Date: 2015-06-11
From: Crabtree Falls Campground

To: Dripping Rock
Miles today: 15.5

I had a text conversation with a friend of mine while in my tent at Hogpen Camp a couple of days ago. She has undertaken a huge project and to keep herself focused and positive, she came up with a list of affirmations. I decided that to keep my head strong, I should do the same. So here they are:1. I will greet every morning with a smile.2. I will always be conscious that hiking the trail is a privilege. I am lucky.3. I will look for the source of any discomfort and not paint the entire hike with one bad experience.4. I will examine my challenges and try to find the good in each situation. I will take these lessons home with me to share with my family and also with the children I am fundraising for.5. I will end each day with a smile and with gratitude.Today started with me getting out of my tent and smiling. Yep, that is my new daily ritual. It was easy to smile at the beautiful river in front of me. It was easy to laugh at my bear bag, still dangling above the water. The smile turned to a grimace when I put my dripping wet clothes on. They had not dried at all during the night. I had about a 2 mile hike up to where the Mau-Har Trail intersected the AT. If I took that trail, it would cut 4 miles off my hike and then I would only have to hike 20 miles today instead of 24 to get past the bear/camping restricted area. I still did not know what I was going to do. Regina's "And its not the AT" played in my head. I finally got to the sign after a steep little climb. I stared at that sign..what to do, what to do. Cue Rocky music. I hiked on to the AT. I can do 24 miles. I felt good about my decision. The hike up Three Ridges Mountain was not as bad as I expected, but it was pretty darn tough. Pants on fire-whoever said VA is easy. I had a total 3014 elevation gain from my start point. I took it slow and easy. When I got to the top, I took my shoes off and reclined on a large rock, staring up at the sky through the trees. The views on this climb were not really at the top, but on the way up and on the way down. The top was wooded. The climb had some tough rock scrambles and the decent was the same. I kind of like rock scrambles. They are tough, but never boring. You have to think about your footing, where to step next. I saw a rattle snake- I think it was just getting on to the trail and had not positioned itself in a sunbathing position yet when I came along. It slithered onto the high side of the trail, in the brush, and all I saw was the end section with the rings around the end of the tail. It did not rattle. I made it to Harpers Creek Shelter and went to it just so I could sign the shelter journal- to say I WAS HERE! If I had taken the shortcut trail, it would have fed me into the next shelter, so this was my proof of life-I mean hike. I was pleased to see that Regina also posted in this journal. I wrote a thanks to her for her gentle redirection of the day before. She probably has no idea how much inspiration I got from her, her work ethic, her clear love of the trail, her "do the right thing" aura.The rest of the day was not difficult. The trail went mostly through the woods, but it went through several parking/overlook areas, and through a meadow. I did not see one single northbound hiker today. That was odd. Plenty of South bounders though, looking and smelling clean and fresh. Lots of section hikers are coming out. I passed the parking area that could have taken me to a brewery, where I know lots of people were headed, but I really wanted to make my 24 today so I could have an easy 5 mile stroll into Waynesboro in the morning. When I got to Cedar Cliffs, it was already 5:30. I had 10 miles to go to get out of the bear /no camping zone. Several SOBO hikers had regaled me with stories of bear sightings of the day. I made the decision to not attempt the 10 miles. I would get stuck hiking in the dark. I was disappointed, but I think it was the right move. I called a shuttle and was picked up at Dripping Rock. Only $12 to the HI Express in Waynesboro. He saw bears crossing the street not 100 yeards from where I sat and waited for him. I have not seen one yet, but I think I will soon! He told me to call him for a ride back in the AM. I checked in at the hotel, and then, because I'm a hiker now and I have my priorities, I walked to Outback next door and sat my stinky self at the bar and ate a gigantic dinner with two happy hour beers. Then I went back and took a shower. Not the day I planned, but a good day with a happy ending. Tomorrow I slack pack the portion I missed today.