Day 46, June 30, 2014

22.7 AT miles completed.

Got on the trail at 8:05 a.m. for a big day. Saw a bear hanging out in the canopy of a tree. It was difficult to get a good picture. Completed ~7.5 miles by 10:30 a.m. I stopped at the Elk Wallow Wayside for a sausage, egg and cheese biscuit. I also grabbed a side of hash browns.

I saw 2 more bears and two cubs. I finally got a picture of a bear.

The day was long and my feet were beat. I made it to the Front Royal Hostel and it felt amazing.

Shower, laundry, direct tv and a bed. All was much appreciated and needed.

Bear in the canopy of the tree.

Rattlesnake Point Overlook.

Peregrine Falcon restoration project. This ones for you Ben Dodd!

View.

Storm!

What's up?

Why do you keep taking my picture?

Bear :)

Compton Gap.

Day 45, June 29, 2014

15.3 AT miles.

I had an evening dinner at Sky land resort and lodge. Grabbed a burger and a few drinks. Caught up with great AT company I had not seen in awhile.

My buddy Beros? Spanish for sheep said he would send me his instant potatoes as trail magic on a future mail drop. He decided to get off in Harpers Ferry. 

IHOP by the waterfall.

The Pinnacle.

Climbers at the Pinnacle.

Lovely flowers.

Obstacle.

D.C.!

Hey dude!

Day 44, June 28, 2014

11.5 AT miles hiked.

I slept at Rock Spring Hut. The hike was nice and the terrain easy. The weather beautiful.

Beautiful doe.

Nice view.

Doe.

Sunset.

Day 43, June 27, 2014

12.4 AT miles.

I left Hightop hut that morning headed for Bearfence Mountain Hut. Today was a typical day on the AT. I grabbed a few beers at the Lewis Mtn Capground with some friends. I saw a number of deers throughout the day. I left from the campground with a mile to go. I made it to the shelter just in time to avoid the evening shower. I took my sleeping pad and sleeping bag and claimed a spot in the shelter. I had open spaces on both of me while I went to bed. Later that night I awoke and something was brushing my leg. I thought it was the guys dog in the corner and I grabbed it to push it away. A voice asked what was up and I realized more people had come into the shelter throughout the night. I apologized and went back to sleep. 

The people that came in the shelter throughout the night had apparently been drenched. Peoples hammocks and tents were full of water the next morning. To put it in perspective a man had given local beers to some of the hikers the previous night. By morning the bottles were full of rain water. My gear and I stayed dry.

Day 42, June 26, 2014

21.4 AT miles, 23.1 Total miles.

The bird we all know as a whipper will is a unique and cool bird. However, thru hikers hate them. They do it all night long and move within the woods doing it. Good sleep is hard to get and you wake up at 5 a.m. Good thing I'm a heavy sleeper!

Today was a long day. I completed my first 9 miles in 3 hours. The last 14 took me 6.5 hours.

I was able to see some beautiful deer, a baby fawn & cool rabbits. 

Unfortunately, they did not have the USA vs. Germany game at the Wayside I went to. I was slightly disappointed about that and got a turkey bacon Swiss sandwich, a local beer, plate of fries and a chocolate milkshake. All totaled ~$21.

I took a small nap outside the wayside and a gentleman asked me to watch his dog. He was a nice guy and they didn't allow dogs in the Wayside. We chatted for several minutes and he gave me a $1 for watching his dog. I politely declined but he insisted.

1.1 miles before I made it to Hightop Shelter for the night I took my dinner in Skyline Drive. I ate two tuna pouches with mayonnaise and ranch packets. I scored these from the Wayside.

I was joined for dinner by a motorcyclist and his wife. They were an awesome couple who had been married for 42 years and they were waiting the rain out down Skyline. He was a pastor and gave me a book named Share Jesus Without Fear. 

A nice view.

Rocks.

Raspberries. Amazing!

I have completed approximately a million steps from Damascus, VA.

Deer in the Shenandoah National Forest.

Deer trail as well.

Doe and fawn.

Day 41, June 25, 2014

Day 2 of the Shenandoah National Forest. 

I scared 2 bears today. One was 10 yards from me and I got a good look at him. The other was about 30 yards. They both ran their black bottoms off. Attaining pictures of bears is proving difficult.

I arrived to camp and some Boy Scouts had treed a bear. I didn't get a chance to see the bear. I cooked Ramon with spam. 

I stayed at Blackrock Hut.

13 AT miles hiked.

Beautiful view with power line obstruction.

Shenandoah's Patchwork Forest.

Butterfly lovin on Skyline.

Day 40, June 24, 2014

I woke up at 7:30 a.m. and worked on my blog. I packed my things and headed out for breakfast in Waynesboro. I had a western omelet, potato slices, 2 pancakes, 2 slices of bacon, a biscuit and 2 sunny side up eggs. Oh the hiker hunger!

I hitched out of town and got a ride from a man named Sam.

I hiked 7.6 AT miles and entered the Shenandoah National Forest. I stayed at Calf Mountain Shelter.

Skyline Drive. Skyline runs alongside the Shenandoah National Forest for about a 100 miles or more.

Huge pile of fire ants.

The AT path.

Going for the whole 2100+ miles!

A nice view.

A bear would love this pole! Unfortunately, it didn't get to enjoy our food!