Category: AT Front Royal to Bear’s Den 2023

Wednesday July 19, 2023. Mostly sunny, 87 degrees, humidity lower than previous days.

Up at 7:00. Decent sleep in shelter.

Made breakfast Mike’s Recovery Mix (256), Honey Stinger (150), Justin’s Nut Butter (200).

My feet were hurting a bit and had a bad blister on left big toe. Decided I could not make it through the Virginia roller coaster. Got the number of a shuttle from the guy met last night.

Packed up, topped water and headed out at 8:53.

Hiked 3 miles and found a nice rock to take a rest on with 2 base service. Started calling shuttles. Third call with no luck. Finally the guy that I got the number from last night texted me. He had a change in plans can could pick me up at Ashby gap in about 90 minutes If I could be there. I booked the last 2.4 miles to Rt 50 Ashby gap. Waited bout 45 minutes for driver.

Great guy who drove me to Bear’s Den at about 1:45. 540-830-5778

I picked up my truck and drove home. Got home about 4:00.

Did not see another person all morning.

If not for the blister, I could have hiked the final 3 miles north to the shelter, but my feet would have been really hurting. The thought of 10 miles the following day through heavy rocks in the roller coaster was a no-go.

Pack was ok, but I think I need a fundamentally different style. Won’t make any changes until I loose a lot more weight however.

Technical Notes:

• Water liters: 2
• Miles: 4.6
• Time: 4:0
• Elevation gain: 560
• Elevation descent: ??
• Calories consumed: ??
• Calories burned: ??

Tuesday July 18, 2023. Mostly sunny, 87 degrees, humid.

Woke about 7:00. Had a cold breakfast, cleaned up, broke camp and headed north at 8:40. Left foot and calf hurt a but in the morning.

Mike’s recovery mix (256 cal) Honey Stinger (150 cal), Justins Nut Butter (200 cal).

Hiked 5.5 miles to Manassas Gap shelter. Stopped for an hour and had lunch. Took a good break with shoes off and stretched feet.

1/4 pepperoni (175 cal), trail mix (140 cal)

Topped off water at spring. Great flow.

Met a guy my age also headed north. He stopped for water. Hiked about 2.5 miles north with him. Chatted a bit. Helped pass the time. Things got steep and I could not keep pace with him.

Hiked another 5.5 miles north to Whiskey Hollow shelter. Arrived at 4:00. Group of 15 kids there for an overnight camp. I decided to try the shelter as limited tent sites. Set up camp in the shelter and got water from creek. 

Mike’s Recovery Mix (256 cal)

Felt lonely and anxious. Very! Texted with Dana about it. 

Had a hot meal. Mountain House Mexican rice and chicken (660 cal), dehydrated sausage (220). Boiled 16oz for 4 minutes.

Guy my age on a section hike arrived about 6:00. Chatted for a while. He tented up on the road and then came back to the shelter to make dinner. Nice guy from Illinois. Talked a while before he went back to his tent. 

No cell connectivity. Texting sketchy. Old guy showed up around 8:45 and set up in shelter. I eventually took a xanax and tried to go to sleep.  Maybe fell asleep around 11:00. My damn pillow woke me up with a leak in the middle of the night. Need to contact the manufacturer.

Glad I sheltered. Thunderstorm and heavy rain in middle of night and early morning.

Technical Notes:

• Water liters: 3
• Miles: 10
• Time: 7:30
• Elevation gain: 2157
• Elevation descent: ??
• Calories consumed: ??
• Calories burned: ??

Monday July 17, 2023. Sunny, 89 degrees, very humid, smoky from Canadian fires.

We dropped off my truck at Bear’s Den parking lot and Pitcrew dropped me off in Front Royal on Rt 522 at 4:00pm. Hiked north 5.46 miles to the Denton shelter. Arrived about 6:40. Set up camp. Decent tent sites and a nice shelter.

Topped off water at spring. Slow flow but not too bad.

The local ridge runner was camping there. Had a good conversation with him. A father and son showed up later. 

Had a late lunch at 3:00, so had a light cold dinner. Mike’s recovery mix (256 cal) Hone Stinger (150 cal), Justins Nut Butter (200 cal) and M&Ms (170 cal).

Went to bed about 9:30. It was very humid in the tent. No way I could sleep. Took a muscle relaxer, partially removed the rain fly to get air, and messed on iphone till real late. Got to sleep around midnight. So-so sleep.

Had a bit of anxiety that night again. Same old thing…isolated, limited connectivity, etc.

Technical Notes:

• Water liters: 1
• Miles: 5.46
• Time: 2:40
• Elevation gain: 1000
• Elevation descent: ??
• Calories consumed: ??
• Calories burned: ??