Bubbles - Day 5 Friday, April 1 (posted out of order)

Let me begin by saying five is my lucky number!!

Day five was exhilarating and filled with new experiences.  There were a few hiccups, but overall it was GREAT.  We woke up super early and tried to quietly get ready for the day.   Anyone who knows me is aware that I am the WORST at being quiet!  I slowly got my act together while Jeff took off.  

We had plans to meet at the summit of High Top Mountain (Elevation 3514 feet) for breakfast (we like to break camp and walk a while before we stop to have breakfast together.) It started storming shortly after Jeff left, with lightning off in the far distance. That got my behind into gear!  We quickly left the shelter with all our rain gear on.  It rained, but not terribly hard or for long.  We found Jeff on top of the mountain!  He told us he liked watching the storm and fog roll over the mountains.  We told him that the next time a storm rolls in he should get down off the mountain and meet us at the closest gap or safe place (especially considering he has already been struck by lightning - through a tree at BoyScout camp - once!!)

On the way down the mountain I successfully dug a cat-hole for the first time! I tried for two months to take a dump in Cuyahoga Valley National Park on our day hikes.  Much to my dismay, I could never go when I had the opportunity.  I was pretty jacked to join the club!  

We had a happy day of hiking and walked into the middle of the Shenandoah section at Swift Run Gap.  Eight miles later, we arrived at the Lewis Camp Store, which just happened to open the day we arrived!  When I strolled up to the camp store Robby, Jeff, and the White Walkers were lounging on the front porch.  

We sat for about an hour and waited for the showers to open while the White Walkers headed to Bearfence Hut (the first shelter Robby and I stayed in while on our Shakedown in March). The showers were super hot, felt wonderful, and only cost $1 dollar for five minutes. I naturally took a 10-minute shower and then washed my clothes in the sink.  You have no idea how happy I was to put on fresh clothes and smell less oniony.

We finished our visit to the camp store shopping for some necessities.  We couldn't resist two packages of hotdogs and buns.  I am a sucker for roller dogs, especially over the fire.  Also, sitting on the newly stocked store shelf, was a sparkling can of chilidog sauce! I lightweight started dancing!!! We wanted to buy the supplies for s'mores too, but stopped ourselves.

As always, Jeff had his pack together before us and took off for Bearfence Hut.  As soon as we got packed up the lady who worked at the store told us, "A storm is a brewin', I just saw lightnin’.’’

Robby and I took off in our crocks. I had my boots swaying off the back of my pack and all of my rain gear hanging off my bag.  I also had a bag of chips and a pack of hotdog buns in one hand and my walking sticks in the other hand.  Also, while it's awesome to resupply, it makes the pack much heavier. To top off the situation, in the rush to get to the shelter (which was only one mile away), I forgot to buckle my hip belt.  This made all of my pack weight fall on my shoulders.

It started to rain hard and we heard thunder.  We took off down the side of the mountain.  As you might expect, I slipped on a rock and sprained my ankle!  I landed straight on my pack, like a ninja turtle stuck on its shell!  I lie there thinking, "Really? Really?"  And then the laughter started. I was laughing so hard as I struggled to get up off my pack.  I learned a valuable lesson.  Don't hike in unstable shoes with full hands!

When Robby realized I wasn't behind him he waited until I limped down the trail (looking like a sad, wet puppy dog.)  We laughed and got to where we were going safety.

When we got to the shelter I was shocked that Jeff hadn't beat us.  We did take a shorter route across the campground, but I still thought Jeff would make it to the shelter first.  Five minutes later Jeff came barreling down the mountain and told us he got turned around!  

Our night ended with a huge blazing fire and we roasted our hotdogs with the White Walkers. I've learned that birch bark is a good fire starter. I am pretty jacked about my growing fire skills. I have a nice little bundle in my pack from a tree we were burning.  Robby and I were saying we would like to learn primitive fire making skills.

This journey just gets better and better!

Bubbles DAY 3 (Wednesday, March 30th)

(Note:  This is published out of order because I just got it from Maggie today.  I figured many people wouldn't go back down to the bottom of the blog and might miss it!)

Ox and I

Day three was a tough day for me physically.  I really had to focus on why I was hiking instead of my throbbing legs.  When I started to think about my mom I got emotional and then very happy.  I feel really proud to be out here doing something positive with my life.  I really believe I am supposed to be here.

The people we have met are incredible.  We met an older man at a beautiful overlook named Survivor (because he beat cancer).  He was a very sweet man.  His pack looked like it weighed more than him!  He said it was close to 50 pounds!  Fifty pounds on your back when you are young and fit is hard, but being 67 it must be a grueling task.  We met again at a wonderful and refreshing creek. Ivy creek has to be one of my favorite parts of the trail so far. It was gushing crystal clear cold water which felt like heaven on my feet.  We spent some more time with Survivor and then the men took off (Jeff was probably already at the hut when we stopped at the creek).  I rinsed out my under garments, shirt, and buff (you can't use soap though so I still smelled like a raw onion) and enjoyed the solitude of the creek.

Ivy Creek

When I took off from the creek I climbed a very steep incline (it was only 600 feet in elevation change, but in only .7 miles so it was a leg BURNER) and I made it to ivy creek overlook.  I walked across the parking lot and looked out over skyline drive and started back down the trail.  I was happily humming to myself, "Yayyyyyy, I am close to the hut and my feet feel great!!!" and then I suddenly realized I hadn't seen a white blaze in a while.  I kept walking down and down for what felt like an eternity and didn't see one.  What was I going to do?  I kept going and going without seeing another blaze.  

A view from up the steep incline

Then, Skyline Drive popped up on my left and I remembered my dad telling me, "If you are lost in Shenandoah National Park and see Skyline Drive jump out and walk the road until you get help."  I took the opportunity.  I walked through a jungle of thick brush and pricker bushes. I had to take my pack off and throw it through prickers and maneuver my way through the maze of painful prickers. I got to the road, with some roughed up hands, and looked left then right, I knew I should have went left but for some reason I went right.

Not supposed to be walking on Skyline Drive right now!!

I walked down until I saw a mile marker and then checked my guide book.  I thought to myself, “Really, I went the wrong way twice?”  I walked an extra mile down the road!  I was annoyed, especially because I knew that I could get to camp if I walked down the road another .5 miles but I didn't want to miss any blazes, so I turned around and went back up to Ivy creek overlook.  

Peaking through the trees to take this picture

I was about to get back on the trail when two beautiful white Huskies came barreling my way. Usually a person would be alarmed when two strange dogs came galloping up to them barking, but I was jacked.  I met The White Walkers (named because they started the trail on December 13th and walked North from Georgia. He got his name because there was snow everywhere and his dogs are white). I told him I was lost and trying to make my way to Pinefield Hut and he told me I was heading the right way.  I didn't know then, but we would be running into The White Walkers for the next two days.  I am so happy we got to know him and his dogs better. He is amazing and I am in LOVE with his dogs.

I know their pictures are already on one of Robby's posts but I LOVE THESE DOGS!!!

After walking down the same path again, and panicking once again that I was heading the wrong way, I made it to the hut.  I was going the right way the whole time and was only about a half mile from the hut when I jumped off trail!!  Hahahaha!! I laughed so hard. It was a learning experience for sure. I am happy I walked the road for 2.5 miles because I saw some awesome views I wouldn't have seen from the trail!