Month: September 2021

Start: Top of Piney Ridge (AT mi 998.1). Stop: Manassas Gap Shelter (AT mi 982.8). Today’s miles: 15.3 miles. Total AT mileage: 1210.3 miles

Well, before I finished reading for the night, I was blessed with spotting a huge, fat rat just outside my tent, under the vestibule. I scared it away with my headlamp and shaking the tent.. but he was a big guy and every couple hours came back by to check on me. I was scared I’d wake up with him already chewed into the tent and stuck with me inside while I screamed and jumped around all hunched over.. because as spacious as my tent is, it is still just a tent. That never happened, but I slept awful because of the idea already planted in my head. I only saw him once more but could swear I was hearing the same leaves ruffling several more times throughout the night. Gross.

Because of my fitful sleep, I ended up not getting up at 6, or 6:30.. I pushed it to 7 when I knew full and well I’d be able to see everything around me. I packed and got my food bag, everything still intact. I ate my breakfast slowly: now it’s consisting of granola and berry cereal sprinkled with a vanilla Carnation instant breakfast, then doused with water to make it dissolve, almost like milk. I like it pretty well, it keeps me full longer in the mornings, but it takes forever to eat it. That part may cause me to change it up again come resupply.

When I was just about ready to go, Jerzy passed by. He had camped just before the climb at the water source where I filled up. It was a beautiful area, but I skipped it because it didn’t have any sites that weren’t slanted. He sleeps in a hammock, so it didn’t phase him a bit. We ended up leap frogging each other all day, I find him very enjoyable to be around. He’s from New Jersey and has that certain way with words that just cracks me up.

The trail was absolutely pleasant today. There’s no other way to describe it really. The gentle curves meandered through forests of huge old trees, sunshine, and birds chirping. I was so lost in the feeling of how good it all felt that I didn’t even pay attention to the mileage or remember to take many pictures. There were lots of trail runners out and about, one guy I swear passed me like 3 times.. I’m still confused as to how, there must be a looped trail that connects somewhere.

I ate lunch sitting on a rock at a 3 way trail intersection. While sitting and eating, people would pass and ask me for directions for things I was clueless about.. “is it this way to the cabin?” “Do you know if this way takes you to the parking lot?” “How do you not know?” “Well where did you park your car?” OMG. People, let me eat my damn peanut butter and jelly tortilla in peace? Can’t you smell me? Sheesh. My reply of “my car is in Georgia, so if it’s not the AT, I don’t know anything about it..” got a very odd stare and no rebuttal, he just walked away.. alrighty then.

Once away from that intersection, the trail went over some pretty fields of overgrown wildflowers. It was so gorgeous and very calm on my feet. It went back into the woods, where I ran back into Jerzy, and while we were walking and talking he spotted a huge black snake! Ginormous! I jumped back like it was going to chase me or something.. and when I passed it (camera out) it had already slithered the rest of the way into the deep woods. I could hardly even make it out, which I was both thankful for and totally freaked out by. How many of those things are absolutely everywhere??

When I got to the shelter I was aiming for at 3:40, I decided I liked it enough to stay put. I scoped it out and set up my tent in the best, flattest spot. Then laid on the ground and listened to an audiobook. I probably should have pushed the extra 5 miles to the next shelter, but I felt like I deserved an easy day. Why not? I’ll be in town tomorrow night either way, and I can’t check in at the hotel until 3, which means I won’t ask for early check in before 12.. so I might as well have some mileage to knock out tomorrow or I’ll be sitting around bored and dirty, unable to relax.

I was going to just resupply quickly and pop back on trail, but I decided since I needed to go to Walmart for camp shoes, I’d make it worth the trip and get some other toiletry stuff too and stay in a hotel and do laundry. After tomorrow, I’ll be getting into Shenandoah National Park, which is apparently very nice. I can’t wait to see it! I’ll make an easy mile day tomorrow and then make an actual plan to try to really start knocking out some mileage afterwards. It’s too much to think about after hiking all day and then doing camp chores and all that, too. I don’t plan to zero for a bit, but those needs kind of pop up unexpectedly.

Anyway, I ate dinner with Jerzy and a guy doing a section hike. A couple came in a bit later but I didn’t get their names. I hung my food on a bear pole-on the very first attempt. I’m pretty proud of that lol. And now I’m sitting outside by my tent waiting to need to pee one more time before getting inside and getting comfortable. I think I’ll read awhile, then hopefully sleep much better than last night.

I’m reading Alicia Keys’ autobiography and I’m listening to the last book in the series by Jojo Moyes, Still me. I’m completely captivated by both books. I kind of think it’s hard for me to not enjoy any book. There’s something about knowing an effort was made to create it, and I so admire all of these authors and their passion to create these books for me to be transported to where ever they’ve decided I should go within their words. It’s magical. And I’m here to love all of them I can.

