Date: 2010-06-15
From: Big Meadows Lodge

To: Big Meadows Lodge
Miles today: 0.0

Due to chafing issues, not funny, I decided to stay another night at the Lodge. Also, I am enjoying the Shenandoah so much that I wanted to do some extra hiking in the park. You might remember that about a month ago, I had to run, petrified, through a lightening storm to get to a shelter. The next day I was badly injured in the quad (that was the first time I had the injury) and had to limp painfully into Hot Springs. During that storm, I crossed Max Patch, a bald, that is a mountain top without trees. I was extremely scared of being struck by lightening. Well, I heard at breakfast today from other hikers that a week ago, someone took their girlfriend up to Max Patch to propose to them and a storm started. The girl was apparently struck and died. It just shows that I was right to be so worried.I had breakfast at the Lodge. Although there was a good choice of homemade cereal, muesli and porridge, I can't eat them as I already have them every day for breakfast. So I went for the old favorite, buttermilk pancakes with strawberries, large stack (5). I asked to keep the menu as I might still be hungry. When I heard two fellows behind me doing the same, I knew they must be long distance hikers too. After my pancakes, the waiter tried to give me my bill. I told him that I was not done and that I'd have the same thing again, short stack (2 or 3). His eyes almost popped out of his head. I guess that he has not seen many long distance hikers in the restaurant. In the gift shop, I found a book called "A Walk for Sunshine" about a person's AT thru hike so I had my reading for the day. Luckily I decided to zero because it started raining and there was awful fog so visibility dropped to 30 metres. I love the Shenandoah and don't want to see fog!I saw a mother bear and cub next to the Lodge. I think I am at 8 or 9 bears now and some people have not seen any! Even on a zero day I see one!The visitor's centre was also on my list for today. I found out about how the Shenandoah was made into a National Park. They basically evicted all the residents of the area, even those who had lived there for a long time. A former teacher did the report damning their way of life, then asked to become the overseer of relocation and compensation. I love the area but was not impressed at how it was created. At first African Americans had not spots in which to stay in the park as segregation was in force and the camping grounds, picnic areas and lodges were white only. Lewis Mountain was made into an African American area later. I saw the letter of one person writing that this discriminated against white Virginians. Not nice. In the early 1940s, the areas became integrated. This kind of history is important and I'm glad that I lokot he time to visit. I passed a computer test on the wilderness areas and their legal nature with flying colours.In the centre, there was an announcement that a new junior ranger had joined the team and could we applaud the hard work done for this achievement. I clapped but thought this is weird, do they always clap a new employee? Later I heard another announcement and thought, gee, a lot of new rangers today. I looked at the desk and junior ranger is actually the term given to the kids who complete a treasure hunt. Gullible me!I spoke to a Potomac trail volunteer (they maintain the trail between Waynesboro and Harper's Ferry) and he said that 95% of the Eastern trails are maintained by volunteers and that each person is granted 1 to 2 miles to look after. I'd enjoy doing that. I could survey my personal domain!I finished the thru hike book and another book during my day off. 2 books in one day, it looks like my speed reading is back!I wonder if my Mum knows that she is arriving just in time for Naked Hiker Day which is on 21 June. I have still not decided whether to do it but I'm rather prudish so perhaps underwear hiking would be a compromise.