Date: 2017-06-17
From: Rockfish Gap/Waynesboro, Virginia

To: Unnamed Campsite at Mile 876.9
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: overcast clouds

6/17Rockfish Gap/Waynesboro, Virginia to Unnamed Campsite at Mile 876.915.0 miles Total miles:  876.9I was up by 6:30 this morning and finished loading my pack before we headed to the breakfast area at the Quality Inn to eat.  I was pleasantly surprised to find that breakfast consisted of scrambled eggs, biscuits, gravy, yogurt, fresh fruit, and cereal, in addition to waffles.  I washed my breakfast down with orange juice and coffee and then arranged a shuttle for Gravity, Mike, and I back to Rockfish Gap and the trailhead.  I am so excited about being able to hike with Mike again.  We were met at the trailhead with more trail magic.  A gentleman named Pat brought donuts and juice to the parking lot to share with hikers.  I had a chocolate covered donut which was delicious, even if I did have a time getting the chocolate out of my beard.  We then shouldered our packs, about ten pounds heavier than yesterday as we were loaded down with several days of food, and hit the trail. Right after beginning our hike, we reached Shenandoah National Park and registered at the kiosk.  It is free to hike in the park, although you have to fill out a registration tag that must be affixed to your pack.  As we had been warned, the trail was initially steep and quite rocky, but the trail soon changed to be much easier to travel.  There were still many steep sections, but the rocks diminishes appreciatively.  At McCormick Gap, we met Don, Kevin, and Brennan with the Potomoc Appalachian Trail Club.  These fine gentleman were preparing to clear underbrush from the trail up Bears Den Mountain.  Once again, with spirit, "Thank you, Trail Maintainers!"  Kevin has a decal of a white blaze on his car, and Don's license plate proudly reads, "TRLBLDR."  We chatted for a bit before we headed up the mountain, which sports several communication towers near and at its summit.  We walked through chest high grass near the summit, knowing that, thanks to the efforts of those wonderful volunteers, this afternoon's hikers would enjoy a much easier path.  We met Don at the top of the mountain.  I learned that he was a Navy veteran who served for many years as a Scoutmaster.  Upon learning that I taught students with disabilities, he shared stories of how he had helped include students with disabilities in his scout troop.  After thanking him for his considerable contributions to our nation, Scouting, people with disabilities, and the AT, I hiked on.  The AT is full of interesting discoveries.  For instance, who would guess that the summit of Bears Den Mountain is adorned with numerous tractor seats imbedded in the ground?  Mike was almost thrown by one before we found a pair to relax in for a few minutes before heading northward to climb Little Calf and Big Calf Mountains.  At the top of Big Calf, Mike helped the mountain grow by adding a small stone to the top of a rock pile located at the summit.  There is a USGS marker denoting the location and elevation of the summit, but, thanks to the efforts of hikers, it is now inaccurate by several feet.  We reached our intended destination of Calf Mountain Shelter by 1:00.  Gravity, Mike, and I conferred and decided it was too early and the weather too conducive to stop for the day.  We knew that water was an issue, because there was a long stretch without a water source coming up soon. We ended up filling all our water bottles at a spring at Mile 870.2, plus we each added an additional liter to prepare for a dry camp.  We ate lunch by the spring, one because it was a pretty place and, two because it helped reduce our pack weights a bit, but with the addition of two extra pounds of water, they were heavy indeed as we hiked on.  At Turk Gap, I was able to meet Redeye's father.  As I've mentioned, Redeye is a joyful young woman whom I have encountered several times during the past few weeks.  She is a true free spirit and epitomizes what is good in "hike your own hike."  If there is a swimming hole to be found, rest assured that Redeye will find it. She hikes the trail with boundless enthusiasm and never fails to bring a smile to me when we see each other. Mike, her father, drive down from Quebec to spend some time with her, and they were together at the parking lot at Turks Gap when I got there. We had a great conversation, particularly about daughters, and I shared photos of Becky, who has recently taken up Aireal Silks.  She sends me photos of herself hanging gracefully upside down by silks suspended from a ceiling. Both Redeye's dad and I are rightfully quite proud of the women our daughters have become.  After wishing them well, Gravity, Mike, and I hiked a few more miles to an unnamed campsite alongside the trail at Mile 876.9. It is a dry camp, so we will definitely need our extra water, as we are about six miles to our next water source.  There was room for Gravity's and my tents, and Mike set up his lightweight tarp, under which he and I used to sleep many a night during Scout backpacking trips.  A sign a few miles back warned us of possible aggressive bear activity in the area, so we were sure to do a careful job hanging our food this evening.  Having almost doubled our intended mileage today, we plan to hike through Loft Mountain Campground tomorrow afternoon, enjoying lunch at their campground restaurant, and then hiking until we feel like stopping.  I will never be as free-spirited as Redeye, but I believe there are lessons to be learned about not being too regimented.  I doubt I'll ever grow too fond of swimming holes, though . . .