Date: 2006-05-17
From: Waynesboro VA

To: Tenting Spot - SNP
Miles today: 15.4

My phone rings and it's a call from my sweetie. After a nice talk, I start to get ready for today's hike. Showers feel so good, I'm going to miss them when I go back into the woods. I bought too much food yesterday and am having a hard time fitting it all into my pack. When I finally fit it all in, I check out of my room, call one of the wonderful volunteer angels for a ride back to the trail. Waynesboro is very organized and friendly to backpackers. There's a list of angels to call at the welcome center and at the hotel. I run over to Ace Hardware and puchase a few ounces of fuel and get back just before my angel arrives. Ann drives me back and we have a nice conversation. Ann says she enjoys helping hikers and likes to hear their stories even though she doesn't hike herself. It's time to put the pack on and walk again. It's a nice day but the weather report calls for rain and possibly thunderstorms. After a while I reach the registration point for the Shenandoah National Park. I complete the registration form and attach it to my pack, noting the park rules. The trail is rolling with gentle ups and downs over several ridges and down several gaps. I reach the summit of Bear Den Mountain and find several old tractor seats mounted to the ground. I try one out. It feels comfortable enough and I have a big lunch, trying to use up some food and get rid of the weight. After lunch I take off and continue going over similar terrain, crossing Skyline Drive several times. I reach the Calf Mountain Shelter sign and decide to go on and try to find a tenting spot. It's starting to rain but I already have my pack cover on and decide to go without my raingear. Soon after it stops raining while I am getting ready to camp. I look for a spot but can't find one suitable. Finally I find a flat area big enough for my tent, which seems to be within the park rule, and make camp. The tent goes up, the food comes out along with the stove and water and I prepare dinner. Just as I am finishing, a deer comes near to me and almost close enough to touch. I get my camera and take a few shots, then try to shoo it away. It won't leave. So I finish up, clean up, hang my bear bag and go into my tent. Now the deer has a friend and they both are walking all around my tent and camping area. It's dark now and I'm glad to know the stomping noises I hear outside are the two deer! I am not sure exactly where I am, but guess it is around Mile 863. I hope it doesn't rain tonight so I can pack up dry gear in the morning. I didn't see anyone on the trail today. Before I started hiking today a guy called to me and offered me a ride to trail days. He and his wife were headed there for the weekend. I was told rides to trail days were easy to come by, but I was surprised I didn't even have to try! I declined, however, I've decided to hike on and maybe go next year. I want to hopefully complete this walk before summer's over so I can spend some time with Lynne. It's been too long since I've seen her and hopefully we can arrange a meeting soon. I am getting ready for sleep now, it will be a weird night with the deer stomping outside.