illabelle
03-01-2016, 08:58
My husband and I spent this past weekend (Th evening thru Sun evening) finishing up SNP. We were suffering from cabin fever, and wanted to use some of our winter gear for a change. First I'll tell you about our trip and share some pictures, then I'll tell you about the only other backpackers we saw the whole time we were out.
Forecast (thank you, atweather.org) was low temperatures of 21, 21, 31 for our three nights, and highs of 30, 38, and 54 with cold blustery 25-35 mph winds Th-Fr-Sat and gradually clearing after heavy rain earlier in the week.
We met our shuttle at Skyland at 6 pm and entered the trail at Chester Gap about 7:20. Night hiked 3 m to Tom Floyd Wayside. Nobody there. Spread our sleeping bags and dove in. Wind roared all night long, in the trees, up the hill, and into the shelter. Brrr!
Very difficult to get out of bed Friday morning. Laid there much too long, didn't get walking till 10:40. Snow and ice on the trail here and there. A few slips, but no falls.
33918
Typical view of the Shenandoah Valley.
33919
It's hard to stay hydrated when it's 20-something degrees and your water is slushy cold. Friday was a day of layering and unlayering depending on the climb, which side of the ridge we were on, what time of day, and whether the sun came out. Arrived at Gravel Springs Hut, ate supper, and refilled water. Nobody there. Set up tent inside to escape from the wind.
Another hiker showed up after dark and settled in on the bunk above. Chilly, but better than night 1. We piddled around Saturday morning with camp chores and talking. I have little appetite, give half my food to my husband, who never seems to be full. Another late start.
Trail picture:
33911
Abandoned springhouse?
33912
Rocks and climbing uphill.
33913
Late in the day we're three miles and one big hill away from our intended stop, and I'm out of steam. We set up the tent upslope, get water, eat, sleep. I know people hate shelters because of the mice and other reasons, but one of the best things about them is a level floor. Spent the whole night scrambling back onto my pad.
Much better start on Sunday morning. Still chilly, but definitely milder. On the trail by 8:00. With the weekend and the nice weather, there were lots of dayhikers on the trail, especially near Mary's Rock.
33917
Spaced out the remaining food through the day. Saved us some treats, an apple and three small oranges! One here at this sunny spot, another after we get to the top of that hill, the next when we reach that rock...
We made it to the car at dusk Sunday evening, rolled over what we thought was a stick in the parking lot, then a few minutes later heard a flapping noise. Flat tire? Pulled over, noise continued. The alternator belt! With my slightly-more-than-an-inch pocketknife blade, my mechanic husband trims the damaged portion lengthwise from the belt, and we limp the 6.5 hour drive back home. Turns out the A/C belt is also damaged, and the radiator has a leak (might not be related, though). Another section done, and we're thinking about the next.
So those two backpackers we met? The first, a guy at Gravel Springs Hut, carries a 9-lb wood-framed pack that he made in high school and swore he would take on the AT one day. The body is a re-purposed denim shirt. He carries no stove or tent. He makes a stick fire and boils his water, sharpens a stick with his big knife and uses the stick to eat peanut butter. He carries a military surplus -40° bivy "body bag" that makes a gigantic bedroll. And yes, he wears jeans and heavy rubber boots. A Shenandoah native, he started the trail a few days prior with the intention of hiking north to Katahdin, then turning around for a SOBO. As he set off down the trail, a practiced thwack from one of his large wood poles sent his cooking pot back over his shoulder where it belonged. Sixty-two pounds (half his weight) before food, but he was happy! For the record, he acknowledges that he will be trading out some gear, so please don't start bashing him.
3391433915
Later in the trip we meet the second:
Me: Finally, a real backpacker! Where'd you start?
Her: Springer Mtn.
Me: Wow, you're way ahead.
Her: Yeah, I'm the #1 NOBO.
Me: What's your name?
Her: Speedstick.
Me: I've heard of you! The Triple Crown! ...
