Date: 2019-06-24
From: Bears Den Hostel 

To: HarperÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Ferry
Miles today: 30.3

Bears Den hostel was very nice. I slept in my tent but got all the advantages of the hostel: Shower, television common area, wifi, and pancake breakfast with fresh mulberries. I was on trail by 707, there was a deer in the driveway. The trail was very quiet today, it¢s a week day and again no rules so the hikers are spread out. After finishing the last 3 or 4 inclines of the roller coaster the walk turned pleasant. The trail leveled out as best it can. The woods were also more open today in that there were many trees with full canopy and ground cover but not much mid level green to block views. I met a hiker named 70 who¢s trying to complete the trail in 70 days. He has to average 31.31 a day. I also saw a 70 year old hiker I met last night named Fox. He flew past me twice today. I saw a dead deer in the middle of the woods, it was kind of weird. Like, how did it die? I also saw two more live deer. Today was hot and sticky. I got tired and worn out mid afternoon. I crossed a road and there was a sign for trail magic. It was a case of 6oz bottled waters. I had two and thanked the guy. While chatting with him it started raining and rained for about an hour but only hard for about 5 mins. I covered my bag but no rain jacket. There was a hiker ahead of me, just out of site and I heard him groan/kind of scream. I got close enough and he was moving but then stopped. I yelled ahead to see if he was ok, he didn¢t answer, I yelled again and he answered. He had slipped and fallen in some jagged rocks. He was on his back wedged between rocks. he couldn¢t get his pack off and couldn¢t roll over. I helped him get up and then clean up and bandage the wounds. We still had 2.5 to town, scary. We continued walking and got to the Shenandoah River. We crossed the river and then continued on trail to town. I was looking to stay at a hostel and it was booked. I called the other hostel, booked. I then called the Quality Inn and got a room, expensive room. First thing I did was shower. Then off to find a beer. The desk clerk told me where the liquor store was. Of course it¢s 5 blocks up hill.I couldn¢t find it. Another hiker helped me. The store is a tiny store on the corner with one door and a hand painted sign, and by the way it¢s in the same building as the town hall and police deparrment. How did I miss that?!? Back at the room I ordered a calzone and a salad. I planned out the next 5 days and caught up on some texting. Harper¢s Ferry is the unofficial half way point, and home of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy(ATC). I will get my picture taken there tomorrow for the classes of 2019 photo album. I am ahead of schedule and am going to crank out some miles before I go off trail in July for the family vacation, SNIDERFEST2019. I decided I was going to pick up garbage along the trail today. I usually do this but not whole heartedly. Today I picked up alot. I also learned that if you tear the corner off of something it¢s not technically garbage and you can throw it on the ground. I must have picked up 20 corners. Things I will not pick up: cigarette butts, Kleenex, or toilet paper. I have hiked out broken glass, sandals, sunglasses, cans, and clothes. Wildlife update: squirrels, deer-3 alive 1 dead, turkey vultures.