Date: 2016-04-22
From: Pass Mountain Hut

To: Front Royal - Quality Inn
Miles today: 26.5

Big effort needed today. Even I was taken back by what I was taking on - my biggest mileage day to date. Helping me was my expectation that the trail would be a mix of dirt and stones like much of the AT has been in Shenandoah National Park. My food bag was pretty light so my backpack was comparatively light. Of concern beyond the number of miles was my right knee and whether it would hold up the whole way. Then was the rain that was forecasted to last all day culminating in heavy rain at 5:00 p.m.. And lastly was my needing a ride at day's end, potentially near darkness. A lot on my mind as the day's hike began at 6:00 a.m.. This was my first start so early in the morning and within the first minutes I startled a deer that quickly scampered away. The rain held off until I reached the Elkwallow Wayside at 9:05. It was great to get a good breakfast and a milkshake. The rain was heavy enough to require rain gear but it wasn't pouring so badly that I couldn't see where I was going or bad enough to make the rocks so slippery that they were dangerous. The fog was significant and viewing spots were passed quickly because all that could be seen was endless white mist and fog. My thoughts turned to all the people in my life and these thoughts brought many smiles. CandleMaker and John Goodman passed me during the morning but that was expected since they are both so much stronger hikers than I ever was. I was on pace throughout the day and I was happy about it. The rain stopped around 2:00 and the sun dried out the trail a bit. I went by a reasonably large area that seemed like it was burned years ago. New vegetation was underway and I wondered how long regeneration took. This morning I heard that the Shenandoah National Park fire was 40% under control and now spanned 8,000 acres. I tired as the day kept on going. I realized that some trail wasn't the easy tread that I had counted on. I put headphones on to get motivated for the final miles. Just as the day had begun, a deer greeted me with curiosity. For the first time of this hike, I was critical of the decisions I was making. Hiking alone with nobody coming behind me this late wasn't smart. I nearly had a face plant a half hour earlier and realized then that such a fall could've been a big problem. I was relieved when it became apparent that today's hike was over. It was a little after 7:00 and that meant daylight should help me hitch a ride of almost 4 miles into Front Royal. Car after car went by, all moving quickly. I gave up and began walking to town. Jim Hoover came to my rescue saying that he picked up hikers all the time because those that came out of trail looked like they were exhausted and needed the ride. Yes, that described me perfectly. Getting out of Jim's car was a slow process. I stiffened up badly and I doubt that anyone who looked at me would've believed that I hiked a marathon today. Today's hike ended my time through Shenadoah National Park. Between the fire and today's rain it didn't seem like I had the opportunity to experience this park's beauty.   Beth was arriving in a few hours. I left her a message so that she'd know I safely arrived.