Date: 2015-06-14
From: stealth camp

To: ranger station- stealth camp
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: broken clouds

I slept pretty well in my little stealth spot. When I went to get my bear bag, I laughed when I saw it hanging on a branch directly over the trail. I didn't realize I had wandered there to hang it, it was so dark when I finally got it hung. I packed up and headed out. During the hike yesterday, I noticed that my feet and knees were really sore. I think my slack packing day did it, I'm not used to going that fast. The knees are better today, but the feet still hurt. I have almost 900 miles on these boots. They need to be replaced. Might as well do it in Harpers Ferry and give the boots 1000 miles. I'm happy with them- they have saved me from a million broken ankles. While hiking today- I saw my first bear. It was standing on the trail 20 feet ahead of me. I came around a curve and there he was. Or she, I didn't check for gender. He was enormous, very fat and shiny and fluffy. I stopped and stared. He stared back. I didn't raise my poles or say go away or back up or avoid eye contact, as instructed. I just stared. He was beautiful. After about 15 seconds, I thought to get out my phone for a picture. I fumbled around for it and the bear started moving off the trail. I got a picture of his back end going into the woods. It reminded me of a similar frozen reaction I had when I was about 20 or so. I had gone deer hunting for the first (and only) time up in New York. I was placed under a tree at some god awful hour of the morning- it was still dark. I was supposed to stay there and shoot a deer if one happened by. I fell asleep and woke some time later, just as dawn was breaking. I didn't move, I just opened my eyes, and a beautiful deer was grazing right in front of me. So close I could see the muscles moving under her silky coat. It didn't even occur to me to lift my shotgun. I just watched, mesmerized by the sight. That was my reaction to the bear. I hope next time I will be more prepared to act appropriately, but it just took me by surprise. I am so grateful to have seen the bear.I took a side trail to Loft Mountain campstore and saw that they sold beer by the singles. I was pretty enthused about that- my favorite shot of carbs and calories! I bought one, took two apples from the hiker box, and walked the mile down the path to the wayside for a burger, drinks my the beer. Once I got there, I realized that I had left my poles at the store. I asked the nice lady at the wayside shop to call up there and ask the clerk to hold them for me. Don't worry honey-she said. They have a box there and they put all the hiker stuff in it. Yes, that's what I don't want them to do. I begged her to call and she did. I enjoyed my gigantic cheeseburger and bucket sized order of fries, washed down with two large cokes. Then I begged a ride from a guy back up to the store. I can't live without these poles so why do I forget them everywhere?I hiked on and the hills were hard for me today. My energy and spirits are still low. Do I have the Virginia Blues? It was brutally hot and humid and every inch of me stinks even though I had a shower two days ago. Sweat just pours out of my skin, even my legs sweat. I decided to pass pinefield hut because I wanted to do 20 miles today, and the water source was listed as unreliable. I headed to a ranger station that had a pump that hikers were welcome to use. While at the pump washing my underwear, a ranger came to refuel. He asked me if I had a backcountry permit. I said yes but he didn't want to see it. He asked where I planned to camp and told me that I had to be a quarter mile from the road. He gave me permission to camp in a little clearing near the water, since he knew I wouldnt "cause any trouble". There are advantages to being a solo middle aged female hiker. Or maybe I look harmless because I threw my prison crocs away in Waynesboro.