22.7 miles - 705.1 cumulative miles
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| Three Springs Leanto |
Woke up around 6AM again. Had a couple of raccoon visitors last night as well as a mouse. Strange red glow in the sky from the direction of the "Top-Secret Military Base" [Mt Weather Emergency Operations Center] and a sulfur odor this morning.
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| A day in the life of a hiker: morning grooming... |
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| ...and coffee |
Got going around 7:30 and hiked out to the road and on down to Snickers Gap where we ran into a prison road crew. Hiked on up the road 1.6 miles and then off into the woods. Finally got through with those (expletive deleted) roads.
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| Snickers Gap |
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| Devil's Racecourse |
Hiked by Devil's Racecourse. Interesting. Then on and on through the woods on relatively easy terrain. Rocky though. Got to Wilson Gap around 11AM and had lunch. Nicest looking shelter I've seen so far. Even had a window and an inside fire place.
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| Wilson Gap Shelter |
Started out again and went 1/4 mile down a wrong path. Then almost took another wrong turn a little way further. Poorly marked trail. Continued on over more of the same. Rocky and tiring. Pushed hard. It was hot and sunny and humid, too. Not easy hiking though the trail was mostly flat. Got to Keys Gap Shelter around 3:30 and found a family group there out for 2 months. Spread all over the place. Gave us ice.
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| Large ant hill |
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| Lunch |
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| Hot and humid |
Started again at 4PM and began the last 6 miles to Harper's Ferry. We were hiking all day with our friend from Pennsylvania. He is carrying a hollow body electric guitar on his pack. No amplifier. As we approached the overlook of Harper's Ferry we heard thunder. The view was really great and we also had an unbelievable view of the approaching storm. Saw the rain coming, so we started very quickly down the hill to the highway, when we proceeded to get soaked.
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| View from Weaverton Cliffs overlooking the Potomac River |
Crossed the Potomac River and went to the youth hostel [Sandy Hook Hostel]. Blair O., whom we had met at Byrd's Nest No. 3 shelter in the Shenandoah was there. We went with our guitar friend to a restaurant and got soaked again after taking showers. Started raining as soon as we went outside. Had a great chicken dinner. Walked back and saw thousands of fireflies all over the place. Never seen so many.
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