I just realized that I have posted lots of media lately, but not much in the way of updates, so here goes. After Glasgow, we ran into the northern half of the Virginia Highlands. Many big climbs stacked back to back. On one bald, Dancing Wind and I got stuck in a hellacious thunderstorm and we had to dive off the trail and cower on a woods road until it passed. The scene when it blew over was magical. We spent a nice restful day in Waynesboro before heading out for the Shennies.
The walking in Shenandoah National Park was smooth and pretty easy, but not very interesting either. There were wayside restaurants with blackberry milkshakes and a wonderful day away from the trail with my friend Max Factor, who treated my friends and I to a resort day. There was also the traditional hiker solstice celebration at 12:01 on the 21st and another Latvian celebration on the 23rd for which I wore a huge oak wreath.
After the Shennies there were a couple of great nights hosted by the PATC at Bears Den Hostel and the Blackburn Trail Center. Thanks especially to Bob the ridgerunner for all his assistance.
After a run of mounds called the Rollercoaster (we made a clicking sound as we climbed, and threw our hands in the air and screamed as we descended) , we were in Harpers Ferry, the ceremonial halfway point. It is a beautiful town on the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers. We got our pictures taken at the ATC offices and spent the day with Spoonz mom. The next day all but Stickshift and I headed out. He and I found beautiful B&B on the bluff overlooking the Potomac called Laurel Lodge. Chris and Ed made us feel right at home. We had a nice restful day. The next day after running some errands we decided to try the Maryland challenge, all 41 miles in 24 hrs. I'll detail the results in my next post.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Thursday, July 1, 2010
More Trail Moments
"Slightly Inappropriate", "Caboose", and "Stickshift" let go on McAfee Knob
The Ponies on The Grayson Highlands
The Ponies on The Grayson Highlands
Trail Days early Trail reunion, "Three Bears", "Pacemaker", Tim, "Whippersnap" and I.
"Bismark" in the water fight that was the Hiker Parade at Trail Days
"Pixie" and "Rummy" warm up in my rain jacket after Hard Core.
Otto and the Hard Core "G Posse" build a crib wall
"Deetz", "Powerpack", and "Slogo" experience a rural conundrum
"Yeti" at Dismal Falls
An abandoned homestead north of Pearisburg
"Stickshift" in a thoughtful moment on McAfee's
"Caboose" out for her birthday hike
The age of discovery continues "Slightly Inappropriate", "Caboose", and "Stickshift" on McAfee's Knob
Getting away from it all... Oh who's kidding who - when we get a phone signal we're all over it.
"Caboose" and Spencer fix breakfast
S I is the new spokes model for Wandees
"Dancing Wind" at a blue ridge swimming hole
Blue ridge Parkway sunset
An Impromptu Celebration
This is what happened when I crossed the North Carolina/Tennessee border for the last time.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Ticks and Spiders and Bears, Oh My!
One of the most frequent questions a long distance hiker gets is "have you seen any (insert favorite wild animal here)?" People are fascinated by the creatures we might see.
So here's a brief accounting. Tick season has started for real and I routinely pull out wood ticks, so far I haven't pulled a deer tick, but they're so small I might have simply missed them. In the last stretch of the Virginia highlands, we would find a flat spot, and apparently set our gear in the middle of a daddy longlegs/ cricket armageddon. Tens of each all over and in every pocket. I saw my first big fella, an adolescent black bear off the side of the trail two days ago, then "Stickshift", "Fluffy" and I came across a biggun right in the middle of the trail and he looked like he was enjoying the 90+ midday temps about as much as we were. "Hook" claims they don't like Christmas carols, but that just scared him further up the trail. It took Stick swearing at him in Portugese to get him out of our way, sadly just as I was about to snap the picture. That covers the title.
I have been rattled at by and uncomfortably close to both Eastern Diamondbacks and Timber Rattlers. I unwillingly chased a wild turkey and her brood because she wouldn't simply move left or right. I've startled a few Pileated Woodpeckers - the Woody Woodpecker kind - they are huge, heavy bodied and noisy as all get out when they fly.
