Start: Front Royal, Virginia (AT mi 972.1). Stop: Gravel Springs Hut (AT mi 958.7). Today’s miles: 13.4 miles. Total AT mileage: 1234.4 miles.
I got up this morning around 8am. When I realized my battery bank wasn’t completely charged for some reason, I decided to get breakfast and bring it back to the room before packing.. so it could charge more.
The breakfast was not thrilling. Little omelets that looked once frozen and then they heated them in a microwave, oatmeal, not completely cooked potatoes, and soggy bacon. I ate the oatmeal and omelet, but was disappointed. Now that I’m typing this, I don’t know why I didn’t just walk next door to McDonalds and get a biscuit.. it couldn’t have been worse..
Either way, I ate in my room and then slowly finished getting ready and packing up. I called a shuttle driver and was told he’d be there to get me in 10 minutes. It was just after 9:40. A late start, but already the makings of a beautiful day. The man picked me up and dropped me off at the trailhead at 10.. I sat on a log and put my shoes on, pulled my hair up, peed behind a bush, and then finally set off into the woods.
I didn’t see people until well into the early afternoon. I did, however, become the sole destroyer of close to a billion homes of the local Virginia spiders. I’m talking walking into web after web, even with twirling my trekking pole out in front of my face for so long I had to trade arms, and then trade again! I eventually (aka 20 or so minutes of this continuous wiping of my face, arms, and legs) put on my bug net, rolled down my sleeves on my shirt, and only had to deal with the webs touching my fingers and legs. It drove me bananas.
Finally, a little before noon, I passed the Shenandoah National Park kiosk to get my backpacking permit. About 20 or so minutes later, that trail merged with a more popular trail, and I ran into PEOPLE! Normally, this wouldn’t be exciting, however, for me now it meant I could finally quit wearing the bug net and be able to see without walking into the entire population of spiders.. with my face. Thank GOD!
The trail was so gentle with its well maintained ups and downs. There were definitely climbs, but I didn’t mind them. And there were viewpoints down short side trails that I actually took the time to explore. I loved it! I sat at a small water source, a tiny spring that I had to fill up only a liter at a time to filter because the slope wouldn’t let more water go into the bag otherwise. I decided to eat lunch there, too. After I ate, I went off trail a little bit behind a tree to pee (mainly because of all the dang people) and as I walked back a deer came up and explored around me.. she even went to sniff my pee-I tried to talk her out of that one, poor girl.
She stayed awhile, completely unconcerned with me.. she didn’t even run off when I picked up my pack and put it on. I had to be the one walking away from her, not the other way around like typical deer encounters. I carried on, enjoying the green tunnel of trees and sun protection.. the breezes were cooler than I expected them to be, and I said my thanks to the Man above, because this was perfect.
I was walking downhill, checking out viewpoints with less than a mile to go when I came out from one and accidentally went the wrong way. I didn’t realize it until I was almost all the way back up the mountain I was coming down. Well, hell. At least the weather was nice and sunny.. haha I turned around and headed back the correct direction, deciding no more view points today-I was now 1.8 from the shelter.. but it was downhill, so I wasn’t too upset. Plus, it’s boring to get to camp too soon anyway! So I tell myself.
When I did get to the side trail to camp, there was a guy just ahead of me coming in on the same trail. The tent sites are farther past the shelter, so I got my food bag and water out before carrying on. I’m thankful I did because as I passed where he was setting up, he told me there was a huge black snake at the last campsite. Well, I’m definitely not going up there! I did pass him and go to the one not right next to him but just passed the one next to him, mainly so he’d be spared listening to me roll all night-from a closer proximity. Haha
I set up camp and then walked back to the shelter, I washed off at the spring and filtered water. He came down, too, so we chatted and ate our dinner together. His name is Matt, from Chicago, and he came out to hike the AT through Shenandoah NP as something to do before starting a new job in his new career after graduating from college.
I’m happy I’m not camping here alone tonight, for some reason the idea of snakes and potential for bears has me anxious about camping alone out here. Im sure it’ll pass, it better anyway-because I don’t think Ill be seeing a whole lot of people once I’m out of the park.. also of note: he’s quite handsome, and I’m sure way too young for me-but good to know if a bear does attack me tonight, someone attractive will hopefully be my savior LMAO.. jk-that’s an even more terrifying thought.
Anyway, I’m all tucked in and it’s a little chilly, there’s a cute frog, or toad-I don’t know the difference really, or if I did I’ve forgotten (I bet Kylie knows and could teach me the difference.. hmm) hopping around right outside my tent, under the vestibule. I much prefer him to the rat of the other night.
I think I’ll read some before bed, and I’ll definitely be wearing my earplugs tonight.. all the crickets and cicadas singing is a phenomenal sound to fall asleep to, but I don’t want to hear anything else out there moving around and making me wake in a panic. The more oblivious I am, the better I sleep. Plus, these bugs are loud enough I’ll probably still hear their lullaby with the earplugs in! Goodnight y’all! Sweet dreams!
That’s a toad. 😎🐸