Sprout Day 186 (Thursday, September 29, 2016)

Last night was a wet night because it rained all night. It started around 9:30 and rained until 8:00 a.m. the next morning. It was lightning, thundering, and raining really hard. After awhile the ground underneath the tent got wet and made the bottom kind of damp. Some of the edges of the tent were wet and everything felt damp but for the most part we were dry.

It was cold first thing in the morning again. With everything being wet we just lay in the tent until it all stopped. We had a little cell service, enough to know we were getting hit with more rain.

We packed everything and headed about 3.5 miles down to the Server Hollow Shelter. It was slippery steep hike down over ledges. The shelter is big and nice with a huge porch area and a picnic table. It felt good to get under something dry knowing rain was coming later in the day.

We decided to stay where we were and dry everything out the best we could. The water source was nice and clear and cold. I'm glad we stayed there because a storm came through not long after we got there. Now, before bed, it’s raining and thundering again.

This shelter is cool. Down by the water source I noticed some ruins of an old house and a couple other buildings. These were the ruins of an old homestead. The Sarvers lived here a long time ago. There's evidence of their house and a cabin. There are also stones which I think was the family cemetery. They say this shelter is haunted by a guy named George. They're not sure if he was a member of the family or not but in the middle of the night sometimes you can hear him walk across the shelter with his cane. We will see how the rest of the night goes but so far nothing but the thunder is giving the place an eerie feeling!

Day: 186
Miles hiked: 3.4
Total Miles hiked on the trail: 1515.5
Baby Bear: 1
Bald Eagle: 1
Bluegill: 2
Butterflies: 8
Chipmunks: 3
Cows: 24
Crawfish: 1
Deer: 20

Donkeys: 2
Grouse: 1
Horses: 15
Hummingbird: 1
Inchworm: 1
Really Big Dog: 1
Mice: 2
Moose: 2
Nest of bugs: 2
Newts: 2
Owl: 1
Rabbit: 1
Red Squirrel: 1
Skunk: 1
Snail: 1
Snake: 3
Squirrels: 12
Toads: 3
Trout: 2
Turkeys: 4
Turtles: 107
Vultures: 6
Woodpecker: 1

Bubbles Day 70 (Sunday, June 5th, 2016)

Today we got up and had our last pot of coffee with Mountain Man and Karma. It was a very difficult morning for me. I packed my things slowly and headed over to wake my trail family up to all have coffee together and say our goodbyes. When it was time to go I hugged Mountain Man and Karma. When Karma and I hugged I started to cry, and not the graceful one tear down your cheek cry, but an ugly Kim Kardashian cry (if you don't know what that means type in Kim kardashian crying on Google).  When I hugged Karma I could feel how much she loves me and I hope she felt my love too.  We hugged tight and long and then some more!  Then I turned and walked out onto the Appalachian trail, softly sobbing.  I felt like I left a big chunk of my heart with them. I literally experienced heartache. I don't think I can explain how close we got. I don't think unless you have long distance hiked, that you can fully understand the friendships.  The trail brings all sorts of people together that may have never interacted in the "real world" but we all share a common goal out here.  We all go through the same problems.  And knowing that I am not going to be sharing these experience with two members of my trail family hurts.

Mountain Man, Karma, Bubbles, Sprout, and Whiskers last morning together

As soon as we got on trail it started to rain. I told Karma the gods were weeping today because we were splitting up. I cried as much as the sky did, I couldn't help it.  Whiskers hiked with us today and that made me feel a little better and I tried not to cry as much in front of him. We are grateful to be hiking with him. It makes it easier.

I love the wildflowers on the trail

Moss covered rocks

Whiskers traversing a stream

When it really started to rain hard we sat under an overhang of rocks right before a cracked boulder on the trial (it’s similar to the Lemon Squeezer)  Robby, Whiskers, and I ate some food and relaxed, trying to wait out the rain.

The rain didn't let up. When we got to the campsite it started to rain even harder.  Putting up a tent in a torrential downpour is a challenge.  We figured it out by putting the rainfly up first and then got underneath and put up tent.  Everything was wet.  I sat on a hemlock stump and cooked dinner.  Water was streaming off both of my knees and the hood of my jacket like I was a gutter.  I was laughing until the Lightning started. Then, I started to get scared!  Not because of the lightning, but because I looked up and all the trees were swaying way too hard for me. I thought to myself "I'm going to die tonight"  We didn't die though and the rain let up.  I went to bed thinking of my dear friends and how much I missed them.

The Sprout: Day 5 (Friday)

Jeff not too far ahead of me

We got an even earlier start today than yesterday.  We were on the trail at 6:00 a.m.  Word on the trail was that it was supposed to rain throughout the night.  We didn't get any rain but it was super windy.  It was pretty dark when we hit the trail and about 45 minutes in it started to thunder and lightning off in the distance.   All I really wanted to do at this point was to get off the mountain and get into the valley before it started storming!  Luckily, the lightning passed but we did have to deal with a little rain.  At least now I know my rain cover works!  At the top of Bald Gap the fog was rolling in the mountains.  It looked like something out of a movie.

Tree down

The White Walkers taught us how to make cowboy coffee so we made a batch when we got to Swift Gap.  Cowboy coffee is just boiling the water and dumping the coffee grounds in and let it sit for about ten minutes off of the fire.  Fortunately, we had service at Swift Gap so we called everyone in the family to let them know we were safe.  

Another great view

There were so many squirrels on the trail today, at least 5 that I counted, one chipmunk, and a huge deer too.  Every morning while we're walking I always hear woodpeckers off in the distance.

Spring is poking through

The nats have been bad lately.  Maybe it's because we smell now haha.

If you look closely we are at the red dot

We did 12 miles today that puts us at 54! A mile from our hut we stopped at this camp store it was the best thing ever. Jeff and I got there before Maggie.  I got a cinnamon roll and a 20oz Coke. Jeff got a Yoohoo and a blueberry muffin and we split a sleeve of Oreos! It hit the spot!

White Walkers Dogs.  Hence why White Walkers has a plural trail name.

They had showers there and we definitely took advantage of that!! $1.00 for five minutes. I washed my clothes the first five and took a shower the second round. I can't even tell you how much we needed a shower, lol!!

Maggie carefully walking the trail

Today was a good day. Since the hut was so close we bought some hot dogs and hot dog sauce. We bought some other things for the rest of the week too.  Ramen, pop tarts, and trail mix. We're all set and ready until our next drop box.  We gave White Walkers a couple of hot dogs too. We all had a good time and he showed us a few natural fire starters.  I think this is his third time on the trail so he knows a few tricks!

Happy Hiker

Day:  5

Miles hiked:  12.4

Miles off trail to shelter:  0

Total Miles hiked on the trail:  54.8

Blisters:  0
Real Bears:   0
Deer:  5

Squirrels: 8
Chipmunk: 1
Snail: 1

We smell!

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!