Date: 2004-06-15
From: David Lesser Shelter, VA

To: Harpers Ferry, WV
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: clear sky

Finally, I've hiked 1,000 miles! That's a great accomplishment for me. I'd expect that all of the "unofficial" walking off the trail on this trip would add up to quite a few more additional miles. I am out of Virginia and in West Virginia, the fifth state along this trail. This comes exactly three months after my March 15th start at Springer Mountain, Georgia. Wednesday, June 16th, will be a zero day for me and then I expect to be in Maryland for a few days as I hike through that state.I woke up just beyond 5am to begin the hike into Harpers Ferry with Palm Tree. Earlier, hikers have told us that it's easy traveling into Harpers Ferry, but the trail has been annoyingly rocky from the "roller coaster" on into Harpers Ferry. (Photo) Crossing the Shenandoah River on U.S. Highway 340.Palm Tree and I agreed to split the cost of a motel room at the Comfort Inn and then head on over to the Appalachian Trail Conference¢s (ATC) headquarters to check-in and get our picture taken for entry into the thru-hiker register. I am thru-hiker #322, so far this year, to reach Harpers Ferry. I realize that the administrative budget for the ATC must be small, but I was shocked that the hiker's register was on a notebook rather than a computer database. I expected to be able to search for other hikers who have reached Harpers Ferry via a database rather than thumb through a paper register. In addition, they take photos of hikers with a Polaroid instant camera. Digital cameras are relatively cheap now. With a database and a digital camera they could have the ability to link a photo with a database entry and, going a step further, have the ability to e-mail that photo to relatives and/or post the details of thru-hikers on the Web if a hiker wishes to do so. I also had the oportunity to weigh myself. I've been able to tell that I've lost weight rapidly in the past three months. The ATC Hq has one of those scales like you see in your doctor's office, so I'd expect it to be somewhat accurate. I've lost 27 pounds so far. Now that I'm seeing this weight loss, I'm getting a little bit carried away with what I eat (eating for the fun of it). I hope I don't pick up any bad eating habits when I leave the trail for good.   On the subject of food, Palm Tree and I walked over to the Hilltop House Hotel for lunch. A few other hiking acquaintances had checked in there to stay the night. This hotel was built around 1875 and has a great view of the Potomac River. Once there, we met Ponderer, Boonie, and Gaiter Woman for lunch. Of particular interest was the AYCE buffet. It was a very good lunch. I was impressed.Later in the afternoon, I was off to do the typical trail town chores: laundry (in the sink), post office, library (Internet), ATM, planning for the next week out, phone calls, groceries and going to the outfitter (supplies). Coin laundry is a couple of miles away, so the sink works for that purpose. Surprisingly, the closest grocery store is 16 miles away in Charles Town. Luckily, Bluebell, Moonstone, and Little Bit were here at the motel with their spouses and a rented car to help us get to the grocery store. The only other option is a 7-11 about 1.5 miles away from ATC Hq. The weather turned relatively severe late this afternoon and it was a good feeling to be inside. The wind blew the rain sideways, lightning flashed frequently and the thunder cracked in time with the blinding flashes. Sox, Tree Frog and A.D. hit the trail tis afternoon, so I hope the rode out the storm in a shelter.