Day 90 – Keys Gap to Crampton Gap shelter 

“Homeward bound

I wish I was

Homeward bound

Home where my thoughts are escapin’

Home where my music is playin’

Home where my love lies waitin’

Silently for me” – Simon snd Garfunkel 

Up at 6:30. Had a decent breakfast at the hotel. Moving a little slow this morning. Got packed and loaded into the car by 7:45. Dana drove us back to Keys Gap for our 5-mile trek down into Harper’s Ferry. Will see her again on Sunday briefly before moving north into Pennsylvania.

On trail at 8:10… mid-70s, overcast, no breeze. Going up to mid-80s with a chance of rain all day. 

Stopped for a quick break at 9:10 and 2.5 miles in. 

Crossed the Shenandoah into Harper’s Ferry about 11:00 on Route 340

We got to the ATC visitor center in Harper’s Ferry at 11:00. Got our official pictures take. And added to the yearbook. I am a thru-hiker number 1155 in the 2024 yearbook. Got a soda and a snack, topped off my water, and chatted with the staff for a while. Back on trail at 12:00.

Crossed the Potomac on the railroad bridge. I was playing tour guide.

Took the C&O canal tow path out of Harper’s Ferry and crossed Route 340 again.

Stopped at 1:00 for lunch where the AT heads off the tow path.  Passed under Route 340 for a third time.

Got to Weaverton Cliffs at 2:15. Nice view from the cliffs up to Harper’s Ferry where we just came from.

It has been drizzling for the past hour or so. Humidity has gotten really bad even though the temps are only in the mid-80s. Ick.

Stopped at Ed Garvey shelter at 3:40 for a break and to plan the rest of today and tomorrow. We are going to Crampton Gap tonight. 4.1 more miles. 

Made it to Gathland State Park at 5:30. Used the facilities and filled up on good potable water. I know this area well as I park my truck here and hike about twice a month. The shelter and tent sites are just .4 miles downhill from here. I have 3 bars of cell here but doubt I’ll have any at the shelter if memory serves me. 

Loaded up with 4 liters of water as there is none at the shelter and hiked the .3 miles to Crampton Gap Shelter at 6:15. We are the only ones at the shelter so far. Camp all set up and starting dinner at 7:00. 2 bars cell service. We may get some rain before midnight and then lots of wind until 7:00 a.m. 

Good weather most of the day and easy trails. My back issues were the real limiting factor on us only doing 17.3 instead of 22 miles. We will shoot for 20 tomorrow and 18 the next day. 

It felt odd hiking back home today and thru-hiking on all the trails that I normally day hike on. And crossing so many roads that I drive on all the time. If only my back would stop hurting we could really be moving and having a good time.

Settled into bed about 9:00. Alarm set for 5:30.

Technical Notes:

• OJ 130
• Coffee w creamer x2 50
• Breakfast Sausage 600
• Eggs 176
• Skittles 55
• Root beer 160
• Candy 90
• Crackers 230
• Beef stick 120
• Beef stick 120
• Skittles 55
• Cookies 150
• Misc 200
• Dehydrated chicken 170
• Mountain House rice n chicken 540
• Water liters 3
• Miles 17.3
• Time 9
• Elevation gain 
• Calories consumed 2900
• Calories burned 6750