Speedstick looked strong, fresh, and like the first guy, very happy.
Very different gear, different goals, different styles.
More info for the curious at http://marriedtothetrail.com/
33916
Forecast (thank you, atweather.org) was low temperatures of 21, 21, 31 for our three nights, and highs of 30, 38, and 54 with cold blustery 25-35 mph winds Th-Fr-Sat and gradually clearing after heavy rain earlier in the week.
We met our shuttle at Skyland at 6 pm and entered the trail at Chester Gap about 7:20. Night hiked 3 m to Tom Floyd Wayside. Nobody there. Spread our sleeping bags and dove in. Wind roared all night long, in the trees, up the hill, and into the shelter. Brrr!
Very difficult to get out of bed Friday morning. Laid there much too long, didn't get walking till 10:40. Snow and ice on the trail here and there. A few slips, but no falls.
33918
Typical view of the Shenandoah Valley.
33919
It's hard to stay hydrated when it's 20-something degrees and your water is slushy cold. Friday was a day of layering and unlayering depending on the climb, which side of the ridge we were on, what time of day, and whether the sun came out. Arrived at Gravel Springs Hut, ate supper, and refilled water. Nobody there. Set up tent inside to escape from the wind.
Another hiker showed up after dark and settled in on the bunk above. Chilly, but better than night 1. We piddled around Saturday morning with camp chores and talking. I have little appetite, give half my food to my husband, who never seems to be full. Another late start.
Trail picture:
33911
Abandoned springhouse?
33912
Rocks and climbing uphill.
33913
Late in the day we're three miles and one big hill away from our intended stop, and I'm out of steam. We set up the tent upslope, get water, eat, sleep. I know people hate shelters because of the mice and other reasons, but one of the best things about them is a level floor. Spent the whole night scrambling back onto my pad.
Much better start on Sunday morning. Still chilly, but definitely milder. On the trail by 8:00. With the weekend and the nice weather, there were lots of dayhikers on the trail, especially near Mary's Rock.
33917
Spaced out the remaining food through the day. Saved us some treats, an apple and three small oranges! One here at this sunny spot, another after we get to the top of that hill, the next when we reach that rock...
We made it to the car at dusk Sunday evening, rolled over what we thought was a stick in the parking lot, then a few minutes later heard a flapping noise. Flat tire? Pulled over, noise continued. The alternator belt! With my slightly-more-than-an-inch pocketknife blade, my mechanic husband trims the damaged portion lengthwise from the belt, and we limp the 6.5 hour drive back home. Turns out the A/C belt is also damaged, and the radiator has a leak (might not be related, though). Another section done, and we're thinking about the next.
So those two backpackers we met? The first, a guy at Gravel Springs Hut, carries a 9-lb wood-framed pack that he made in high school and swore he would take on the AT one day. The body is a re-purposed denim shirt. He carries no stove or tent. He makes a stick fire and boils his water, sharpens a stick with his big knife and uses the stick to eat peanut butter. He carries a military surplus -40° bivy "body bag" that makes a gigantic bedroll. And yes, he wears jeans and heavy rubber boots. A Shenandoah native, he started the trail a few days prior with the intention of hiking north to Katahdin, then turning around for a SOBO. As he set off down the trail, a practiced thwack from one of his large wood poles sent his cooking pot back over his shoulder where it belonged. Sixty-two pounds (half his weight) before food, but he was happy! For the record, he acknowledges that he will be trading out some gear, so please don't start bashing him.
3391433915
Later in the trip we meet the second:
Me: Finally, a real backpacker! Where'd you start?
Her: Springer Mtn.
Me: Wow, you're way ahead.
Her: Yeah, I'm the #1 NOBO.
Me: What's your name?
Her: Speedstick.
Me: I've heard of you! The Triple Crown! ...
Speedstick looked strong, fresh, and like the first guy, very happy.
Very different gear, different goals, different styles.
More info for the curious at http://marriedtothetrail.com/
33916