Ed Garvey Shelter
Day: 36-2002
Mileage: 1003
07/08/02 8:53 pm
Well made it to this beatiful new shelter. Day was not as
easy as I had hoped, mostly because of in town walking up
and down the hilly streets of H.F. Had a great breakfast
at the Hilltop House. Then got new socks at the outfitter
(was even served by Baltimore Jack). Then off to the
library to try to find flights from PHL to CLT, just
finished when my time was up. Then the long long walk
back to the post office and then the ATC (at least my
pack was at the ATC after the outfitter). Spent a lot of
time getting my pack organized at the ATC, even got to
answer some questions from an intrested party (possible
thru hiker). Got the hero shot and entry in the 2002
book. Then started hiking. My right leg was killing me
untill I took some vitamin I. I hope it holds up for 40
more miles. Got in late to the shelter (6:45pm). Used
some water that was in the shelter for dinner, but will
have to make the trip downhill for water in the morning.
Rocky Run Shelter
Day: 37-2002
Mileage: 1012
07/09/02 5:22 pm
Well, today's hike was painful! My leg is killing me, but
I am determined to finish this last little bit. It was
intresting hiking through the state park, but I can't
belive I had to pack out my trash from the two drinks I
bought. It was intresting seeing the civil war
corespondence memorial and reading about the battle for
South Mountain.
Here with a very large church group. Also met the local
ridge runner but he just left.
The weather also did not help today, it was hot and
stickey, but the weather report I saw in H.F. said rain
and thundershowers tonight and highs in the 70's
tomarrow. If that is the case I might do a 14 mile day
tomarrow to get to Pen Mar ahead of schedual.
P.S. saw a deer today (one of only two I have seen since
SNP)
Pine Knob Shelter
Day: 38-2002
Mileage: 1019.1
07/10/02 5:04 pm
Well today was an intresting day. It started early with
the all girl church group waking everyone up early. They
had NO CONSIDERATION for anyone. I was in the privy last
night taking a long shit and they started trying to rush
me "you done yet I have to go really bad" so I sat in
there longer just to make them waite. This morning they
were yelling accross the camp and not trying to be quiet
at all. The boys leadership group was much much better.
Still got a late start, the temperature did not cool off
as much as predidted and it even looked like it could
rain.
Hiked to Dahlgren Backpackers Camping Area and took a
free shower curtecy of the state of MD, it was sooo good!
Then on to George Washington Memorial wich was different
than the one in DC, but still nice. Then I hiked on to
here. When I came out to a road, there were 4 juviniel
deer by a house, at first glance I thought they were
captive, but they weren't. I also signed the log that was
on the AT in someones yard (the AT goes between too
houses there). Then I arrived here, and with my ankle/leg
acting up again, and with a little threat of rain, I
decided to stay here. It is an old shelter (not as old as
yesterdays) but ok, just a little close to civilization
for me, but being a week day I don't forsee any problems
other than maybe a thru hiker staggering in late from the
biker bar at rt 40. Did meat annother all girl church
group but THANK G_D they were NOT comming to the shelter!
Well only two more days to go for this chunk hike. Look
forward to seeing Keith, but not leaving. But probably I
would have to get off anyway to rest my ankle. This is
the second day in a row that it is obviously swollen.
07/11/02 9:49 am
Well it cooled off last night so much in fact I had to
crawl inside the bivey for extra warmth. I do not know
waht was nitting the roof of the shelter last night but
it sounded like a coconut. BOOM!!!!! Woke me up a number
of times. Still got a pretty good nights sleep. My ankle
is still hurting this morning, but I still might try to
do the miles to Pen Mar today and take advantage ofthis
cool day. We shall see.
Ensign Cowell Shelter
Day: 39-2002
Mileage: 1027.2
07/11/02 9:09 pm
Great day for hiking, cool, sunny and clear. Ankle still
bothering me a bit, especially after the rocky secktions.
Did got to Annapolis Overlook wich was very neat, but
missed the next overlook completely.
Here now with a thru hiker, the girls from Rocky Run and
a group of boy scouts (camped well away from here) and a
couple with there dog (tenting). Only 3 in the shelter
though.
Well tomarrow is my last day, looking forward to seeing
Keith, a shower, clean cloths and real food. Not looking
forward to returning to work. Well there is always next
summer, next summer, next summer (sounds like that line
from "My side of the mountain")
07/12/02 8:45 am
Well nice night last night, cool with good company.
Vagabond was the thru hiker in the shelter. We had a lot
in common. After the boyscouts droped by we started
talking about scouts. He was a scout and summer camp
section director, he was also big into the OA. He
reminded me a lot of Tom Ott befor going Bambie
Braindead.
Well it is time to get my butt in gear, pack and start
hiking. I guess I am just procrastinating getting started
on my last day of hiking. Everyone has left but me now.
What a bumb!
Pen Mar County Park
Day: 40-2002
Mileage: 1035.4
07/13/02 11:02 am
I am writing this a day after the fact, but here goes. I
finnaly got off my butt at 9:30 and started hiking (last
one out as always). It was fairly easy until the Devil's
Racecourse, wich was a killer. Got to the park around
2:15 and called Keith and asked him to pick me up there
(our original plan was a town 2 miles beyond). I ate a
cheeseburger at the concession stand, and talked to one
German and one French Canadian thru hiker. Also called
mom and dad and let them know I am alive, but with a bum
ankle. Took a camper shower and had annother
cheeseburger.
I did walk to the road crossing were I first stepped foot
on the trail back in '91 (this walk also took me over the
Mason Dixon line into PA). Then I walked back to the
park. Then I took a camper shower and had annother
cheeseburger.
Keith showed up at around 7:30pm and I left the trail
after a hero shot at the Appalachian Trail sign with the
very wrong 1020 miles to Maine and 920 to Springer (quite
wrong).
It should be noted that I, once again, touched the first AT sign I ever touched back on Dec 27, 1991. (See picture 8_21 below).
And so ended my AT hike for this year.
Since I had a day or two until my flight, and Keith was going to the shore with friends and family, I was invited along. A good way to end a hike, lying on the beach!
