June 28 (Day 98) - Random Campsite to Elkwallow Wayside

Today was a rather unambitious day.  G Money (aka Sweet Cheeks) and I only hiked a few miles and came to rest at the Elkwallow Wayside.  What was meant to be a brief stop for lunch turned into an all day affair.

Shortly after lunch, we met up with Mad Dog and Snakebite and sat, conversing while our phones charged.  Dark clouds moved overhead, and a light rain began to fall.  Not wanting to set out in the rain, we purchased some beverages of the alcoholic persuasion and continued to socialize.

Unfortunately, the day was marked by looming clouds and intermittent rain.  Soon the afternoon turned to evening, and we were still at the wayside, when Memphis and Buttercup arrived.  So...we all came to peace with the fact that hiking further wasn't in the cards.  We purchased more beverages and made a party of it.

I don't think a passing ranger was pleased with our little soiree.  He stopped and performed a permit check on every thru-hiker present.  We weren't breaking any rules, but I got the distinct impression that we weren't altogether welcome.

As night fell, G Money (aka Sweet Cheeks) and I wandered down a blue blaze trail to find a tent pad.  Meanwhile, back at the wayside, the ranger had returned...with a vengeance.  From what I understand, he commanded that everyone clear out, demonstrating a particular disdain for thru-hikers.  He allegedly stated that the group was bound to break the rules and that everyone needed to disperse before it happened.

June 27 (Day 97) - Luray, VA to Random Campsite

Determined to leave town, Gandolf, G Money (aka Sweet Cheeks), and I packed expeditiously.  Yet again, we saw dark clouds; ducking into Uncle Buck's, we waited out the rain and filled our stomachs.  Then, we caught a ride to the trailhead with the owner of Uncle Buck's.

At the Panorama, we stayed beneath the cover of the bathroom area, since it continued to rain.  I boiled water for coffee, and we played with a frisbee.  Gandolf eventually hiked ahead, but G Money and I tarried, hoping the rain would stop completely.

Venturing into the mist and light rain, G Money and I found a suitable campsite, a few miles from the trailhead.

June 25 (Day 95) - Zero Day in Luray, VA

June 23 (Day 96) - Bearfence Hut to Rock Spring Hut

I've learned that waysides have just as much gravity as towns.  A number of hikers converged at Big Meadows Wayside, and we spent a great deal of time resting and socializing.  I took the opportunity to order every blackberry item on the menu, in addition to another scrumptious black bean burger.  After blackberry cobbler with blackberry ice cream, a blackberry sundae, and a blackberry shake, I had consumed over 3000 calories.  Sufficed to say, a food coma was imminent.

The group at the wayside included Siren, Odie, Ciera, B, G Money (aka Sweet Cheeks), Gandolf, and Indigo.  We sat, socializing, until much of the day had slipped away.  Then, we packed wine and beer from the camp store and headed to the next shelter, Rock Spring Shelter.

At the shelter, we encountered a ridge runner, who was apparently spending the night.  Carousing and conversing around a blazing fire, we apparently failed to regulate the volume of our voices, and we disturbed the ridge runner.  She yelled down to us from the tenting area and chastised us for our allegedly rowdy behavior.

As the ridge runner repeatedly mentioned that she had to work in the morning, someone amid our group commented that she had to do exactly what we had to do in the morning.  Though we had lowered our voices and begun to settle in for the night, the ridge runner apparently heard the comment.  She was none too pleased and continued her rant for quite some time.

June 22 (Day 95) - Pinefield Hut to Bearfence Hut

The morning began much as the previous night had ended; that is to say it began with noisy Boy Scouts.  The group, including the leaders decided to congregate around the shelter, even though none had actually slept inside it.  The norm, out here on the trail, is to move away from anyone who may be sleeping and to be as quiet as possible.  This contingent did the opposite, gathering around those sleeping in the shelter at the crack of dawn.

As icing on the cake, one rather obnoxious young man scoffed at my tent (bug netting) being set up inside the shelter.  Since I was standing nearby and less than amused with the situation, I may have retorted in a less than cordial manner.  I was...rather grumpy, this morning.

I hiked to Swift Run Gap and decided to step into Elkton for lunch.  Unfortunately, it has gotten noticeably more difficult to secure a hitch, as we move north, and I spent the better part of an hour with my thumb out.  In fact, I walked halfway to town (perhaps, mumbling expletives with regard to Virginia), before someone finally gave me a lift.

After lunch and waiting for my phone to charge at the Country Store and Deli, I set about finding a ride back to the trail.  I experienced the same difficulty in getting back as I did in getting to town.  Fast forward an hour, Odie arrived at the store; he managed to score us a ride from a gentleman, who had stopped for gas.

Back on the trail, I met up with Jungle Jim, and we hiked into the twilight hours, finally reaching Bearfence Hut.

June 21 (Day 94) - Random Campsite to Pinefield Hut

Today was the summer solstice.  For the uninitiated, this also means that today was Hike Naked Day.  And, that's exactly what I did.

I awoke at 4:30 AM, after a rather restless night.  I had sent my sleeping bag and air mattress home, when I was in Lexington, so my sleep system is now comprised of my liner and a 5'x5' piece of fleece.  I'd anticipated warmer weather.  Unfortunately, the nights have been anything but warm.

I broke camp and began hiking in the buff.  Standing naked in the woods, I felt a bit self-conscious at first, but I soon became very comfortable with the situation.  On most days, I go commando, anyway.  Today, I just felt much cooler.

I tied a camp towel to my hip belt and would cover myself when I encountered other hikers.  Though, sometimes I zoned out and didn't notice people until they'd probably seen too much.  Luckily, this was not the case with the ranger that I encountered.

Donning my shorts, I stopped at a wayside for lunch.  Along with my black bean burger and sweet potato fries, I drank two of Shenandoah's legendary blackberry shakes.  And, they are AMAZING.  If you ever find yourself nearby, you MUST get one.

I camped at Pinefield Hut for the night.  Gandalf, Jungle Jim, Groundhog, and G Money were also there, as well as a Boy Scout contingent.  Honestly, it amazed me how little these scouts knew about Leave No Trace and camp courtesy.  They burned plastics, urinated in the privy (instead of the woods), and were rather loud until late into the night.  It certainly wasn't what I recall of my days in Boy Scouts; that's for sure.

May 31 (Day 74) - Random Campsite to Bailey Gap Shelter

Rejuvenated, I hiked to the Captain's and met up with Gilgamesh, Little Bear, Beer Goddess, and Fast Times.  Odie and Sprouts were also there.  We drank plenty of free soda and enjoyed a trout dinner.

(Odie also supplied me with my first taste of real moonshine.)

A large bubble of hikers arrived, and I wasn't particularly comfortable with the situation.  The group included some shady characters...not to mention Hammy.  As such, I packed up and hiked into the night, settling at Bailey Gap Shelter.