Date: 2004-04-05
From: Bearfence Hut

To: Rangeview Cabin
Miles today: 35.0

Log entry: 651. Start time: 08002. End time: 19303. Weather:        b. morning: cold, windy, and clear        c. afternoon: windy and cold        d: evening: cold and windy, below freezing all day4. Food        B- brownies        L- oats and honey and snickers cookie bars        D-jambolaya rice, peperoni, potato soup, hot chocolate5. Trail description: This was probably the hardest stretch of the trail so far(in SNP). the climbs were not bad compared to what I have done in the past, but long and steady. plus most of the day was through snow, which makes it difficult to make good time. once again, Shenendoah is beautiful. many cool peaks including monkey head, franklin cliffs, little stony man cliffs, and marys rock.6. People: lots of campers and day hikers, boy scouts.7. Animals: deer, squirrels, birds8. Money: none9. Biggest complaint: it was hard walking today, the cold wind sucked the energy from me and tough walking conditions, the snow just makes everything that much more difficult. But it might have been just because I was doing 35 miles.10: Thoughts: I had a warm and wonderful night's sleep but you can't hike from your sleeping bag. As I left I again thanked the scout leaders for their help, use of stove, and service to their country. I did my very best to stay warm and actually hiked a long part of the morning in my windproof fleece. I hiked as quickly as I could but the 2 inches of snow in the trail made for shorter strides. The wind was bitter and sapped strengthquicker than the summer sun.The trail meanders past one open campground (the name escapes me) where fearless weekenders braved the cold in campers travel trailers, and a few tents. Some of the bacon smelled pretty good but I stayed on the trail, minding my own business.I did not have a strong idea of where to spend the night but planned on at least Pass mtn Hut and idealy gravel spring hut. but gravel spring was also another 13 miles.I passed Pass mtn hut at 1700 and planned on pushing on until i could no longerwalk. I didn't plan on pushing the next 13 miles but rather camping after awater source. As I passed the Elkwallow wayside I planned on getting water from the Range view cabin. This is one of several cabins in the park availible for rent. As I pumped water from the spring, I noticed how truly cold and tired I really was. I made my way to cabin door to see if the renters would be cool with me spreading out my bivy on a level spot of grass out of the wind.I was greeted with cheery "hi's" from a handfull of boy scouts who were bringing wood into the cabin. The scouts thought it would be cool if I camped in the area but they got scoutmaster Thai just to confirm. (this particular group of Vietnamese scouts was troop 701 from Fairfax, VA). Thai was very pleased to have me and asked if I needed anything. I mentioned what was wrong with my fuel bottle and he told me to come inside once I was unpacked. I unrolled my bivy, sleeping pad, and bag and then grabbed my food bag, fuel bottle, and pans.As I stepped into the cabin packed with scouts and heated by woodstove Thai took my fuel bottle and advised me that they would feed me tonight and he would try to find the rightsize o-ring from his maintainence kit. He had the MSR Dragonfly which it turns out doesn't have the same fuel pump as the Whisperlight. Within minutes I was handed a steaming bowl of potato soup with a mug of hot chocolate. they even had real marshmallows! that was a tasty cup of cocoa. i wolfed down the soup and chewed peperoni until the jambolaya rice was done. i ate all of that which was also wonderful. The scouts were so eager to hear about my hike and I stayed in the cabin until 2200. It was so very warm but I figured tomorrow would be a rough day. With a full belly, I fell fast asleep and stayed warm all night long.