Black Horse Gap to Waynesboro, VA 4/13/2009-4/17/2009

Thanks everyone for following my blog. I'm getting pretty close to the halfway point (Harpers Ferry, WV) which is a big milestone on the AT. If you enjoy reading about my adventures, please consider making a donation to the Red Cross through my site (Just click on the "Donate!" button on the right side of this page) or scheduling a blood donation. Thanks very much to those who have already contributed. I hope that the spring time weather gives everyone a chance to get outside and shake those winter blues!

Photos: http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2491622930104728652fYCBUt

4/13/2009 - 8:35 PM - Bryant Ridge Shelter - 17.4 mi today - 750.4 mi total

Woke up at 7AM and started organizing my food and packing my bag in the hotel room. It all fits in much better now that I have switched out the Ridgerest for the new Thermarest that Dad bought. The hotel breakfast was excellent. I had mini-omelettes, pancakes, sausage, a bagel, yogurt, and orange juice. We definitely got our moneys worth. Finally got packed up and decided to go to the outfitter to buy a pair of Superfeet (aftermarket insoles...they make a huge difference!), but they were closed. My socks weren't quite dry after washing them in the sink last night, so we hung them out the window of the car as we drove around town. That drew a couple funny looks. Went to the coffee shop and decided to go to Walmart to pick up a couple odds and ends. Got a couple dry sacks, carabiners, webbing and more Easter candy. Cadbury Mini-eggs are my guilty pleasure. Finally hit the trail at 11 after Dad made an adjustment to Harley's pack. Said our goodbyes and I started to crank out the miles. Took a picture at Harveys Knob Overlook. Stopped for lunch at Bobblets Gap Shelter (nice privy!). Felt a bit homesick after saying goodbye to Dad. We did have a really good time on the trail together. Hit the trail again at 1:30. Cruised most of the day. Met a couple ladies that thru-hiked in 2007. Got to the shelter at 6:30 and decided to stay. This shelter is massive (built for 20) but I am the only person here. Cooked dinner, pumped water, and got ready for tomorrow. Hoping to do big miles so I can catch up to the "Fearless Five minus one." Set my alarm for 6:30. Hopefully I'll hit the trail at 7. Thermarest is very comfy. Harley is sleeping on the Ridgerest until I can catch up with Pacman (He may switch his out as his has a puncture). Feeling a bit lonely and homesick. Tonight is the first night that I have been alone.

4/14/2009 - 9:20 PM - Johns Hollow Shelter - 26.6 mi today - 777.0 mi total

Alarm went off at 6:30, but there was no way I was getting up. Thermarest was way too comfy. Woke up an hour later when a turkey hunter stopped by the shelter and asked me if I had seen any "gobblers" around (I'm still in my sleeping bag, dude...). A little too early in the morning for me to comprehend that there were more people like him running around in the forest clucking like turkeys with rifles over their shoulders (he demonstrated his turkey cluck). That was pretty good breakfast entertainment. Left the shelter at 8:30. Made sure Harley stayed close to me all day. Foggy and rainy, so no views today. Somehow, Harley caught a chipmunk about 5 miles in. Since then he has been sniffing every downed tree and hole in the ground. Pretty major hill climbing this morning. Had lunch at Thunder Hill Shelter after walking under the Guillotine (a rock that is precariously stuck between two boulders... of course the trail goes right underneath it). Got to Marble Spring at 4:45 and decided to kick it up a notch so I could push mast Matts Creek Shelter to Johns Hollow Shelter. Shins started to hurt on one of the downhill switchbacks. Tried to stretch them out and took some vitamin I. Met a trail maintainer from New Jersey at Matts Creek. I asked him how the trail was to the next shelter and he gave me a detailed description through Burlington, Vermont including where I should resupply along the way. James River had an almost perfect reflection when I crossed it. No wind at all today. Made for humid conditions. Fearless Five are only 9 miles ahead I think. Maybe catch them tomorrow. Probably the next day. Harley is snoring again.

