Kenny the ranger here at Pen-Mar Park is taking Wendy to the STORE!
Real food and drink are on the way.
Showing posts with label Hiking - Maryland. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hiking - Maryland. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
06 April Devil's Racecourse
Blue sky's again today and hot, 86. But it started overnight with surprise thunderstorms. It was very nice to be in a shelter and listen to the rain on the tin roof. Some clothes got wet but no big deal.
Spring is arriving on the Maryland mountaintops. So far, the trees have been mostly bare and only an occasional wild flower to be seen. Today the buds on the trees were really popping out (you could almost here them). It was hot after the clouds burned off but there were frequent cool breezes. How much is a cool breeze worth? A lot to me today. Too bad they are not available in July.
Snakes - another sign of spring. We saw black snakes (with tiny yellow speckles) in the trail both yesterday and today. The one yesterday was 6-7 feet and fat! It was the biggest black snake I have ever seen.
We met Nature Boy on the trail today. He is on his third thru-hike of the AT. He left very early to be this far, especially with the weather we had. He spoke of 6 feet of snow in places and it was difficult/impossible to find the white blazes that mark the trail. He had to skip over part of the Smokies.
Why so early? Why three times? Every year there is a small group that leave Georgia after the New Year (or as soon as possible) in an unofficial race to see who can finish first (not fastest, first). I think. Nature Boy is currently in the front of this group. He said others had also skipped sections and all will has to go back finish them later. With different people skipping different sections, I predict controversy at the end. He quickly left us behind.
The shelter is terrible (Wendy gives it 1 star) but there is a nice stream next to it and it is easy to get water. We also took a wonderful bath.
Tomorrow is a big day. We will hike 10 miles and around lunch time we will enter the state of Pennsylvania. Maryland will be done!
Gun shots in the distance. Time to go to bed.
Spring is arriving on the Maryland mountaintops. So far, the trees have been mostly bare and only an occasional wild flower to be seen. Today the buds on the trees were really popping out (you could almost here them). It was hot after the clouds burned off but there were frequent cool breezes. How much is a cool breeze worth? A lot to me today. Too bad they are not available in July.
Snakes - another sign of spring. We saw black snakes (with tiny yellow speckles) in the trail both yesterday and today. The one yesterday was 6-7 feet and fat! It was the biggest black snake I have ever seen.
We met Nature Boy on the trail today. He is on his third thru-hike of the AT. He left very early to be this far, especially with the weather we had. He spoke of 6 feet of snow in places and it was difficult/impossible to find the white blazes that mark the trail. He had to skip over part of the Smokies.
Why so early? Why three times? Every year there is a small group that leave Georgia after the New Year (or as soon as possible) in an unofficial race to see who can finish first (not fastest, first). I think. Nature Boy is currently in the front of this group. He said others had also skipped sections and all will has to go back finish them later. With different people skipping different sections, I predict controversy at the end. He quickly left us behind.
The shelter is terrible (Wendy gives it 1 star) but there is a nice stream next to it and it is easy to get water. We also took a wonderful bath.
Tomorrow is a big day. We will hike 10 miles and around lunch time we will enter the state of Pennsylvania. Maryland will be done!
Gun shots in the distance. Time to go to bed.
Monday, April 5, 2010
05 April Ens. Cowall Shelter
Two more beautiful days - hi 70s except Wendy's thermometer read 86. Too hot. In any case, 87 is the forecast for the next 2 days, then rain and much cooler at night (40).
Stayed at Annapolis Rocks last night. Everyone raved about the view but looked like one of many views from a Skyline Drive overlook. We hiked 9.6 mi. I am starting to have some problems: mild blisters bruised shoulders and hips. We have 2 low mileage days coming so that is good.
Met Pancho and Lefty, two early 20s brothers from PA. They live near the half way point of the AT. They are hiking to GA this year and ME next year. We talked about heavy packs. I tried to explain that did not need their machete and axe but they are young and strong and value them too much.
Today we are at Ens. Cowall Shelter. Many fewer people hiking AND we have the shelter all to ourselves. Plan to get up and out early and go to next shelter (only 5 mi.) before noon before it get hot.
Stayed at Annapolis Rocks last night. Everyone raved about the view but looked like one of many views from a Skyline Drive overlook. We hiked 9.6 mi. I am starting to have some problems: mild blisters bruised shoulders and hips. We have 2 low mileage days coming so that is good.
Met Pancho and Lefty, two early 20s brothers from PA. They live near the half way point of the AT. They are hiking to GA this year and ME next year. We talked about heavy packs. I tried to explain that did not need their machete and axe but they are young and strong and value them too much.
Today we are at Ens. Cowall Shelter. Many fewer people hiking AND we have the shelter all to ourselves. Plan to get up and out early and go to next shelter (only 5 mi.) before noon before it get hot.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
03 Apr Rocky Run Shelter
Rocky Run ShelterAnother beautiful day - just like yesterday. The weather is really cooperating - makes up for previous hikes. 9 miles today. We are are very sore - strained muscles and bruised shoulders and hip bones (from the pack). But feet are good (no blisters) and that is important.
No data signal here at Rocky Run Shelter so I cannot mark my position in Google Latitude nor can I send this tonight. (I have the long. and lat. below but cannot load them to latitude history unless I manually edit the KML file.)
Rocky Run Shelter is appropriately named - the trail descending to the shelter was like a stream bed full of rocks but with slippery, dry leaves hiding them in places. The shelter is new this year - 2 story, 3 sided log cabin, with windows and a porch. Very nice!
Very crowded all day again. Lots of day hikers as well as overnight campers due to Easter and school spring breaks. There are at least 12-14 people here tonight but most are in the old shelter or in tents.
We are sharing the new shelter with Shaun and Andrew, brothers who are a senior and freshman in high school. Their parents dropped them off this morning in Harper's Ferry. Essentially, they hiked today what took us 2 days, and got here before we did! Their parents must really trust them to let them go out camping alone. But they seem to be very mature and responsible, and quite knowledgable about hiking and camping. We talked about hiking and the AT specifically - a very pleasant evening before an early bedtime.
Because we have the bottom half of the shelter to ourselves, I am typing this while laying in my sleeping bag. I would not normally impose like this.
Time to put this away and go to sleep.
Location Note from #Compass
Altitude: 939 ft
Latitude: 39°27'44.4" N
Longitude: 77°37'52.5" W
Friday, April 2, 2010
First day! 02 Apr 2010
Janice, Shana's friend took us to Harper's Ferry. She took our picture in front of the train station, then we hiked across the train bridge over the Potomac river and the AT follows the C&O canal path along the river. Then the AT turns north into the mountains.
Tonight we are at Ed Garvey Shelter. Full of Boy Scouts. We are in our tent. There are 4 other tents and 2 hammocks. Crowded! Spring Break.
Food bag is hung in a tree. Time for bed.
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