Date: 2011-06-07
From: Jim & Molly Denton Shelter

To: Bears Den Hostel
Miles today: 28.2
Weather: overcast clouds

I woke up feeling refreshed. It has taken me quite some time to adjust to sleeping in precarious places. Not that I have a problem with any of it, it was just a bit difficult to get a restful night of sleep when the tent is pitched on a 45 degree angle with angular rocks poking your bum. These trivial things don't seem to bother me as much any more. Some hotel or hostel rooms however... lets just say I sometimes prefer to sleep in a rodent infested shelter than risk the chance of contamination from some of the beds I've seen. I did a quick food inventory and had just enough to get into Harpers Ferry tomorrow. I just had to make sure I didn't over eat at all. The plan for the day was to do 25 miles to a shelter halfway through the "roller coaster". The "roller coaster" is an evil 13.5 mile section of steep, tightly packed ascents and descents. The trail had to follow these ridiculous ups and downs because as it moved through the years, the area had become more inhabited and the AT could only be allocated a small path at the very edge of the land the homes sit on. Therefore it goes up and down all the steepness instead of going around it. This was not something I wanted to tackle in one day. I started on the trail at 6:00 am. Today would be yet another high mileage day. About three miles in I caught up with Raingear and Moses. These cats took off from the shelter late yesterday to get a few more miles in. I caught them packing up their tents. I made it into the shelter another two miles up a steep hill to find someone still sleeping in the shelter, and a tenter who hadn't stirred. I'm beginning to feel lik a lunatic for doing these massive days and getting up so early every day. Only two more days of this madness! I can't wait to see mum and Serena; it's finally within reach. I just have to keep to the schedule. I had first lunch at a stream crossing just past the side trail to another shelter. I try to avoid extra miles especially on big days. It was only 0.2 miles off the A.T., but the miles add up on long days. I did take the plunge and walk 0.2 to the next shelter to have second lunch and get water from a nice spring. I was rather pleased with myself for knocking out 18.4 miles before 12:30 pm. Another personal record! I had the company of H^3 and a little asian man wearing a helmet. I can only assume the helmet was to prevent injury from flying squirrel attacks. I live on the edge, so you won't catch me wearing any squirrel protection gear. It was at this shelter that I made the decision to push to Bears Den Hostel. They had pizza and Ben & Jerry's. This would also leave me with a easy 20 miler into Harpers Ferry tomorrow with most of the "roller coaster" knocked out. The temperature was warm, but not too hot like it had been. The last 10 miles were the fierce "roller coaster". The size of the hills were not huge. There were just lots and lots of them. They were steep and lame. After 18 miles this crap was dreadful. I was so fatigued. My pace dropped to around 1.5 - 1.75 mph. I stopped briefly at the shelter I was planning staying at and met a couple of section hikers; Firebeard had a big red beard and heading south, Denver was from London heading north - Denver had thru hiked in '08. Arriving at the hostel was an amazing feeling. Such relief. I got in just after 6:00 pm. I took advantage of their hiker special: a clean bed with full linens, a shower towel and shampoo/conditioner/soap (these items are not always included, and not many hikers carry such things - I don't), a load of laudry in their new fancy machines, a full pizza, a soft drink, and a pint of Ben & Jerry's all for $27.50. I'm in. It was such a relaxing night once I started to wind down. On top of my lovely evening I had a marvelous idea. I would leave most of my gear (tent, sleeping bag, extra food, electronics, clothes etc.) at the hostel and slack pack the 20 miles into Harpers Ferry. After all, Serena and mum would have a car and we could pick up my stuff from Bears Den the next day. I asked the nice proprieter of the establishment if I could do such a thing. yes! Tomorrow would not only be a short 20, it would be a light 20 and the terrain was flat! glorious.