4/15/2009 - 9:45 PM - Salt Log Gap - 28.6 mi today - 805.6 mi total

Got up at 6:45 and was on the trail at 7:30. The section hiker I shared the shelter with packed out my trash. Started with a pretty good climb and again found myself in the fog. Not too many views today. Had lunch at Punchbowl Shelter where I met a work crew from the Natural Bridge Appalachian Trail Club installing a brand new privy. I was the first to use it. Never before have I had my picture taken or hand shaken just for doing my business. (Check out the picture here: http://mikerieleyspics.shutterfly.com/231) I also got some trail magic (an apple). Nice to eat some fresh fruit. In the shelter log, I found that the Fearless Five left me a challenge... I have to get to Pizza Hut in Waynesboro for dinner on Friday night. Little do they know that I am right on their tail and was already planning to get to Waynesboro on Friday. Still is a long hike. Decided to eat dinner early so I wouldn't have to cook in the dark at the end of the day. Had mac and cheese at Brown Mountain Shelter and pumped water too. Major climb from there to Bald Knob. Had a bit of a view on the way up, but not much. Decided to bypass Cow Camp Gap Shelter as it is .6 miles off the trail. Walked for about an hour in the dark with my headlamp before I decided that it was too foggy and wet to continue. Set up the tent in Salt Log Gap and ate some GORP and Mini-eggs to fill my tummy. Now just about to brush my teeth and go to bed. Shooting for Maupin Field Shelter tomorrow (26 miles). Hope to catch the guys there as I think I am only 5 miles behind. Looking forward to better weather.

4/16/2009 - 9:30 PM - Maupin Field Shelter - 26.1 mi today - 831.7 mi total

Alarm went off at 6:15. Caught a nice sunrise at 6:45 and hit the trail at 7:15. Was pretty flat to start. Had a snack at Seeley Woodworth Shelter and met a group that had stayed with the Fearless Five last night. Told me that I was only about an hour behind them. Checked out the view at Spy Rock and ate lunch at the Priest Shelter. Nice spot and beautiful weather. Enjoyed the sunshine. Nice to have a clear day after three days of fog. Big downhill off of the Priest. Got to a trail intersection where I could have cut off 4 miles and potentially got ahead of the other guys. I thought about it for a half second, and then continued on the AT. I guess I am a purist. I'm not going to yellow blaze like that. Once you break the rule once, its much easier to break it again. Had a snack break at Harpers Creek Shelter and met a section hiker named Steps. Big climb to finish the day with some nice views. Took a video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDhpMdSMXVM
Rolled into Maupin Field Shelter at sunset to wild applause from Chert, Grizzly Adams, Wally, and Pacman. Glad to see everyone again. We all exchanged stories and got caught up on the latest trail news over dinner. Waynesboro tomorrow. Glad to be back with the crew.

4/17/2009 - 10:15 PM - Waynesboro, VA - 20.8 mi today - 852.5 total

Got up at 7:15 and on the trail by 8:30. Was able to take a late start as we only had 20 miles to hike today. (Can't believe I just said that!) Still was a tough day as the other guys hike at a faster pace than I usually do. Struggled to keep up in the morning. Harley had no problem. Had lunch at Humpback Rocks. Tried to clear out my foodbag to make room for the maildrop I will be getting from the Post Office. Still have a little Easter Candy stashed away. Afternoon flew by. Hiked fast to Paul Wolfe Shelter, took a nice hour long break, and then hiked fast to Rockfish Gap. Arrived at 5:30. Called a local trail angel for a ride. Checked in at the YMCA (they let us camp on their grounds and shower for free!). Set up the tent and wandered into town. As I was setting up the tent, I took my shirt off for a bit. It was so covered in sweat that it stood up in its original shape all my itself. Yikes! Decided to eat at the Ming Garden Chinese Buffet because the Pizza Hut was only AYCE(all you can eat) salad, not pizza. That was not your average buffet! They had crablegs, sushi, shrimp and mussels in addition to an impressive spread of other foods. We all thoroughly stuffed ourselves (21 plates between 5 people). Chert and I almost ate too much (both of us were sweating pretty good). Only cost $14 per person. Amazing! Here's a video of us waling back:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5EaVsrli3g
We strolled back to the campsite and I split off to call home from the payphone in the YMCA lobby. There were kids everywhere running around screaming. Gave me a headache after a while. Now just getting ready for bed. Lots to do tomorrow (shower, library, Post Office, laundry, etc.). Not sure if I will zero or not. Depends on how long the chores take. Apparently the local Kiwanis Club is having a $5 pancake breakfast tomorrow at a church down the street (Jackpot!). Don't want to think about food now, but tomorrow morning, I should be in the mood again.