Date: 2008-04-30
From: Bearfence Mtn Hut (VA)

To: Rock Spring Hut
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Wed.Apr 30 Day #56am "Team Deutschmark", the group of 5 thru-hikers set an alarm & got up early & left...They are on a deadline...needing to crank out some high miles & get home (theyre doing 28 miles today! WOW!!!)1 is a med student going back for classes @ UK. to get back to his RN gig, etc.8am "Jigsaw" & I eat the hiker breakfast of granola bars & coffee for me, tea for Jigsaw. We've got 11+ miles to hike today.In the late afternoon we might stop by a "way-side" for a burger or two (m-m-m-m-m-m-m-protein!) woooooo-hoooooo!10am   Let's hike!No sooner we're out of camp when we several deer grazing right on the trail.We approach slowly...but, they have NO FEAR. very docile...guess they noticed we had backpacks & not rifles! hehehehehehe ;0)These are the most tame deer in the world!We cross over thru Bootens Gap (3243 ft elevation) over Skyline Drive (yet again) & then up to the summit for the day, Hazeltop (3816 ft elevation)...here we meet 4 day-hikers (they had stopped by Lewis Mtn campgrounds) & were hiking to Big Meadows where their car is parked)Jigsaw stopped to see if he can get CELL PHONE SERVICE here...so do I...NO SERVICE! (Yikes!) The cool weather (predicted to be Sunny & 65 today) is continuing...clouds are now pushing out our WELCOME Sunlight.I put back on my fleece top as i hike...the temps drop about 15 degrees in a matter of minutes...as i continue my hike downhill...I had just taken the bottom part of my "convertible" pants off (making them shorts) now my legs are cold! Darn!What to do?...I hike on...passing thru Milan Gap over Skyline Drive (mile 52) then down by a Spring. Jigsaw & I see more deer. A herd(?) All very tame & could care less about us hikers...pass by another Spring & brag some water & then we head down a Forest service road to the BIG MEADOWS way-side (about 8/10 mile off the trail)As we walk up to BIG MEADOWS Way-side..its starts spitting snow flurries!We drop our packs outside (at the request of management) & go in...my mouth is watering already! We've heard they have "KILLER MILKSHAKES".to warm up...Jigsaw & I both order the soup of the day: Cream of Broccolli...& then order our BIG BORDERS & FRIES & Chocolate Milk Shakes...Our waitress quickly tells us the MILKSHAKE machine is BROKEN!OH NO!!!!I guess i'll take a Diet Pepsi..Jigsaw settles for Iced tea.The burgers were great! The fries...okay..the drink...we;;....it was NO MILKSHAKE!Our waitress never came back to check on us...quite rude to us smelly hikers.As we leave the restuarant..we crusie thru the store & souvenir area...i buy a lighter, (my waterproof matches got wet & dont work!!!-go figure!) postcards 7 stamps & a Snickers bar for later (yummy!)I spot a pay phone on the outside...so i try to call home...Oooops...it doesnt take my quarters...its a Credit Card or Collect Call ONLY pay phone...I call "D-Bird" (my lovely wife, Donna) & thankfully she accpets charges.We talk for the first time in 3 days (cell phone service is very spotty to non-existant thru-out the Shennandoah NP).I tell her that everything is good & we're on schedule with our hike & about our spotting a BEAR! woooo-hooooo! (she wasnt too excited about that!) Good to hear her voice!Jigsaw & I don our backpacks & walk back (8/10 mile) to the trail (the burger was worth it!)It's very breezy now..but, once we get back amongst the woods..the winds should calm down.(and it does)We hike back by the BIG MEADOWS Lodge & Campground (the trail skirts the edges here) with a load of curious RV-ers. I meet & talk to "Snickers" & "energizer Turtle" (CO) husband & wife thru-hikers by the campground & head-on.Jigsaw is trying to make a cell-phone connection...he has success!...i hike on........crossing a small stream & re-watering while 6 or 7 deer curiously look on (from 10 feet away!) I think we've seen abt 30 or 40 deer today in all.Jigsaw catches up & we hit Fishers Gap & over Skyline Drive & after a bit of confusion @ a side trail (to a parking lot) we hiked another mile to Rock Spring Hut.We're the only ones here (for now)..Jigsaw sweeps the floor of the hut (something he does @ every shelter/hut!) I re-water & write in my journal..then cook a lite supper. (Ramen noodles for me & Jigsaw has Alfredo noodles)As we're hanging our food bags on the provided steel poles (bear-bagging)..2 thru-hikers show up.."Strides" (Maine) & "Spruce" (NY) they started Mar 8th & Mar 5th respectively...so, we have company tonight in the shelter/hut.4 of us...so far.Jigsaw & I head into Luray,VA for re-supply & a shower & a nights sleep in a "real" bed tomorrow..but, NOT before we hit 2 peaks just below 4,000 feet elevation. good day of hiking.7:30pm   Goodn nite                           11.5miles today!