Anyway, now that I’ve confirmed I’m a complete weirdo and this is probably one of the many reasons I’m single, I think I’ll let you go for tonight.. mainly because Alicia is just now starting to tell me about writing “Girl On Fire” and well-I love that song and sing it quite often (horribly, obviously).. so, I need to be in the know as to how that anthem came about! Haha.. goodnight y’all!

Start: Manassas Gap Shelter (AT mi 982.8). Stop: Front Royal, Virginia (AT mi 972.1). Today’s miles: 10.7 miles Total AT mileage: 1221 miles

I had my watch alarm set for 6:30 and 7am.. I turned off the 6:30 one, but ended up getting up around 6:45.. as I was packing inside the tent, sprinkles were starting to pelt on the outside of it. Crap. No one wants to pack a wet tent! So I hurried as quickly as I could to get everything inside into the pack and then took down the tent and packed it too. I propped my umbrella over the pack while I went to get my food bag.

By the time I got back, the rain had stopped. I ate sitting on a log and then put my food bag in my pack, put on the rain cover, and officially got my day started. It was just after 7:30. Still 45 minutes to get up/pack/eat.

The rain came and went all day. Light sprinkles to full downpours. Luckily, the trail was a breeze. I had some uphills that were longer than most in the Rollercoaster, but honestly the grade was nice, the ground was soft, and I had not one single complaint.. even in the rain. I saw several deer and a rabbit. It feels like the wildlife is much more willing to be caught by the eye down here in Virginia.. the animals in Maine were elusive.

On the last stretch of downhill to a parking lot, there were several downed trees to maneuver through/over.. and otherwise it truly was uneventful. With 2 miles to go, I called a shuttle guy from my app, and he said he’d be there waiting for me at the parking lot. To my great joy, he AND his dog were waiting for me. I got to pet and cuddle a brindle colored pitty my whole 15 minute ride to the Hampton Inn in Front Royal, Virginia.

My hotel was chosen because of 2 things: it’s proximity to Walmart, and ability to cut half the room cost by paying with some points from my credit card. I’m officially fresh out of points, now, but they have helped me out tremendously on this trip. So, when I walked into the hotel at 12:20pm, the nice lady let me know that my room wasn’t ready. Cool. I asked if she could store my bag for me while I walked to Walmart, and she agreed. I felt real bad watching her pick the stinky thing up and tote it behind the counter, but she wouldn’t let me back there to put it away for her.

Another worker heard me talking with her and offered to drop me off at Walmart so I wouldn’t have to walk there in the rain. He was headed in that direction anyway! How lucky! So, we walked out together and I got in to his very nice Jeep Grand Cherokee and wondered if he regretted his offer. I was wet, a little muddy, and smelled like-well, hiker trash. He didn’t make any faces though, so, that was kind.

He dropped me off and I got started on my resupply. I replaced my knock off crocs, sad they didn’t have the same colorful ones. I got my food for the next few days (I plan to have 3 days of food, but to stop at the “waysides” or little stores in Shenandoah National Park to eat meals as I pass them-so maybe I won’t have get off trail to resupply for a bit longer this go around..), some hair ties since every last one of mine have broken, some peroxide to clean out my ears, and some muscle relief packets of epsom salt for a bath later.

Once checked out, I walked across the parking lot to a Mexican restaurant. I know now that it must look odd to walk into a restaurant to sit down to eat with 4 bags of groceries and whatnot. I know, because I got stares from just about every table. I was also still wet and muddy-but I wasn’t going to wait to get cleaned up and come back out into the rain. Priorities people.

I sat in a booth in the back and absolutely devoured my food. It was so full of flavor that I was shocked at how good it was. I had a margarita, chips and salsa and queso with jalapeños, and Texas fajitas. DE-LI-CIOUS. It was so good I had to stop my self from trying to eat absolutely all of it, because I’d be too stuffed to carry all my crap back to the hotel.. a mile away in the rain.. ha

It was on my way back that I thought about the weird little things that I’m suddenly grateful for. Like the fact that Virginia doesn’t have the no plastic bags rule. Toting 4 paper bags back would have been dreadful. And, I didn’t have to pay for said un-environmentally friendly plastic bags. I get why they’re bad and that I should use a reusable bag-but folks-I’m hiking here, not pulling up in my car with my reusable bags at my disposal.

Anywho-by the time I got back, my room was ready. It’s so comfortable! A king bed, a nice tub.. what every hiker dreams about. I showered, took a bath, rinsed off with cold water since the bath had me sweating (god baths are so strange.. but my legs do feel better, less sore), and then after laying around for about 30 minutes flipping through channels, I put on my rain pants and jacket and headed downstairs to do laundry. So exciting.

Now, I’m back in that bed, watching tv and relaxing. I’ll get up and pack my things to make the morning go smoother in a bit, but for now.. I’m just enjoying the pure bliss of doing nothing. Nothing is required of me, nothing has to be done or has a deadline-and y’all, it’s delightful. I even think I’ll sleep in and enjoy the breakfast they serve in the morning before heading out to the trail. Life is good. Sweet dreams, y’all

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!