Date: 2007-10-27
From: Campton Gap Shelter

To: Blackburn Hiking Center
Miles today: 23.1

mi.23.1sleep hosteldest. Blackburn Hiking Center day 107 Originally I wanted to get an early start. As soon as that many people piled in I knew that wasn't going to happen. I feel bad if I wake everyone up when I would want to get up. But sometime around 7:30 I couldn't wait any longer. I was in the back of the shelter and someone was in front of the doorway. I was having a bathroom emergency. My first idea was to pack up and head down the .5 to the state park and make breakfest there. I got almost packed up. I even had one shoe on. And then it started to rain a little. I am pretty sick of the rain after 5 days. So I did a quick change back and laid back down. That worked for all of 30 minutes or so. By this time everyone else was making breakfest. 2 of the guys were sing fresh eggs to make scrambled eggs. I had to get away and eat. So I picked up and headed out. A late start, but what can you do. I don't know if I mentioned it, but the AT in MD goes through some historic sites. There is a lot of civil war monuments and battlefields. I took some time today and yesterday to read some of the placks. Today I pasted the only monument to Civil War Correspondants. It was built by a privite party and then later donated. I would have seen more but it was either raining or like today I had somewhere I wanted to be. I got to the next shelter around 11am, the one I wanted to end at yesterday. I found shooting star there making lunch. I was starving at this point and made a good bit. Funny thing was I kept thinking I forgot something this morning. Usually I am the only person where ever I am, so I do a quick look before I leave. There was 6 other people's crap thrown all around this morning. I even stopped earlier and made sure I had my stove. I thought for sure that was what it was. I went to light my stove and could not find my lighter or knife. I though great one more thing to replace out. Luckily later I found them in the bag with my bread. It doesn't sound like much, but those are my only ways of making a fire or lighting my stove. That is huge. Another thing I noticed. MD only has 44 AT miles through it and 5 shelters. They have to spend there money on something. The one I stayed at had a nice deck. It also had a long footbridge over a rocky section, no water involved, to the privy. Not needed, but nice. The one I stopped at for lunch had a loft with glass windows and a firepit with benches all around. The water was .5 down, read steep, so not to many long distance hikers stay here or at least make the trip for water. It also had an axe. Probibly forgotten by an axe murderer, or I guess for firewood makes more sense. Later on the trail follows an old canal tow path. Read really straight-ish and flat. I ended up catching up to 4 of the people from the shelter. They passed me while I was eating. From there the fact that it was Saturday really came out. There was a lot of tourons about. I crossed on the footpath of a railroad bridge over to WV and the town of Harper's Ferry. I would have liked to spend most of a day looking around here. There is a lot of historic things to see. Just the people were getting to me. But I had 2 stops to make. First was the outfitter. I got a new headlamp. The Tekka from Princeton tec, a popular one out here from what I see. And a new sleeping pad, the Z rest from thermarest. A closed cell foam pad that will give me insulation along with some padding. The great thing about it is that it does not leak or hold water. So I will be using it at about every sit break I take. Stop 2 was the ATC office. They have their office in Harpers Ferry. I stopped in and signed the book and got my photo taken. They take a photo of every hiker (thru, section, flip flop) and give you a number. I am southbounder number 84. Not everyone stops in, but most do. I had mine taken by the water cooler. Later I thought I should have taken one with my camera, but it was a miles out of town. So if you want to see it, you'll have to stop in. I saw tha the group I was hiking with in ME is only 4 days in front. I will probibly catch them at some point. It would be nice to see the again. Now I had a decision to make. First shelter was about 9 miles out or the trail center was 12. I heard I get feed and a bunck for free at the trail center, big surprise where I went. I left the ATC at 3pm with 12 miles to do. Funny I remember when that was a good day. The hike wasn't bad at all. About half way in my energy was dropping. I decided it was best to stop and eat. So I made 1st diner. I think I am going to make a habbit of it. My energy was way up for the rest of the walk. Tonight was also my first real solo long night hike. It was only around an hour. It was a little freaky. I am not used to seeing all the eye balls looking back at me. Luckily they were only deer. But they don't run away like they do during the day. I finally got to the trail to the center at 7:30pm. Oddly enough about when I thought I would. It's a down, but well worth it. I lucked out hard core. I am the only hiker staying here. It is the 2 caretakers and their friend who is the caretaker for this section of the AT. Most hikers only get pasta. I had steak, potatoes, broccili, and a roll. Bwith apple cider to drink. Best of all fresh apple pie with ice cream for dessert. This had to be the best apple pie I have ever had. The guy home made it. I am thinking I am only going to do the 8 miles to the hostel tomorrow. Why not. The caretaker is going to be doing some work on the trail tomorrow. I figured I would spend hal the day helping him out. I have been meaning to to some trail maintance at some point. Best of all is he shares in my dislike of firepits and removes them when he finds them. Now off to bed in a warm bunk house which I have all to myself. Heated by a great wood stove. I am also drinking the get spring water that I have been carrying in my gatoraid bottle for a day and a half.