Date: 2016-06-29
From: Bear's Den Hostel

To: Blackburn AT Center
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I slept so well last night I was raring to go this morning. Got up at 6 am, made breakfast and I ate on the front porch of the hostel. It is nice and cool so we should have a good hike. Our packs got picked up at 7 am to be shuttled, and Hazel left while I took care of some last minute details. There are three more bumps to go on the roller coaster, reminding me of the 3 bears. There is a small baby bump, a medium Mamma one and a big, steep Papa of a one leading up to Raven Rocks, where there was a nice view. I caught up to Hazel at Snickers Gap, a road crossing where a Trail Angel was giving out all sorts of wonderful trail magic. I picked up some grapes, a bag of potato chips and drank an orange juice. This will make the day even more enjoyable! Hazel and I continued on together, chatting on the downhills and puffing and panting on the uphill. It was warming up fast as the sun rose above the ridges. We finally got to the end of the Roller Coaster and found ourselves up on a ridge for a couple of miles. Even though it was a little rocky, you could still find good foot placement, and we moved along well. Soon the path widened, trail grooming was evident and when you see that, you know you are close to a major trail intersection. In this case, it was the side trail to the Blackburn AT Center. Switchbacks took us down 0.2 miles to the Center, and what a beautiful sight-a screened in front porch, with comfortable, padded chairs, a swing and lounge chairs! No one was around, so we made ourselves comfortable at the picnic table to make lunch. Soon the caretaker, TrailBoss, showed up and retrieved our packs from inside the cabin. He and his wife live here during the season. He is very involved with trail maintenance and is responsible for the dreaded Roller Coaster. Besides the main cabin with the screened in porch, there is a hiker cabin, with 4 bunks, many tent platforms in the woods, a cooking pavilion, a privy and a solar shower! Standing on the front porch you looked east toward Washington, DC, downhill, following a power line. With a telescope, on a clear day, you can see the Washington Monument! Hazel downed her lunch, filled her water containers and we said goodbye. She was moving on to the next shelter (3 miles) or further if she was feeling strong. Before I arrived, I had decided to spend the night here, trying to keep my mileage low, and not overdo in the heat. But it was only noon, and I was really struggling to stay put. I went and found a good spot to set up my hammock, then took my book and made myself comfortable on the porch. As much as I was enjoying the surroundings, and the relaxing, I was feeling antsy and I probably could have moved on to the next shelter as well. A few hikers stopped in during the afternoon to fill up on water, as there is a lack of water on the trail in this section. I met Mariposa, who is slackpacking the trail, with her husband providing support, moving the vehicle, setting up camp and then hiking to meet her. She arrived a little torn up after falling on the rocks, but a shower and Neosporin fixed her right up. We made our dinners together and enjoyed each other¢s company. About 7 pm, Lynn and her guide dog arrived and TrailBoss helped her get settled into the hiker cabin. It is another beautiful night and I will sleep without the tarp set up. Tomorrow, I slack pack into Harper¢s Ferry, WVa!