Date: 2023-05-18
From: Hightop Hut

To: Rock Spring Hut
Miles today: 23.9

I woke up much earlier than I needed to today, at 4:30. I was concerned that I wouldn't get to the Big Meadows Wayside before 5, but that turned out not to be an issue in the least.I started hiking around 6:15. It was a brief climb to Hightop Mountain, which had a decent view. From there I descended to Swift Run Gap at 7:30. I had a breakfast break at South River Fire Road after a mild 3 miles up and down at 8:30, and reached a Bearfence overlook around 11:30.I had gone to a much better overlook at a rock scamble on a backpacking trip a couple years ago, but I didnt feel like hiking an extra tenth of mile. Now I wish I would have.Right before I reached my planned overlook, I ran into a day hiker who gave me a clementine and Cherry Vanilla Coke! She said she was specifically saving it for a thru hiker - very thoughtful of her. I enjoyed that and more during an extended lunch break at the overlook.I was moving right along. While there were plenty of pretty views to take a brief pause at, outside of Bearfence, there was nothing major to look at. I ended up making it to the wayside around 2:15. I stayed there for a bit over an hour. I got some snacks, a bit of fudge, and a couple freeze dried meals.If I really wanted to, I could just skip Front Royal and continue less than 60 miles to Harpers Ferry, as I had enough food for it. But, I also wanted to relax a bit, upload pics and finally add all the trail journal entries I'm behind on, charge my phone to 100% so I don't have to use my backup power, get some fruit and vegetables to carry, and I need more toothpaste too.I also ate at the restaurant there. I had a two piece honey butter chicken meal with a buttermilk biscuit, collard greens, and mac & cheese. It was awesome. Sadly, they're milkshake machine was not working, so I had a scoop of blackberry ice cream, just like yesterday. Yes, I can hear the violins playing in the background.. I have it so bad.I saw Dex, Fan Fave, and Rocket while I was getting/having a post lunch snack of chips and a chocolate pretzel. While I was eating it, I met a guy calling himself Haiku-san, who I think said he is a section hiker. He said he likes to write a haiku in the AT shelter logs.I left and passed by Flowers and Steve on the way out, around 3:45. After more pretty easy rolling terrain and some nice overlooks, I got to Rock Spring Hut at 5:30.I relaxed after setting up my tent and caught up on two more journal entries- yesterday's and last Friday's. Then I went down to the shelter to boil some water and have a few snacks. I met K who I also ran into on the way up to the wayside. He is named after a character from Kafka's The Trial, with whom he identified. He started in March and had a few rough patches of weather. He said that on one day, it rained, and then got down to single digits overnight. And this was in Georgia! I'm glad I wasn't around for that. He mentioned Skyland Restaurant near the StonyMan Mountain Trailhead for tomorrow. I'm glad he mentioned it, as it's not in the guide. I have an ambitious day planned tomorrow, but maybe I can stop in for yet another meal. Maybe to go?There was also a group of section hikers from the DC area in the shelter, who were hiking southbound to Swift Run Gap. We chatted about foraging and identifying common edible plants, like chicken of the woods. One said he planned to write a book on it. I would want to read up on it or even take a short class on foraging before I tried it.I mentioned Haiku-san and wondered if he had put a haiku in the shelter trail log. We leafed through it, and I found a three line entry: first line 5 syllables, second line 7 syllables, but third line was just 3. I took a picture of it anyway. Maybe it was his?