Stashing a suitcase in Harpers Ferry for a week?

[Cereal]

Hello!

I'll be doing a section hike SOBO from Harpers Ferry starting next Wednesday (10/23). I am looking to simply leave a suitcase in HF for eight days, as I intend to drive back north through HF the following week to retrieve it.

Any suggestions?

(For what it's worth, I'm flying into DC early on 10/23 and taking the Amtrak to HF, so I will not arrive in HF until after the ATC closes for the day.)

Thanks in advance!

[Slo-go'en]

I'm not sure the ATC would want to be responsible for holding your luggage for a week anyway. Your going to want to stay at one of the hostels for the night. I'd check them.

[chknfngrs]

That’s an interesting question! Do you have to check luggage? Could you carry on your pack/gear? Or, if not, check your backpack and gear in a “disposable” duffel? That’d eliminate luggage storage. Alternatively, several hostels in town would almost surely watch your luggage for you, maybe free maybe for a price? Closest to the trail might be Towns In, closest to ATC might be Tea Horse Hostel.

[chknfngrs]

You could easily buy another (or you may not need to if you’re driving anyways)

[Cereal]

Thank you for the quick replies! I appreciate suggestions for the specific hostels.

That’s an interesting question! Do you have to check luggage? Could you carry on your pack/gear? Or, if not, check your backpack and gear in a “disposable” duffel? That’d eliminate luggage storage. Alternatively, several hostels in town would almost surely watch your luggage for you, maybe free maybe for a price? Closest to the trail might be Towns In, closest to ATC might be Tea Horse Hostel.
I will be checking my backpack as luggage (flying Frontier). I am not concerned about the flight logistics... After the section hike, I'll be spending a few days in civilization, so I'll just have a small bag of stuff for that (my "personal item").

It's a good thought, but I will not be able to take this luggage with me (on the section hike); I am planning on eight days without a re-supply as it is....

By the way, I plan to begin hiking SOBO the evening that I arrive in HF (Amtrak arrives at 5:16pm). It would be nice to get a good start and make it to David Lesser Shelter that night (8.7 miles). Any concerns there (aside from hiking in the dark and disturbing other hikers upon my arrival)?

Thanks again!

[Alligator]

If you can fit the stuff in say a USPS flat rate box or regular box you could mail it to yourself either home or general delivery or a friend's.

[Alligator]

Do you often hike in the dark? I do it often enough that I wouldn't plan 8.7 miles on the way in. I would personally pay for it the next day in most cases (late start). If you know your night pace cool but I adjust mine down, I consider about a 25% reduction these days.

[chknfngrs]

Go for it. Might as well avoid a hostelhotel fee if you don't need one. If you don't mind the dark, you'll be fine. Be kind and effusively polite in your late arrival and you'll also be fine. If you're carrying shelter anyways then no need to worry. The water at Lesser is way way way way way way way down hill but cold and delicious.


Thank you for the quick replies! I appreciate suggestions for the specific hostels.

I will be checking my backpack as luggage (flying Frontier). I am not concerned about the flight logistics... After the section hike, I'll be spending a few days in civilization, so I'll just have a small bag of stuff for that (my "personal item").

It's a good thought, but I will not be able to take this luggage with me (on the section hike); I am planning on eight days without a re-supply as it is....

By the way, I plan to begin hiking SOBO the evening that I arrive in HF (Amtrak arrives at 5:16pm). It would be nice to get a good start and make it to David Lesser Shelter that night (8.7 miles). Any concerns there (aside from hiking in the dark and disturbing other hikers upon my arrival)?

Thanks again!

[trailmercury]

might the Amtrak station have a locker you could rent?

[chknfngrs]

You're flying with all your food and gear! I just put that together. Rad!

[Cereal]

Do you often hike in the dark? I do it often enough that I wouldn't plan 8.7 miles on the way in. I would personally pay for it the next day in most cases (late start). If you know your night pace cool but I adjust mine down, I consider about a 25% reduction these days.Fair concern; many an alpine start have I had here in Colorado :) My rough math would have me at David Lesser Shelter by 11pm (or 9pm MDT!) which doesn't seem too bad.


Go for it. Might as well avoid a hostelhotel fee if you don't need one. If you don't mind the dark, you'll be fine. Be kind and effusively polite in your late arrival and you'll also be fine. If you're carrying shelter anyways then no need to worry. The water at Lesser is way way way way way way way down hill but cold and delicious.Yep... I'm a cheapskate... (Additional evidence: flying Frontier, and this entire thread)

Yes, I'll be carrying shelter as well; will there be solid dispersed sites between HF and Lesser? Or should I just plan on Lesser?

VERY helpful to know about Lesser's water source, thank you! I suppose I'll just begin from HF with ~3 liters so that I won't need to worry about water until the morning ;)


might the Amtrak station have a locker you could rent?This was almost a great idea! Although it looks like they do not, based on Amtrak's website.


You're flying with all your food and gear! I just put that together. Rad!Rad, indeed! Though thanks for the reminder: I will need to find propane upon my arrival. I did leave one in the Free Box in the ATC in April, maybe I can just hope it is still there :D

[chknfngrs]

four miles south of harpers ferry is a great (dry) campsite. I think there is a small option near Keys Gap crossing, and then David Lesser but that's all I recall. Have fun!