So one would think that deer would be stealthy and graceful, um, no. They crash through the woods and practically face plant as they stumble onto the trail from a hillside and even outside protected areas, they just stand there staring vacantly at us. It's a little unnerving. I've seen some beautiful song birds, the most arresting being what we think is a scarlet tanniger bright red with black wings.
Probably the rarest sighting was the small wild hog that stopped for a drink where "Captain Radish" and I were resting in the Smokies.
So here's a brief accounting. Tick season has started for real and I routinely pull out wood ticks, so far I haven't pulled a deer tick, but they're so small I might have simply missed them. In the last stretch of the Virginia highlands, we would find a flat spot, and apparently set our gear in the middle of a daddy longlegs/ cricket armageddon. Tens of each all over and in every pocket. I saw my first big fella, an adolescent black bear off the side of the trail two days ago, then "Stickshift", "Fluffy" and I came across a biggun right in the middle of the trail and he looked like he was enjoying the 90+ midday temps about as much as we were. "Hook" claims they don't like Christmas carols, but that just scared him further up the trail. It took Stick swearing at him in Portugese to get him out of our way, sadly just as I was about to snap the picture. That covers the title.
I have been rattled at by and uncomfortably close to both Eastern Diamondbacks and Timber Rattlers. I unwillingly chased a wild turkey and her brood because she wouldn't simply move left or right. I've startled a few Pileated Woodpeckers - the Woody Woodpecker kind - they are huge, heavy bodied and noisy as all get out when they fly.
So one would think that deer would be stealthy and graceful, um, no. They crash through the woods and practically face plant as they stumble onto the trail from a hillside and even outside protected areas, they just stand there staring vacantly at us. It's a little unnerving. I've seen some beautiful song birds, the most arresting being what we think is a scarlet tanniger bright red with black wings.
Probably the rarest sighting was the small wild hog that stopped for a drink where "Captain Radish" and I were resting in the Smokies.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Dear Mom, and other Virginia coincidences.
Dear Mom, apparently yes, if my friends jump off a bridge, then I will too. Who knew? After rolling halfway through the last stretch of high mountains in the south, I got to the James river "Foot foot bridge." The great group of folks with whom I have walked of late, Spoonz, Hook, Dancing Wind, Fluffy and Stickshift, proceeded to wait patiently, though tired, hot and ready to go to town while I spent an hour calculating my odds of dying stupidly and on HD video. We conducted experiments, polled local experts, then I figured out how to get through the railing onto the ledge, and I was in the James. Hook, the chief experimenter, was up and in immediately after.
We then got a ride to Glasgow and had a great dinner, homemade ice cream sandwiches, and stumbled into a carnival with live bluegrass. When they finished their set, they came over and played a set just for us. Stickshift sat in on bass, and Fluffy did a tune on the fiddle. We had a great night before rolling over the brutal final stretch, which included over 10000 feet of climbing. DW and I got caught on a bald in a crazy thunderstorm. But we all safely made it to Waynesboro,despite the complete disintegration of my shoes and the wounding of my hiking poles. Apparently two things must fail catastrophically each time I'm headed into a town with an outfitter.
Got a chance to see another movie, which is a huge treat. I will be moving into Shenandoah National Park soon. I'm attempting it with minimal food. I'm counting on the fresh berry milkshakes to make up the deficit.
We then got a ride to Glasgow and had a great dinner, homemade ice cream sandwiches, and stumbled into a carnival with live bluegrass. When they finished their set, they came over and played a set just for us. Stickshift sat in on bass, and Fluffy did a tune on the fiddle. We had a great night before rolling over the brutal final stretch, which included over 10000 feet of climbing. DW and I got caught on a bald in a crazy thunderstorm. But we all safely made it to Waynesboro,despite the complete disintegration of my shoes and the wounding of my hiking poles. Apparently two things must fail catastrophically each time I'm headed into a town with an outfitter.
Got a chance to see another movie, which is a huge treat. I will be moving into Shenandoah National Park soon. I'm attempting it with minimal food. I'm counting on the fresh berry milkshakes to make up the deficit.
Friday, June 11, 2010
More Virginia Highlands
I am rolling through the last major section of high mountains in the south. It has been littered with swimming holes, bluegrass music, and a big bridge jump. Some amazing days with great people.
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