Date: 2008-10-14
From: James River

To: Rice Mountain
Miles today: 13.0

Today was a rather strenuous day of hiking.Ken picked me up at 7:00 and drove me to the trail head by 7:30. I really wanted a picture of Ken but in all the scurring around to go I forgot to take a picture. I thought about it a half mile up the trail. Too late. I figured out, as I walked along the trail, who he reminded me of. Take away the southern accent and he looks very much like Pastor John Schmidt, a retired chaplin in Puyallup.Anyway, up the trail I went. And I do mean up. It is not that the trail was bad. It was pretty well graded for the most part but it went unretentingly up. I went over Little Rocky Row, Big Rocky Row, Bluff Mountain, Punchbowl Mountain and Rice Mountain today. I started a bit over 600 ft and went up to 3,400 ft and a few hundred ft of that were done several times. Tomorrow I will have an equally challenging day, although a little shorter.There were some rather remarkable views from both Rocky Row overlooks as well as from Bluff Mountain. I could look out to other mountain ranges over broad valleys both to the east and to the west.Ocassionally some of the beauty was more than I could take in because I was just so tired from all the climbing. But even in my depleted condition I could tell they were beautiful.I was pushing pretty hard today as I need to get to Dutch Haus in Montebellow by Thursday evening and I had too many miles loaded on the last day.So I pulled in to Punch Bowl Shelter about 3:45. I was very hot and sweaty as it was a very warm day above 75 and I had been doing all that climbing.The water source was a somewhat stagnant pond. There was plenty of water but my filter was working hard getting it. I also bathed the top half of me which felt wonderful. Then I ate my dinner.I was just ready to push on the last three miles when the first person I had seen on the trail all day came atound the corner of the shelter. It was Woodman, a section hiker who had just got on the trail at James River and is planning to go to Harper's Ferry.And then after talking with him and ready to move on again, Maverick and a bit later, Thinker, SOBO section hikers also came. After very briefly saying hello I got on the trail. I was fighting coming darkness now to get my last three miles in.About a mile or so down the trail I passed Peanut Butter, a long day hiker. And just a little later Woodman caught up to me. He talked about going futher too but I kind of thought he would stay at the shelter when the other two guys showed up.We chatted a bit but he had not eaten yet and I think he was concerned about finding a place to camp so he stoppd at about 2 miles.I really wanted to get on Rice Mountain so in spite of lengthening shadows I pressed on. I could tell now that I was headed up Rice by the altimeter and was just bullheaded about getting up there.I finally stopped at a somewhat flat spot just as it was relly getting dark. I found a spot in the leaves that would do and spread out my cowboy camp.The moon is bright, almost full. And if I am not quite on the top of Rice Mountain, I am on a high shoulder of the mountain. Good enough even for me.I think I will be seeing Woodman tomorrow and off and on along the way the next few days. I hope so. It is nice to hike somewhat with someone.And now it is time to relax and sleep.