Shenandoah Picture

The Shenandoahs were a welcome change with their very gently graded trails, excellent maintenance, and beautiful views.

This is one on the southern end of the park that I thought was particularly breathtaking.

A snapshot from our disposable camera does not do it justice.

-Buster (Garrett)

PA/MD Border to Waynesboro, VA

We're in the South!

We've come a long way since our last entry at the PA/MD border. We did not do the 4-state challenge (hike in one day from PA to VA, 43 miles) but we did pull some large days getting into Harpers Ferry, WV. In Harpers Ferry my brother, Christopher, decided to leave the hike for a variety of reasons. While he was with us there were a number of milestones: our half-way point and the subsequent half-gallons of icecream each, the legendary Doyle Hotel in Duncannon PA, the ATC headquarters in Harpers Ferry where we each had our pictures taken. Buster and I were numbers 37 and 38 for southbound thru-hikers, a number that is pretty low for this time of the year.

In Harpers Ferry Buster got new shoes in the mail from Campmor and we had to buy a new tent because the Kelty we had been using had two poles that snapped. Kelty, unlike other more thru-hiker-friendly companies, was not willing to replace the poles for free even though they should have lasted the whole trip. After much conversation, we opted to go out on a limb and buy a Golite Hut II, a tent that is basically a tarp that you pitch using your trekking poles. It's total weight is 1 lb 7 oz. This was a pretty significant change for us but is a lot less bulky and heavy as a tent. We ran into Bonzo, a friendly local guy who does a lot of hiking. He offered us a piece of Tyvek that we use as a floor for the tent. He also drove us around to the library.

After Harpers Ferry we headed south into Virginia!

We had a great stay at Bears Den hostel and celebrated Buster's birthday with half a day off and an omlet breakfast courtesey a kind section hiker named Marcia, also staying at the hostel. On Buster's actual birthday we hiked a big 26 miles over the "roller-coaster" (a secton of no. VA where the trail goes over several steep climbs and descents over 10 miles) getting into Linden that evening. We were picked up in Linden by some old friends, Doug and Syd, who gave us a delicious hot meal, showers, a movie and a comfortable place to sleep.

Since our resupply in Linden we have hiked through the Shenandoah National Park in 5 days. We did our biggest day of 28 miles mid-way through and felt pretty good afterwards. Because of our bigger days we were able to catch up with a pack of southbounders in front of us including Stretch, someone we hiked with a lot in PA and NJ. It's pretty unusual to have a pack of 6 southbounders all together so we decided to have a party! We packed in a lot of goodies from the camp store to the next shelter and had a good old time.

We were greeted in Waynesboro by my dear friends Denise and Pat from Richmond. They are treating us like royalty with hotel rooms, errands, food food food (Buster ate 12 pancakes at the diner last night...), and great company.

Our next resupply is in Glasgow and then we'll be heading to my home in Martinsville for a zero day around Oct. 6th.

The weather is getting much cooler and the leaves are starting become bright. We are starting to get into the bigger mountains that the south has to offer. These will be the first real (big) mountians we've seen since Vermont. We're trying to average 15 miles a day to finish on Springer by the 20th of Nov. (or close to it).

take care everyone!

bluebird and buster

Delaware Water Gap to PA/MD Border

Heading out of PA:

Pennsylvania flew by as our fastest state yet (mileage per day). We had heard a lot of bad and good things about the state from northbounders. The rocky trail in the first 2/3 of the state was hard in places and very beautiful also.

The Montrail Hardrocks we had been wearing since Stratton, ME, held up really well. Buster's rubber sole started coming off on the inside of his shoe so he's ordered new ones that will come to Harpers Ferry. My shoes were great in the rocks. I have had to get new ones, though, because my feet have grown in width do to all the walking. I've switched to a men's Asolo shoe which is taking a while to break in.

We took one day off in Delaware Water Gap because of the threat of Ernesto. The heaviest rain ended up going west of us but we were glad to be out of the cold drizzle just the same.

We hiked with a fellow south-bounder, Stretch, for the first third of PA and really enjoyed his company. When we pulled into Port Clinton we met up with a Northbound section hiker (Cut-man) who was in the middle of his trip. After talking with him shortly we walked around town for a little while and upon Cut-man offering to buy lunch, we became very hungry. The Port Clinton Hotel has great food, but the service is pretty poor. Thank you Cut-man for the food, and the great company. Mid-way through the state we met my (bluebird's) parents and brother at Swatara Gap.

We all stayed in a couple cabins and my grandparents from DC also came out for the evening. The next day my brother, Christopher, hiked out with us to begin his journey with us to Georgia. For one week now we've been traveling as a trio, Buster, Bluebird and Brotherbird. It's taken a little adjustment to make the transition to having another person along, but on the whole it's working out well.

This week we've done over 115 miles. We have stopped over for one night at my aunt and uncle's house in Fairfield, PA for showers, great home-cooked meals and laundry. We're planning on being in Harpers Ferry Sunday night and in Linden, VA Wednesday morning just in time to go to a big all-you-can-eat buffet in Front Royal for Buster's birthday.

We've figured out that we need to average about 15 miles a day to reach Springer Mt. by Nov. 20. That seems very reasonable and we're getting excited to make the second half a good push.

At the traditional half-way point near Pine Grove Furnace Buster and I each attempted to complete the half-gallon challenge. This is where thru-hikers eat half a gallon their favorite ice-cream to celebrate making it halfway. I only made it 2/3 through mine, but Buster ate his whole thing! The only ill-effects being a bit of shivering by the time the whole thing was done.

Colder weather has definitely set in. Some nights it gets below 45 up in the mountains.

We've just updated the webshots photo album as well. All the new pictures are still in the same old album.

Stay well everyone!

bluebird and buster

Vernon, NJ to Delaware Water Gap, PA

We are harbored safe and dry for a day in Delaware Water Gap.

We hiked through a lot of cold and heavy rain in New Jersey but made it to PA just in time on Thursday for the local Presb. church's weekly potluck for hikers. It was like heaven!

We've hiked for the last week with our friend Stretch who caught up with us in Vernon after coming back from a wedding out west. It's nice to have the company. His girlfriend, Sarah, met him in DWG for labor day on Thursday as well. With the use of her car, all four of us were able to hike the next 16 miles to Wind Gap tag team style with just day packs. They hiked north and we hiked south driving their car to the PO in Wind Gap and then back to the church hostel where we were all staying in DWG. It was a great way to have an easy day but at the same time cover some distance and get a mail drop.

It was pretty incredible to come down off the mountain right at the road in Wind Gap and have a car waiting for us to drive! We're taking today off since 5 inches of rain are predicted for this area. Hopefully we'll be back out there tomorrow all ready to tackle the infamous rocks of PA. We'll be in Port Clinton, PA four days from tomorrow if all goes well.