Date: 2012-05-08
From: Cove Mountain Shelter

To: Marble Spring Campsite - Tented
Miles today: 24.1

Day 44 - Tuesday, May 8thHiking Days 33 / Nero Days 8 /  Zero Days 3Start Location: Cove Mountain Shelter - ShelteredMile Marker: 747.5Ending Location: Marble Spring Campsite - TentedMile Marker: 771.6Time: 9h 32min Miles: 24.1Weather: The rain expected overnight never came.  Was supposed to be over by 9 then thunderstorms at 2.  Morning was cooler and rain started at 9 and continued all day.  65-69 degrees.  Winds at 7 except on ridges where they were stronger.  Day started at 5:45.  Had a rather restless night of sleep for some reason.   My goal was to get out early and see if I could catch up with Dundee and Steve-O.  Went to the privy.  Spiders everywhere.  Knew if there where this many hanging around there would be some on and under the seat.  Sure enough there were.  Still dark so I needed my headlamp to spot them all.  After clearing a path I did what I needed to do and sat up as quickly as possible.  Went back to the shelter, packed up and on the trail at 6:15.  The best start I have ever had.  Mostly down hill for the next 3 miles.  I figured if they did in-fact stay at the water source u would catch them as they left.  As it turned out there was no water as indicated.  I know that  their whole reason for not staying at the shelter was that it did not have water.  At the bottom of the downhill that's where I met Steve-O as he was starting out.  Dundee had already left.  They moved to the creek and camped there.  I used my one bottle of water already.  Since the spring wasn't running and the creek water looked like crap I decided to get my next water at the next shelter.  Would be a total of 13 miles and an overnight with only 0.7 liters of water.  Actually not all that thirsty but I know I need to drink more water. Started my first 1100 foot climb.  Got up well.  A good start to what is going to be a hard day of climbs, both up and down.  Hit the next shelter in 7 miles.  Grabbed a bottle of water by the shelter and Napoleon said he got sick from the water.  By being so close to a very large shelter he indicated people were pissing by the water source.  The odd thing is that I heard this on my last hike as-well.  So I dumped my bottle and grabbed so in a small stream farther up the trail.  The rain that was supposed to have ended around 9 actually began then.  The temps dropped a bit and the rain persisted all day.  I used my poncho during the heavy spells.  I am getting used to it and for these types of rains it is actually working out well. My stops all day were few and the ones I took were very short.  I arrived at the campsite  around 3:45.  Dundee and Steve-O were already set up.  Steve-O's mom is going to pick him up tomorrow at the river.  Also taking Dundee into town to pick up a pair of shoes he ordered on-line.  As it turned out there was still another mess up regarding his pack and now it is supposed to be in Waynesburro.  It was an easy five miles to the next shelter.  But as it turns out this may be the last time I see these two so even though it is very early to stop, I did.  Still did over 24 which isn't too bad.  If they take a Nero tomorrow I'll be about 20 miles or so ahead of them.  I may see them again with my upcoming zero day at the Dutch Haus but who knows.  We are not actually hiking together but I have been off and on with Dundee since just after the NOC.  And Steve-O since about Erwin I think.  No, actually since the Nelson's trail magic.  Not sure if they are stopping at Dutch Haus or not.  Also, I skip Waynesburro and they are stopping there.  Time will tell.Now only 7:23.  Still raining.  Steve-O tried a fire but everything was wet.  Although he did get some flame going.  Everyone headed for their tents when the rain became to heavy to sit out.  A hiker just came on and wants to work on the fire.  Good luck.  I'm in my tent.Tomorrow I plan to do another 25 or so then a shorter 18-20 into Dutch Haus.  Can't wait.  However the more I think about it the more I wonder what the heck I put in my mail drop.  I remember throwing it together very quickly.  I have not relied on them nearly as much as I have with my past hikes.  I tend to use hiker boxes more and/or figure out alternatives to the things I am missing.  Although I could buy many of the items I need, I am tending to use alternative measures to make do with what I have.  My watch is being held together by tape.  I have no spare cloths.  I don't worry about shorting myself on food.  (finally starting to lose some weight). By Pearisburg, I had lost only five pounds.  And once I get to the Dutch Haus, I plan to send back my stove and cold eat again.  Cooking takes a lot of time and planning out of your day.  I want to run as light as I can to Harpers Ferry.