3 Bears and on the trail again

We were back country camping in Shenandoah National Park (SNP) while reviewing our plans. I was walking the quarter mile back to the car to get something when i realized I wasn't alone. Three black bears were 100 feet away and as I realized what they were they all looked at me.  I slowly turned and walked back to the tent.

 After 3 days of rest we met a wonderful local couple here in Front Royal,VA, Dick and Jenny Fox. They invited us to their home for dinner and gave us the grand tour of the area. 

We have begun hiking the AT again.  It will take about 10 days to get through SNP. 

All the trees are blooming and the forests are starting to green up.  We have seen more wildflowers these last 2 days. Including a rare Lady Slipper orchid. Looking forward to our time in the park.

We are back on the trail!

The Shenandoah valley. Shown to us by our new friend.

The Rollercoaster and the end

The "Rollercoaster", so named because of the thirteen peaks it rolls up and down over for 17 miles. We broke it into two sections. The easier section was only 3 major peaks with over 7 miles. We enjoyed walking this piece with section hikers Snacktime and Teacher.  Talking and joking with them made the days colorful and unique for the trail. We stayed at the Blackburn Center, a trail icon with an enclosed shelter. Then next day we had breakfast at a local restraint and they dropped us off at the trailhead to complete the roll coaster at 11:30am.

We had several miscalculations that day. It was almost 3 miles longer than we planned and this side climbed 7 peaks in 10 miles. No shelters or suitable campsites for a crucial 6 miles. We got a late start and were forced to hike with only minimal breaks. And, we had just resupplied our food for 5 days so packs were at least 5 pounds heavier each. Between the peaks, the rocky trail and weighted packs we should have completed this in a minimum of 12 hours but were compelled to finish in 8 and a half. We stumbled into the shelter at 8 pm, after sunset, with just enough light to get water, eat dinner, bear bag the food and bed down.
Am I proud of our accomplishment? Yes. Several times I have surprised myself at what I have done and how good I felt the next morning. But this time I strained my back, irritated a rotator cuff injury, and injured my left knee.
I didn't sleep well that night. The terrain got easier and we hiked shorter days but it was clear I was in need of help. Lee's snoring at shelters was causing enough problems that I was now sleep deprived. Friday morning we made the decision to leave the trail after 150 miles of hiking.
With a heavy heart I hiked the 3 miles to a road. It was relatively easy trail and we should have flown over it but I couldn't. I didn't want to leave the trail. I loved the simplicity of life. The singleness of purpose. But both knees were now hurting and I was beginning to limp. My shoulder and neck were burning pain and it took 3 hours to hike what should have taken an hour and a half.
We hitched a ride into Front Royal, rented a car, drove to Pennsylvania to retrieve our car, drove back to Front Royal to drop off the rental and plan our next move.

Thursday we walked 15 miles to Knoxville, MD and stayed in a hostel. Harpers Ferry is our goal. The town is in West Virginia and is at the confluence of the Shanandoah and Potomac rivers. It is also the home of the ATC headquarters.

When we arrived at the ATC we met Laurie Pottinger. She took our picture and placed it in the book of this year's hikers. There Are Nobos, Sobos,section hikers and Alternate. We are the 12th and 13th Alternate hikers to come through the ATC this year.

Here we are in Harpers Ferry for Easter Sunday. Glen, a fellow hiker, invited us to stay at his home outside Harpers Ferry and enjoy Easter with his family. Lee gathered eggs for breakfast.

Tomorrow morning Glen will drop us off at the trail where we will begin the section called "The Rollercoaster".

People

A final winter storm moved in causing many hikers to head to town wait out the night. We relished the warmth of the hotel and fellowship with other hikers. I worked on my one blister and rested my feet. 

Fellow hikers. Lee helped them shakedown 6 ponds off their backpacks.

Hiding from a winter storm we talked for hours enjoying some girl talk.

Shelter buddies cooking dinner on a chilly, rainy evening.

Camping sitemates. An early Nobo (northbounder) we shared a campground with.

Day 8 on the trail. Each day is an education.
I adore the comfort controlled surroundings that I have inside my home. Perfect temperature control, warm bed, lights, no bugs and the only animal is a little dog to bark at strangers. Before we started my fears ganged up on me. They were all centered around being in the mountains at night; being cold, sleeping outside in a new place each night, rain and wind getting in the shelter and bears and other animals being in the same forest.

The more I worried the more I realized I was afraid of the mountains. But the Bible refers to God as a Mountain and Jesus as The Rock. The old gospel song, " I Go To the Rock" has become my favorite song reminding me of God's presence and strength and provision everywhere.

Going to school

Here I sit in a hundred year old house in a rural Tennessee area having just completed Warren Doyle's Appalachian Folk School, my final preparation before setting out on this adventure called the Appalachian Trail- or AT for short.
The last 5 days I have received the benefit of Dr. Doyle's extensive experience hiking the AT and completed 3 practice hikes with fellow students. My reality has been thoroughly checked, shaken and rebuilt. Warren's often repeated phrase is "Hiking the AT is not fun. It is an education, it is a job but it is not fun."
A year ago I looked at my significant other (my husband of 25 years) and said, " Ya know, when we finish hiking the Camino we are going to need another goal to work towards...I know let's hike the Appalachian Trail! That'll be fun!"
It worked like a charm. We finished the Camino in October and stepped immediately into planning our next hike.
As our projected start date neared I had some lingering concerns; how did I know I could do something as challenging as the Appalachian Trail? What if I can't do this and I quit? How can I sleep in the woods knowing Yogi the Bear is waiting for me?
Snakes, injuries, cold, wet, discouragement, a heavy backpack, finding water... did I mention bears?
Enter the opportunity to learn firsthand from the Yoda of the Trail. That is why I am here and that is why I am more confident. It's going to be tough and some days miserable and definitely not fun. Its time to GetMoving! Bring it on!

Lee with fellow hikers Steve and Connie