Date: 2018-09-13
From: Rod Hollow shelter

To: Tucker's Lane
Miles today: 15.2

I woke up at 6:15 and it was just getting light. I dressed and packed up then headed to the spring for water and took a seat at the picnic table for some granola. The other hikers were packing up and hiking to Front Royal where they would all 4 share a motel room until the park reopens. Eddyman and I will get as close as we can to the Front Royal Terrapin Station hostel and get a ride in. We won't be able to hike 27 miles today. Again it's a wet humid day with rain in the forecast. We left the shelter and hiked thru rain. Some of the trail was nice and smooth and there were far fewer rocks today but the exchange was for more mud. I don't mind the climbing, it's generally gentle switchbacks and I just take them slower. The ground is mostly clay and it's saturated so on the descents I have to be mindful because the top layer sloughs off under my steps and causes a mudslide with me along for the ride. There are few bog boards but those are covered in algae and more slick than baby powder on a marble floor. We both managed with the use of trekking poles to stay upright. The sun came out briefly as we walked thru Sky Meadows State Park. It was nice to pop out of the dark forest for a few minutes. We passed by a shelter that was .3 off trail and since the rain had stopped we agreed to hike to the nearby stream and find rocks to sit on and have lunch. As I dined on my tuna packet and crackers the rain resumed and we packed up and left. Eddyman's feet are really not doing well being always wet. Mine are waterlogged and it's painful.We came across 2 Eastern Copperhead snakes (I originally thought to be timber rattle snakes) who appeared to be mating. I almost stepped on them as they gave no warning. He was very sweet on her kissing her neck. We left them to their rituals and bushwacked around them taking an extra 15 minutes because the forest is so thick and lush with vines in many areas. When we arrived at Tucker's Lane we called Mike from the hostel but he wasn't available to shuttle us in. We ended up taking a yellow cab but she stopped at KFC in Front Royal for an extra $1. I'd have given her $2! So I bought her a Pepsi to thank her. The hostel is in a residential neighborhood and has no sign. The neighbor confirmed we had the right place so we walked to the front door. The owner is not home but said he'd leave it open for us. It was really strange inside, not looking like a hostel at all. We both felt uncomfortable as if we were in the wrong house and at any moment the police would show up. But we found 2 chairs in the dining area and inhaled our food while I read the hostel description on Guthooks again. "Enter thru the marked rear gate". Hmm. Eddyman went to check it out. Sure enough the hostel is in the basement and we're in Mike's personal space. We vacate hoping to leave no trace and get ourselves into the hostel before Mike comes home. Whew! There are 12 bunks a bathroom and living room. We have WiFi, TV, shower and bunks with air mattresses. It's all comfortable. Mike entertained us for a little while and we arranged for a ride back to the trail in the morning at 8:30 to slackpack the 12 miles from Tucker's Lane to Shenandoah park. It'll be raining again. Mike's washing machine is broken so we took turns washing our stinky slimy clothes in the sink and put them in the dryer. We stuffed our soaked boots with newspaper and put them in front of the dehumidifier. Perhaps we can be dry when we leave tomorrow morning. I'm exhausted. I need some good sleep!