Date: 2009-01-21
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Miles today: 0.0

Shake it like a polaroid picture!I'll jump right in. I went on my final shakedown hike with Liz (Rocket) and Cori to finalize all gear and clothing choices for my hike. Wellll, since the temperature was far from comfortable and almost dangerously cold to be camping out in, we kept the same route as planned, but stayed in hostels for safety. This shakedown for me personally was about clothing choices, I'm happy with all my other gear. Although we did not camp out in the frigid temps, I am 100% confident with all my clothing and am ready to go. Getting to the trail head was uneventful, that is, until I accidentally backed my car into a 3 foot ditch that was completely filled with leaves. Doh! I was unable to release my car from the ditches grips, but a nice southern man came to the rescue and got it out in a pinch. Phew. We began our trek on a freezing cold day, I think the temps were 10-15 degrees all day, burrrr. Things started to go numb, the only thing to do is keep walking to warm up. So, that's what we did, all the way to our first stop for the night where we were unexpectedly greeted by a cabin full of boy scouts. Since there was not enough room in the hikers bunk house in the back, they so kindly invited us 3 stinky hikers to stay in a separate private room in the cabin. Of course we were not turing that down, along with the dinner they fed us AND breakfast they woke us up to. The table was even set for 3 with a lit candle, those scouts certainly know how to treat a few ladies! I wish I knew their troop number to send a thank you note, but I do remember they were from Bluemont, VA. If any of you find your way to my journal, thank you so much for your generosity! We had an excellent time hanging with the boys and getting to know some of the leaders.The next day warmed up a bit, but not by much. I kept relatively warm, but again, fingers felt like falling off at certain times. We played games while hiking to pass time, forget how cold it was, and laugh, a LOT. Picnic, the alphabet game, and 20 questions were high on the list. Before we knew it, we were on a blue blaze trail down to Bears Den for the night. A bunk and a hot shower for 15 bucks, score! I dove head first into the shower and was once again warm, making me a very happy girl. Bears Den hostel is a hikers Paradise, (and I hear the nicest on the trail) and the care takers, Red Wing and Hopeful (and Hikelet), were so friendly and hospitable. I am really anxious to get back there in the summer where I'll be spending another night and retrieving a mail drop. The final day of our shakedown was our biggest and most exciting day, and what made it more exciting was the ability to slack pack! Rocket, Cori and I set out early to pack in the 14 mile roller coaster so we could get to my car by sunset. The roller coaster was such a fun ride, and not nearly as scary/hard as I thought it would be. However, I now understand the meaning of PUDS. Up, down, repeat 9 more times. A billion half-frozen stream crossings that sometimes took a good 5 minutes of debating the best way to cross without falling in and having anyones feet fall victim to the icy cold stream. Success! Happy feet for everyone. The final push was the steepest ascent of the coaster, and it came at time when I was feeling a little zapped of energy. The thought of a hot shower, dinner, and a tasty treat was how I mustered up the energy to keep pushing on. Push, push, almost there, aaand done! Congratulatory high 5's were exchanged all around, and we flew over the last few humps and back to the car. Again, back to Bears Den for all the wonderful luxuries it has to offer, and an AT movie to top off the night. Perfection. The only thing missing was Ben and Jerry's, but, since I am not yet a thru-hiker with a raging appetite, the dessert tank in my belly has not yet found enough storage space for a pint. Next time boys. A big event that occurred on this shakedown was my adoption of a trail name (and Liz too!). I didn't expect it to happen until sometime after takeoff from Springer, but things happened and it was just a natural fit for us both. Plus, it's nice to know I will not have to live with a potentially bad name. So, here I am introducing myself for the very first time as Storm. It felt a little odd to introduce myself to other hikers as Storm, but I'm so excited that I'm one step closer and have one more connection to becoming a thru hiker. I can't wait to be 100% a part of this wonderful trail community that bonds everyone together. The people I have met this weekend at the hostels and on the trail were so kind and generous. I failed to mention that one of the section hikers wrote me a poem after only knowing me for maybe an hour or 2, the first one ever written for me. So, I told him I'd carry it with me my whole hike. Buddy, thanks for the poem, I love it!"Hugs are relatively inexpensive and go a long way"Oh and one more thing. When we hiked the roller coaster, at the beginning of every single ascent, I started to sing "Roller Coaster of Love" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. It became so catchy, so we all belted it out pretty loudly every time. When I get back to the coaster, I'll probably remember that and jam out to that song. I like little traditions, it makes the hike more interesting and fun.