Date: 2014-05-24
From: Dahlgren Backpacker Campsite

To: Ensign Cowall Shelter
Miles today: 13.9
Weather: broken clouds

Day 73- May 24, Dahlgren Backpack Campground to Ensign Cowall Shelter, 13.9 miles. Let me tell you about the amazing trail magic we received today. It starts last night when some other thru-hikers at the campground asked if we knew about the thru-hiker picnic at the park that was 2 miles away. We had heard rumors about a picnic but didn't know where or when or if we were invited. These hikers assured us that because we were thru-hikers, we were invited! A guy who is hiking this year, Elusive, lives near this area and has family in the area. He sent out an email to all of his family saying that he wanted to host this picnic for hikers and his family from 10-2 today at a nearby park. So we hiked the 1.9 miles to get to the Washington Monument Park (not thee Washington Monument, but another one (the first actually) built by the fine folks of Boonsboro, MD to honor George Washington) and found the sign pointing us in the direction of the picnic. There were 2 canopies set up and we introduced ourselves to Elusive, a name we've seen in the shelter journals but never met the man in person. He warmly welcomed us. In no time the other thru-hikers we were camped with arrived as well as some that camped about 2 miles farther away and the place was jumping. Elusive's family started rolling in (by car!) and unloading food and drinks! Then a couple of thru-hikers discovered a couple who was setting up trail magic along the park road and the hikers encouraged them to come to the picnic area and join the fun, which they did. They were Joe and Carla, all the way from outside of Akron, OH who came to this park specifically to do trail magic for the hikers! Unbelievable ! They had ice cream treats on dry ice and started cooking burgers. Candy, chips, drinks and fruit rounded out their offerings. Elusive's family had brought all kinds of salads, fried chicken, hot dogs, deviled eggs, drinks and cookies. I know that I have left out some things~ there was just so much food! So here's what I remember that I ate: potato chips, Gatorade, a bacon cheeseburger, potato salad, bean salad, ginger ale, an ice cream sandwich, a frozen Snickers bar, some vegetarian soup with brown rice, a piece of fried chicken, half a deviled egg, 2 pretzel rods, 3 Oreo cookies and a small Butterfingers Candy bar. Add 50% to this and that is what Jim remembers eating! It was amazing!After a while thru-hikers were laying in the grass or sitting in chairs, with very full bellies, wondering how we were ever going to hike our miles today! Alas, we knew we had 12 miles to hike so after 2.5 hours at a very fun picnic we said our thank yous and goodbyes and slowly hiked away. All day we have thought about the generosity of Joe and Carla and Elusive and his family. They are all truly trail angels and we were honored and grateful to be at the receiving end of their kindness. We did our miles in just over 4 hours which was very good considering we were almost in a food coma when we hiked away. Shortly after leaving the picnic we took the short spur trail to see the original Washington Monument-which provided a grand view of the countryside. We are camped at a shelter that is two-tenths of a mile from a road. It is pretty busy as this is a holiday weekend and the weather has been good. Glad I have ear plugs for sleeping!Speaking of weather, we have been enjoying a lovely stretch of weather-daily highs in the 70's and lows in the 40's and 50's, great for hiking and sleeping. Tomorrow we have 17 miles to meet up with Terry. It will be good to see her as we have lots of catching up to do. All is well.