Date: 2005-05-11
From: Maupin Field Shelter

To: Rockfish Gap- Glen Allen, VA
Miles today: 21.1
Weather: scattered clouds

I woke up around midnight, and Cat was already packing. After packing with haste, I was off without any breakfast. There was absolutely no moon out, making it pitch black. My headlamp was starting to fade as my batteries were dying. Luckily, I had a spare set. After about an hour, I stopped, pulled out the batteries, and then fumbled around in the complete dark for 5 minutes trying to replace them. I could then see much better, and flew along.I could see city lights after a mile or two, which I assumed were coming from Waynesborro. I was still 19 miles out, so I could have been wrong. Didn't really stop to debate it, I was really ready to get to town and call my uncle. I pretty much walked alone most of the night, playing leapfrog with Cat. Occasionally I would catch up to him while he was taking a break looking at the city lights or vice versa. Around 3:30 am, I passed Stick and Selina's tents. I thought it might be funny to pretend to be a bear and scare them, but thought otherwise of it, and continued on. If you have never night-hiked before, I do have to say it is something that you should at least try once. It was fun, because it was a new thing to do, but I will probably not do it again, because of the extra care that is needed not to fall and break a leg. I might do it again though, if I had someone to walk with and talk to. That always makes the miles go by faster. For some reason this evening, time was just dragging by. Not too long after that, I was faced with a rock scramble or two that went straight up. I sat there looking straight up thinking that I really didn't want to go over this in the dark, but really had no choice. I will just say that it was, well, interesting. It would have probably been a lot more fun in the daylight, if I could have seen what I was doing. It started to get light around 5:30 or so. By this point, I sill estimated I had about 10 miles to go. I don't remember much of those following hours, except of how extremely tired I was. I do remember practically sitting down in the middle of the trail and falling asleep! I don't remember for how long. I was still out when Cat came up on me. By this point I was almost to the shelter right before town. That means I only had about 5 miles left. I made it to the shelter around 8 am, stopped for a quick privy break, borrowed Cat's phone to call my uncle and let him know that I would be arriving in about 2 hours. The 5 miles to Rockfish Gap were miserable. It was getting very hot and humid. I can never remember a time that I was so tired. But still, I pressed on as fast as my legs would carry me. I had two full zero days coming up with a warm bed and a hot shower egging me on to go faster. I finally made it to the Gap around 10, after hiking over 21 miles in 9 1/2 hours. I was completely worn out. I went down to the visitor's center to wait for my uncle. Inside they had a water cooler, I must have drank half of it! The lady working there was mighty nice. She gave me a bumper sticker, even though I kindly explained to her that I would not have anywhere to put it, as I am walking everywhere I go!My uncle showed up around 11, it was great to see him. He took me down to the outfitters, where I finally got to purchase a jet boil stove. I will be sending this big clunker home tomorrow. On the drive back to his house, we stopped at Wendy's, where I devoured some major food. After showering and doing laundry, I called home and talked to Mom for a bit. I had a beer and went to talk to my uncle in the living room. I was sitting in the chair next to him, talking to him, barely able to keep my eyes open. He must have noticed, because he said with a chuckle, "that beer is making you sleepy?" I just nodded and he said take a nap, and I was out for the count. Later on, my aunt came home with my cousins and cooked us a delicious supper. I am really looking forward to having a few days off here.