Date: 2008-04-15
From: Manassas Gap Shelter, VA

To: Rod Hollow Shelter, va
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: clear sky

So about last nite, it was pretty cold when I turned in, and to my amazement, I did pretty well w/out the sleeping pad in my hammock. I woke up once @ 1:15 a.m. needing to pee, and that was causing me to be chilled. I did some jumping jacks before climbing back in and was snuggley warm in no time. The only time I woke up for cold was because part of me was touching the part of the hammock that was not covered by my underquilt. When I woke this morning, it was 34 degrees in my hammock, so I was ecstatic. I woke up an hour late, I did have my alarms set, but I somehow set the time 12 hrs off! Doh! So I woke to the birds @ 7:08 this morning. It was prety cold changing clothes (my least favorite part of the routine). My Clif bar was practically frozen and my toothpaste was partially frozen too. I didn't let it freak me out though.I was hiking by 8:45 a.m. Yesterday I saw zero wildlife, but today I saw 4 deer, a little snake, a few butterflies, and squirrel. It was a bit warmer today, so I think the animals were staying in yesterday.First off..a climb, as usual. I don't mind in cold weather though, it warms me up fast. I was headed towards the next shelter for lunch (yup, already thinking constantly about food, which I know has to be in my head, my metabolism wouldn't change in 1 day, but today, it's Chinese food I want!) It was pretty uneventful until I saw a HUGE pile of bear scat (or so I thought). I took my picture w/foot as reference, and then saw 2 more piles further up. I was like, "wait a minute..bears don't crap in multiple piles nor do they participate in community crapping." I then realized, it was horse crap! Don't ask me how a horse got out here, but I don't think it's legal to ride on the AT here. Still made me laugh.So Dicks Dome Shelter, awesome site. I got there @ 11:00 a.m., and almost stayed for the day. A beautiful stream, lots of places to hang, and just super cool. I wasn't originally going to eat lunch this early, but I couldn't help it. I remember now falling asleep last nite to the sound of my stomach rumbling!I spent an hour there, just enjoying it. Finally decided to move on though. I did water the leaves before I left, and I know I'm talking a lot about "bathroom" topics, but there's a reason.I started up the next climb towards Sky Meadow State Park I'm going along all happy, and about 20 minutes later, I stopped to take my long sleeve shirt of and realized I'd been hiking with my fly down! So not only did I do it this time, I did it a SECOND time later today! Seriously, you spend 24 hrs out here, and all your maners go to hell! Luckily I only ran into 3 people today, section hiker from Maryland named Sofa King, an unknown guy, and the guy from yesterday, Ken.Sky Meadows State Park is beautiful. Rolling grassy hills, easy hiking, and the sun was shining nicely. It was about 2:00 when I got there, so it was getting warmer, but I think it topped out @ 59 today.I have been taking breaks every hour. Not planned that way, but my feet start screaming at me otherwise. It seems 10 minutes off of them makes a world of difference. I'm trying to take more shorter breaks, afterall, I did take about 180 zero days in a row!I also had a moment w/the trees on one of my breaks. Just really taking notice and realizing that nobody else in all of past or future will see them exactly as I did today. Just cool, and is often what we stop noticing when we've been out here for awhile.I finally got to Ashby Gap where Ken was waiting for his slackpackers. I gave him my journal address and told him his picture would be up soon.   I made great time today. I was @ Rod Hollow Shelter @ 4:59 p.m.! Al alone tonight, which is fine w/me. I got my chores done, dinner devoured and decided 7:00 was too early to go to bed, so I'm sitting here @ 8:35 p.m. in front of a warm fire. I'm always so excited when my fires start easily. I'm sharing my fire with 2 little shelter mice..they are so adorable. I actually managed to get pictures of them, can you believe that?I heard my first owl off in the distance tonight. I love owls so much.It's supposed to be cold again tonight, but I'm having a hard time believing it will be as cold as last nite. By this time last nite I was all bundled up trying to get warm. Right now, I am by my fire, but I'm not even wearing gloves. After tonight, it starts warming up..I'm glad.Tomorrow right away is the beginning of the Roller Coaste, 10 ups/downs over a 13.5 mile stretch. I'm planing a shorter day ad will hopefully be chowig down on pizza and ice cream @ the Bears Den Hostel tomorrow nite. We'll see, but it sounds so good right now!So I'm loving it all over again. No surprise but it's as if I never stopped hiking. Gosh I love this trail. It's almost 9:00 p.m., I'm going to try to cal Karen and hit the sack. It's now geting cooler @ 45 degrees, gues the lack of wind makes it warmer feeling. Wel, nighty night all. Tomorrow's another day. ~Certain