F sleeping bag was great! I didn't get cold once during the night and with the wind chills we figured it might have been about -10 or something during the night.   Thank You Exped for the great bag!   I wasn't too happy to have to get out of the warm bag and start hiking but I did!   This cold stuff stinks!   I wish it was summer again.   I really didn't want to see winter this year. We spent the next night out on the trail again.   It was not as cold thank god.   Stumpknocker started talking about the Florida trail to me. So that would mean no more winter hiking. Hey that sounds like my kind of hiking.   It only took me 3 days to say hell yes let's go hike the Florida Trail.   We made our plans to head back up to New Jersey to gather my warmer weather sleeping bag and gear.   Perfect time for a visit home since it was Christmas. I was happy to go home for Christmas and besides now my Mother won't kicked my butt for not being home on the holiday!   Christmas was fun.   I got to see my sister, her husband and the kids.   I like when I get to see the kids.   I've been gone so much this year I'll take anytime I can get with them.   And they picked out the greatest christmas presents for me.   Happy face earrings and necklace and a blinking christmas pin. I loved them.   Dad cooked beef brisket which he is great at! Wish I had some now!We headed back down to the trail for a couple of days.   Our plan was to hike until Thursday the 30th and then head down to Springer Mtn for New Year Eve.   Just a few more days until the warm weather!   I slacked Stumpknocker through the rest of Shennadoah while staying warm in the truck.   I got to see 3 bobcats while slacking him.   That was a first for me I never have seen one in the wild. And I got an awesome shot of a 9 point buck!   I walked within 3 feet of him to get the picture. Eat your hearts out hunters!We headed down to springer not wasting anytime. I wanted to hike into Springer from Woody Gap.   Although when we got down there and was supposed to night hike some I pulled out the Jack Daniels and Coke to make us some drinks before hiking.   Yeah bad idea! I don't know what happened but it ended up taking us 15 hours to leave the truck and start hiking the next day!   We made it 3.5 miles and decided this hiking stuff was B.S. and turned around and headed back for the truck.   Damn we are starting to get lazy!   We got back to the truck and headed for Springer Mtn. First we stopped and took a 3 hour nap!   Yup I am a lazy hiker!   We got to Springer in the dark for the party.   It was great.   I can't believe we were heading to Florida tomorrow!   This is a great way to end my year.   10 almost 11 months on the trail this year.   I wonder how next year will be.   I guess you all will just have to look up my Florida journal I'm starting.   I will try and keep it updated but it's not always easy to get to a computer, but I will try! It has been a great hike. I have met a lot of great people! I drank a lot of Yuengling along the way! I even got to tour the factory in Pottsville,PA again.   I just love when they give you free Yuengling!   I hope next year's adventures are just as great if not better. Thank you everyone who I met, hiked with and all of those who have helped me all my journey! Now don't forget to check out the new journal!