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Trail Journal




Date: October 1 2000
Trail Day: 123
Miles Today: 19
Location: Dick's Dome Shelter
Section Mile: AT 1161
ECT Mile: 1856

Had a pint of Ben & Jerry's icecream for breakfast. Met a guy from Australia. He is touring the US for 6 months on a motor cycle. Most of the time he camps in people's backyards.

The terrain is getting quite hilly as we head into the Shenandoah's. The first 10 miles were almost all up or down. I have been wondering whether a fruit was edible. Its green about 2 inches long and 1 inch wide and has a very good, sweet taste. I asked one of the day hikers what it was. It's a pawpaw and is edible. I was quite happy. You can fill up on this easily. Also found some wild grapes. I also plucked some of the leaves. I have read that you can cook them. They do that in the Mediterranean.

Saw a turtle feeding on a little mushroom.

Turtle Scene

Mr. Turtle, red, yellow and black,
Sat on the trail, eating his snack.
A mushroom with a red top,
The recent rains have brought a good crop.
I watched him feed for quite a while,
And continued on with a big smile.


As you can see, I am becoming quite the poet.

Cooked rice, sausage and grape leaves for dinner - quite good. Tomorrow I hike about 6 miles and then hitch hike into the town of Linden to get the next set of maps.



Date: October 2 2000
Trail Day: 124
Miles Today: 10
Location: Near Jim & Molly Denton Shelter
Section Mile: AT 1194
ECT Mile: 1889

Got an early start and got into Linden by 10 AM. Bought groceries and ate. Also got my mail. Kumar had sent me my CD for depositing. Suriyan had sent me another alcohol stove. Look's like he's been experimenting with them for the past month. Thanks Suriyan. Also got the next set of maps from Vivek. Also bought 3 beers to carry on the trail. Decided to take a short day - 10 miles. Drank the beer and ate the sandwiches.



Date: October 3 2000
Trail Day: 125
Miles Today: 18
Location: Gravel Springs Hut
Section Mile: AT 1212
ECT Mile: 1907

Its interesting - every time I try to find a place to tarp off the trail I think I have walked too far, only to find the next morning that I can clearly see a blaze from my spot. Same thing today.

Today was a climb up the Shenandoahs. Its not steep but goes on forever. Found numerous apple trees. Some were nice and red. Started seeing more people after I entered the SNP (Shenandoah National Park). Its very beautiful and I took several shots.
shot 1
shot 2
shot 3
shot 4

Got to the shelter. H Monster, Sweatbox and Blue were also there. I have been following their journal entries for the past few days.



Date: October 4 2000
Trail Day: 126
Miles Today: 16
Location: Near Mary's Rock
Section Mile: AT 1228
ECT Mile: 1923

Today was the first day on the AT when I could get both lunch and dinner at stores. There are several of these located along Skyline Drive. It is not at all crowded right now. The colors are in the process of changing. It is quite beautiful even now. Took some shots. shot 1, shot 2, shot 3, shot 4. The terrain is OK except for the long climbs up big mountains. Bought a book on proverbs at one of the stores.



Date: October 5 2000
Trail Day: 127
Miles Today: 13
Location: Rock Spring Hut
Section Mile: AT 1241
ECT Mile: 1939

Short hike today. Heard a bear running. I had seen another one 3 days ago. Also saw a very timid deer.

Met a day-hiker - Mickey. She works in the police department and gets 3 months off every year and takes up a cashier's job at different national parks.

Had food at Lakeside. Met Leading and Trailing at the hut. They are a friendly couple. They are hiking half the trail this year. They also told me of 3 beers sitting in the spring which I dutifully polished off.

Sweatbox, Blue and H. Monster also showed up.

Looks like the temperature is going to take a dive after several days of excellent weather.

A misty morning shot



Date: October 6 2000
Trail Day: 128
Miles Today: 20
Location: Near Swift Run Gap
Section Mile: AT 1261
ECT Mile: 1959

Got a shot of H. Monster, Blue, Sweat Box, Leading and Trailing in the morning.

Today's hike was very easy. I aimed for a 15 mile day but managed a 20. This doesn't happen too often. Also a very good day for wild life viewing. Saw several deer. They are so comfortable that they don't run away. I got a shot of some of them. Also saw another bear. He was walking along the trail in the same direction, turned around to look, ran about 100 ft along the trail before diving into the bushes. Also saw a bobcat. Bobcats are very shy and it is very rare to see them. He was also on the trail then ran up some rocks. I thought he would be gone by the time I got there but he was sitting a little up looking at me. They camouflage very well - I got a shot of him too. His eyes sparked when the flash went off.

The temperature has dropped quite a bit. Also stopped at a restaurant and store along the way. The week-end crowd is also starting to come in. They are a friendly lot.

I should be done with the Shenandoah's and into Waynesboro in a little more than 2 days. I will pick up a mail drop and spend a O day there.

Tried out Suriyan's new stove while cooking. It has a somewhat cumbersome lighting process although once it gets going it works very well. I need to experiment more with it.



Date: October 7 2000
Trail Day: 129
Miles Today: 18
Location: Near Loft Mountain Campground
Section Mile: AT 1279
ECT Mile: 1977

Today was a bizarre day. I had no idea what the time was most of the day. I thought it was 2:00 PM at one point but one of the day hikers told me it was 5:00 PM. I got to the wayside hoping to get some food but it was closed. There were several other cars that drove by hoping they were open. Definitely Government run! It started getting extremely cold and windy. Set up tarp and slept. Saw one bear and numerous deer today.
A shot
Another shot







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