[Slo-go'en]

It will be dark or getting dark when you arrive. The climb out of the river valley is fairly steep and rocky. If there are a lot of leaves on the ground, it might be a little tricky keeping track of the trail in the dark. Once on the ridge, the trail levels out a bit but a lot of little stumbley rocks if I remember right.

There is a campsite about 3.5 miles south, but there is no water of course. BTW water at David Lesser is a bit of walk, steeply down hill. But you have to do it as the next water is a ways off.

It's only $30 to stay at the hostel. Leaving in the morning rested and able to put in a full day is priceless. You mentioned fuel cylinder. You'd either have to hit the outfitter in town (who will likely be closed when you get there) or go to the Teahorse hostel as he stocks it. Once there, you might as well stay...

The only locker is in DC. I think it's $20 a day. Harpers Ferry is a whistle stop. Just a loading platform. If you have a bunch of stuff you don't want to carry around after the hike, hitting the PO and mailing it home is a good option. That way you don't have to go back to where you stashed it.

[chknfngrs]

Behind union station in dc is the new flagship REI

[TexasBob]

By the way, I plan to begin hiking SOBO the evening that I arrive in HF (Amtrak arrives at 5:16pm). It would be nice to get a good start and make it to David Lesser Shelter that night (8.7 miles). Any concerns there (aside from hiking in the dark and disturbing other hikers upon my arrival................

How about stove fuel? I don't think you can bring it on the plane. Amtrak was over an hour late the time I took it from DC to Harper's Ferry and the outfitters in HF was closed before I got there.

[Astro]

I would recommend staying at the Teahorse Hostel and take off fresh and well rested in the morning. Somethings are well worth the money. :)

[Slo-go'en]

Behind union station in dc is the new flagship REI

That's good to know. I often have half a day to waste in DC.

[stephanD]

I would recommend staying at the Teahorse Hostel and take off fresh and well rested in the morning. Somethings are well worth the money. :)
Be sure they are open. This hostel is for sale.

[Slo-go'en]

Be sure they are open. This hostel is for sale.


Their open until October 30th, then close for the season.

[trailmercury]

Leaving in the morning rested and able to put in a full day is priceless



^^^^^^this^^^^^^

and the hostel could hold the bag

[chknfngrs]

Cheapest option: wrap your luggage to water proof it and hide it in the woods.

[trailmercury]

Yes, cheap....but with a high level of risk and possibly illegal

[Cereal]

Thank you all again for the replies!

That first evening, after the Amtrak to HF, I think I will plan to hike in to that campsite 3.5 to 4 miles in, leaving the option open to push for David Lesser (if I'm feelin' it).

My original concern, it turns out, has been solved; upon my arrival, I will dine with a friend who lives in DC, and then leave my suitcase with him. The difference in length of a detour (to retrieve the suitcase after my section hike) through DC to pick it up, versus Harpers Ferry, will be negligible, since it'll be before 6am on the Friday morning.


How about stove fuel? I don't think you can bring it on the plane. Amtrak was over an hour late the time I took it from DC to Harper's Ferry and the outfitters in HF was closed before I got there.
Yes, I'll have plenty of time to hit up the REI in DC, which purportedly is an 0.8mi walk from Union Station. Good to know regarding the lateness of the Amtrak, thanks!


Cheapest option: wrap your luggage to water proof it and hide it in the woods.
This has certainly crossed my mind as a viable solution!

[Hikingjim]

teahorse would almost certainly take it. Either inside, or they had a locked shed for bikes that could work
Even if you don't end up staying there, they would likely for a modest fee

[perrymk]

I've had no problem having hotels hold my luggage at no charge for up to three days while vacationing at spots around the world, but I stayed at least one night with the hotel both before and after the hold, typically 3-4 nights total. Not the same as two weeks though.

I also contemplated a hold for my gear without a hotel stay in the event I had to go home mid-hike. An idea that I came up with is to rent a car, put my gear in the trunk, and leave it in the lot. Of course let the rental car company know what I'm doing so they don't rent the car to someone else. If that were a problem I would drive it tot he airport parking and leave the car there. Again, an OK idea for a few days but maybe not as practical for two weeks.

[Alligator]

There are some new luggage storage apps/companies that will store your luggage in various cities. I recently used Vertoe to store luggage in Boston for a week, the total was ~$40. The storage location was a short walk from South Station. You can store luggage at at a vendor in South Station but I was concerned about the place not being open on the return trip. Not applicable to Harpers Ferry--no locations--but thought I would mention it as I bet there is something in DC.

[Cereal]

Thanks again for the replies, everyone! Two more questions before I head out on Wednesday:

What can I expect for insects? Will it be worth it to bring bug spray? I am hoping the temperatures will be low enough....

Any advice on getting from Rockfish Gap (near Waynesboro, VA) to Richmond, VA (around mid-day on a Thursday)? It is about a 1.5-hour drive. Last year, I tried unsuccessfully to hitchhike at a nearby pull-off on I-64 (eastbound) in the rain, and ended up employing Yellow Truck for a ride to Charlottesville, which worked out very well. By the way, the Rockfish Gap Tourist Information Center was a nice place to visit; the volunteer there was very accommodating and provided some hot chocolate and a list of Trail Angels.

[chknfngrs]

Bugs will be present. Bring spray. Also Uber exists there. Easiest, but prob not cheep.

[chknfngrs]

Go back to that visitors center for a list of Trail Angels. That may be your only other option this late in your game?!?