Date: 2006-05-11
From: Big Meadows Wayside

To: Bearfence Mountain Trailhead
Miles today: 9.0

Not surprisingly, we got a late start today. My hiking partners over indulged last night, as more childhood friends appeared from the Harrisonburg area. I slept in as late as I could, but I can only lay in bed so long. When I went downstairs, Treefingers and Erin were awake and ready for breakfast. The three of us went to Mr. J's for bagel sandwiches, and the rest of the guys were awake when we returned. It is currently 11am, and I am calm.We sat around and watched Sportscenter for awhile, Casino being particularly interested in the NHL playoffs. Those of us who hadn't eaten began discussing brunch plans. They hit upon a favorite local pizza place, Bob-a-reas. It is owned by Guthrie's uncle. They assure me that we will be at the trailhead by 2pm. It is currently 12pm, and I am skeptical, but calm.At the restaurant, we order pizza and some appetizers. There are no free refills, so I settle for water. I bum a piece of pizza, which is good, but mostly just eat mozzerella sticks. The entire meal takes us about an hour and a half. It is currently 1:30pm, frustrated, but still calm.We say goodbye to the non-hikers and head up to Skyline. Only Casino has a National Parks pass, so his car enters first and then Treefingers gets out of his car and walks the pass back to Ramble's car. All this occurs in the full sight of the ranger on duty, but despite my assurances that the plan is doomed to failure, the ranger lets the second car in. Apparently, he is either terribly gullible or extremely apathetic. It is now 3pm, raining, and I am calm.Due to yesterday's speeding ticket, we proceed with caution at the legal limit of 35mph. It is painfully slow-going. It takes us nearly an hour and a half to make it even close to our final pull-out to drop off the car. On the way we pass Bugs, roadwalking through the rain. We offer her a ride, but she refuses, having at least some standards. Minutes later we find Mr. Rogers and Treegirl, huddled up at an overlook, appearing wet and miserable. They actually ask us for a 13 mile bump up the road. Totally disgraceful. It is at this point, after hours of procrastination and wasted time, that Treefingers and Casino inform us that they aren't going to be hiking today. It is currently 5pm, and I am pissed off, on the verge of having an aneurism, possibly going to strangle them with my pack straps pissed off.I must hike today. I am 8-9 miles behind Casino, who is the only other one of my companions who has hiked the whole trail through the SNP so far. I don't give a crap what the others do, but I must hike. I insist that Ramble drop me off just north of Big Meadows so that I can hike south back to where I quit yesterday. Fueled by rage, I do 9 miles in 2 hours, running much of the way. When I jog down out of the woods to Skyline, Ramble and Casino are waiting for me. Apparently wary of the look on my face, Casino hops out of the car and offers me shotgun. It is currently 6:45pm, and I am tired, wet, and calming down. I have done the hike fast enough to allow us to get home, so that I might watch the season finale of Smallville. It is currenly 9pm, Clark Kent has been imprisoned in the Phantom Zone, Lex is possessed by General Zod, Metropolis is in chaos, my hiking partners are avoiding me, and I am tired, but otherwise content.Tomorrow we will hike 30.3 miles to make up for today's fiasco.