Date: 2005-06-15
From: Chester Gap/ US 522, Front Royal, VA

To: Campsite .3 miles after Trico side trail
Miles today: 12.9

I guess it has begun....the nightly tick checks that is. Today we left Front Royal, VA around noon. This was after we had laundered a few choice items, packed everything away, and made a stop at the Internet cafe. Bug managed to find us a ride out of town, but bless this poor fella's heart---I don't think he knew up from down! I suppose part of the blame lies with us because when he asked, "Ya'll folks headed fer the mountains?", we assumed he was familiar with AT hikers and replied yes. This guy first took us to the northern entrance to Shenandoah National Park, then he wanted to take us down a different highway. He got a confused look when we tried to give him directions to the trailhead, and it was then that he told me that he was from Texas and had only lived here a couple of months. We did finally make it to the trailhead though (with a huge sigh of relief I might add). As frustrating as it was trying to get back, we are thankful for all that help us along the way.As we walked up the trail, we bordered the National Zoological Park for endagered species. But no, we did not see wild animals. There were quite a few ups and downs today, with LOTS of grass to walk through. Some of it was taller than me.The first shelter we stopped to rest in, was the site of an old homestead. This really was a beautiful setting with a separate covered picnic area, a solar shower (which we didn't make use of since we were fresh out of town), and a nice large porch with adirondack bench. If we had done a few more miles, I would have been so tempted to stay, but that was only about 5 miles out. We stayed long enough to eat a lunch of bagels with salami and cheese.We moved on and continued to hike some very nice trail. It shortly began to climb and we were hiking through grass taller than me. The poison ivy is lush and beautiful all alongside the trail. When it first began to pop up, I avoided it at every turn. Now, although I don't seek it out, I don't pay it much mind either. The next structure we came to was Manasses Gap shelter. It wasn't the prettiest shelter I have seen, but it had a nice water source. After reading the shelter register, however, I had no desire to stay! All I read about were the many copperheads that inhabited the shelter area and the shelter itself. Bug and I stayed long enough to cook dinner and rehydrate. We were really excited....today, we packed out a yellow squash and made a modified version of my grandmother's famous squash casserole, using a combination of typical backpacker fare. It was a combination of squash, cheese, lipton cream of chicken cup o' soup, dried onion, and lance snack cracker! s. I must say it turned out rather well! We have been struggling of late with our menu choices. We still very much enjoy mac-n-cheese because we don't eat it on a daily basis. Ramen and Lipton meals on the other hand are fast losing their appeal. Therefore, Bug and I are looking for ways to be creative with our meal choices.By the way, if any of you out there are fellow backpackers and have a yummy trail recipe you might recommend....feel free to pass it on.Peanut and Chay had arrived and were camping a little bit up the way. We visited a few minutes before heading up the way. The trail was full of rolling hills and we had not planned to go nearly as far as we did, but had no choice since the terrain didn't allow for stopping. We thought we would see a nice little camp-spot long before we did. As it turns out, where we are now isn't exactly ideal, but it is flat. As if we didn't learn the first time, but we have set up camp on an old wagon road. I hope no one comes up here wanting to coon hunt tonight.