Date: 2008-04-22
From: Bears Den Hostel

To: David Lesser Shelter
Miles today: 11.1
Weather: light rain

It really is an amazing thing to feel the difference in your energy level when yo wake up warm and clean vs. dirty and wet. We spent the night at the Bears Den Hostel and I kept the warm PJ¢S on all night I was reluctant to give them up they were so warm. Anyhow I did and changed into my dry hiking clothes and after breakfast headed out into the last of the Roller Coaster. I don¢t think I really got away from Bears Den until almost 10:30 in the AM not a record start out of camp that is for sure.The rain from the past two days has ended and now it is just a bit overcast or foggy and that is quickly becoming humidity from the sun coming out. I dropped down into Snickers Gap and on to the last few hills. I met a father and son out hunting for mushrooms and stopped to talk to them for a bit. I met Doggiebag and some SoBo section hikers at Crescent Rock. This was one of the first real views that we have had in two days. The sun was coming out and the skies were getting patches of sun giving some great lighting to the hills. As I sat and had a bite to eat Transfat and Double Cheese cruised on past they left about and hour after me from the hostel. They have their trail legs that is for sure.Me? Today I feel every step. I took time trying to patch my feet the best that I can but there is nothing that I can do at this point just do the best to keep them from tearing and walk though it. After a bit they kind of develop a numbness. I am told after a while they just kind of Callous over. That would be great if I got to stay out long enough for that to happen. I need to find a way to develop the toughness while at home between section hikes. Maybe if I walk Barefoot more? I don¢t know but the feet are a focus today. I stopped near the Blackburn Trail Center to try and patch them and let the feet breath. About 30 min after I arrived at the junction U turn Bob who I had passed on the way up came back through. He is waiting for Pansy and Rustle to come by. I had not seen them since I left the hostel this AM. About 10 minuet after him Doggiebag came in. We sat and talked for a bit and then he pushed on talking about a store at the next road crossing 1.3 miles up the trail. The shelter was to be about 3 miles more. I got myself together and hit the trail. I had my I pod and put it on trying to keep my mind off my feet some. When I had put the I pod in my possible bag I forgot to lock the tough screen so the battery is pretty well drained. Its ok because one of the ear plugs seems to have stopped working so I only hear the music out of one ear. I put on a bit of Hendrix and just walked along. I love it when he got into some of the older blues tunes like when he does Red House. I kept walking and walking waiting for that damn road at 1.3 was never coming. I kept looking at my watch figuring if it was taking me this long to go 1.3 it would be dark by the time I made the 3 plus to the shelter. Next thing you know there is a sign for the David Lesser Shelter. Turns out the road is 1.3 past the shelter. I was sure glad to see the shelter. One of the first things I did was take my boots off.I am hanging behind the shelter tonight and Doggiebag set up under the roof of the cook shelter. There are some tenters down below but they have not come up to say hello so we left them be. Transfat and Double Cheese were chilling on the deck when I rolled in. They are going to break early in the AM for Harpers Ferry so that Transfat can go to the Outfitters he is going to change up some of his gear and they want to go to the ATC to log in and get photos taken. We had a good night and all cooked over by Doggiebag and talked about all the types of trail food and what we liked the best and what cooks the fastest.Today Numbers Ascended 2490 Descended 2330 Duration 7:07 hrsDaily Mileage 11.1 Grand Total 351.9