Date: 2004-07-18
From: Crampton Gap Shelter

To: Pine Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: light rain

Civil War PlaqueStart: Crampton Gap Shelter @ 1230Finish: Pine Knob Shelter @ 1758Miles: 12.5Weather: Rainy Morning. Sunny and hot afternoonBreakfast: Granola w/ RaspberriesLunch: Peanut M&M¢s, Dehydrated PeachesDinner: Salad w/ chicken, Cake, Star CrunchTrail Conditions: Good and flat but very rockyAnimals: Chipmunk, Frog, Birds, DogPeople: Dayhikers, Jacob, Hannah, Mickey & Mallory, Kiwi, Lil' Munchkin & Kaya, James, random hiker urinating alongside trail I have a leak in my Thermarest, but for all my searching I cannot find where it is. It made for a sore back this morning, however, I slept like a champ. The smell of rain was in the air, so I delayed my start and it poured buckets for about 1-1/2 hours. I napped some more and caught up on some journaling. As I was heading out a shelter maintainer arrived and we shot the breeze briefly.Not much more than two miles into the day I ran into Jacob. I hadn¢t seen him since Waynesboro and thought he¢d gotten of the trail at Harpers, as he is planning hiking only half the trail. He¢ll be going to Duncannon instead. We hiked all afternoon and caught up on the times. We took a quick rest break at Rocky Gap Shelter. The trail was very flat and it made for easy going, however, it was super rocky and full of opportunity to twist an ankle. Along the way I had a pleasant surprise when I went past an outhouse with flush toilets and showers.On a historical note we are hiking through important historical sites and civil war battlefields. Today I passed a plaque memorializing the 17th Michigan which held off a Confederate regiment in a long battle. Ben had noted this sign in his journal to. My dad, a genealogical buff, did some research and it turns out my great-great grandfather (who was a Confederate; 50th Georgia Infantry, Longstreets Division, Northern Army of Virginia) fought against the 17th Michigan at that spot (Fox¢s Gap)! Very cool to think about. Original Washington MonumentA ways further up the trail was the original Washington Monument. An odd design but honorable tribute nonetheless. After a photo op it was on to the Pine Knob Shelter for some trail magic with friends I haven¢t seen for weeks. Old Friends Hannah Run, who lives nearby, sectioned Damascus to Waynesboro. She is a great lady and I was fortunate enough to hike several days with her. I hadn¢t seen her since Dutch Haus and didn¢t get to say bye before she left. However, she magic'd us hikers at the shelter! A totally awesome surprise. Mickey and Mallory were also there and I haven¢t seen them since Pearisburg! Then Kiwi showed up, who I haven¢t seen in ages. All in all it was a super night tonight and it was great catching up with everyone, especially after not seeing everyone for so long. There was a huge wolf spider in the shelter tonight. Mickey and I went ahead and torched it with denatured alcohol. We¢re heartless, some might say - but everyone else with us was glad we got rid of it. Kiwi, Mickey and Mallory, Lil' Munchkin and I all told funny jokes this evening in the shelter and had a great time talking. Everyone has drifted off to sleep so I¢ll join them.I¢m glad today was so great. I really needed it after a rough day yesterday.One Year Reflection