Date: 2012-11-01
From: Ed Garvey Shelter 

To: David Lesser Memorial Shelter 
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: overcast clouds

(In which I check in and resupply in Harpers Ferry and get a whole lot of love in the mail) -Currently sitting in the shelter after dark-I wish I could make a photo montage of all of the great things that happened today. Because I can't do that right now, I'll just post the one that wins today's most-heartwarming award - I'll explain in a minute.The shelter last night faced due east, so in the morning I sat up in my sleeping bag to watch the sun rise over the adjacent ridgeline. Great way to start the day. The hike into Harpers Ferry was short, but the ridgeline south of the shelter was littered with large blowdowns - mostly old-growth oaks. Most that fell were dead, but a few were big, healthly trees. The ridge is entirely exposed to the east and the west, and all the trees had fallen towards the east from Sandy's ferocious eastbound wind. Glad I didn't stay in one of the shelters for Sandy. I haven't heard if any were crushed by falling trees, but with all these new blow downs it seems like a definite possibility.In town I went straight to the gear store and got new tips for my trek poles. I'm sporting carbide tips now! I feel like a new hiker. It really is nice when your poles bite into the ground. I also bought another pair of Darn Tough socks and sent out the old pair for a warranty pair. After the gear store I marched over to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy's headquarters. By marched over I mean I stopped at two different stores for food on the way... Either way, I made it to the ATC headquarters and immediately went to the archives to find pictures of the people I know who have thru-hiked in the past. I found my buddy Dan and I also found all the "characters" in the book "The Barefoot Sisters - Southbound". It was a great book and I was looking forward to seeing if my mental image of Tuba Man and Black Forest were in line with reality. They weren't of course, but it was great to see what the people I read about looked like. After perusing the archives I had my own picture taken in front of the building and inserted into this year's photo album of thru-hikers. I'm officially southbounder number 157. I don't think there's a whole lot that's special about the number 157, but I'll take it. Wohooo! Just FYI, Matt is southbounder number 155, and it looks like he picked up a trail name since he got ahead of me - Lotus. I like it.After the ATC visit I went over to the Teahorse hostel to pick up packages from my mail drop. When I got there the door was locked and no one answered the doorbell or my knocking. At that point I freaked out a little - me and my bounce box don't seem to like to get together. But there was a number on the door that said call for information. I called it and a woman answered and I explained that I was standing at the front door... she seemed a little confused, but a minute later the door opened. She explained that she's closed for the season but I assured her I was only picking up mail. She didn't even charge me the fee for maildrops without stay, and let me sit in the living room while I went through the packages. And there were packages...In addition to the bounce box, there were cards, cookies, coffee, a new AT Guide and Anti-MonkeyButt powder (thanks again Greg). The one bit of mail that stole the show however, was a small envelope from a friend whose elementary class has been following my hike. Each student in the class (roughly 3rd grade) made a miniature postcard for me and told me whatever was on their mind. The picture today is of the cards - Katherine's is on top and she wants to know when I'm going to hike there. One of my favorites is from Annalyse who says "Dear Joe, where you at right now, are you here yet because can you Take us with you!" If that's not the most heartwarming mail you've ever seen, you're dead inside. Of course, I sent them back another postcard thanking all of them. And thank you Miss. Engler!Thinking about all the great mail made the hike to the shelter fly by. To end a great day I have this very nice shelter to myself. Today's post was brought to you by mail, because there's something about a package that makes the day a whole lot brighter.