Pay attention! The Jungle
June 9, 1981 Gravel Springs Hut to Linden Va. camp in yard
I left early and ended up doing 20½ miles for the day. It was an easy hike down mountain out of the Shenandoah
National Park. Then I hit the jungle and it was a real pain. It was five miles of tall grass and grown up woods. There
were ticks everywhere. I walked passed a breeding ground for rare animals. I saw a lot of zebras, one camel, an
ostrich, etc. Took a picture of a sign which said to stay on the trail or “Violators will be eaten” I made it into Linden
since the shelter I had planned to stay had been burned down. I saw the biggest black snake today that I have ever
seen. It was at least seven foot long. It was stretched out across the road and I went to get it out with a stick I picked
up and the thing got mad and coiled up at me and started to hiss. Boy was that serpent big!! I called mom and dad in
Linden, and then set up my tent in a homeowner’s yard across from the post office. I’ll get mail in the a.m.
June 10, 1981 Camp in yard Linden Va. to Camp in house under construction
It rained all night. I got my mail at 8:15 a.m. I left Linden at 9:30 a.m. This was a miserable day of walking. It
rained on and off all day. At least now it is warmer rain. I just could not make it to a shelter. I was on a paved
road walking all of this day. It wasn't very nice. I walked to almost dark and went over hill to ask permission to camp
since there are no trespassing sings all over the place. I found a house being built over that hill that was completed
enough to have a roof on it. That is where I stayed. I slept without permission since there was no one around. I
could not help it. Eric McCloud who I met in Linden the day before stayed here too.
June 11, 1981 - House under construction camp to Key’s Gap Shelter-
Eric and I got up early and left the partially completed house by 6:00 a.m. I did not want to meet anyone coming to
work on the house. I made good time on the road in which I had to walk. This was an easy day of walking since on
the road there weren’t any sudden or steep elevation changes. I got to Key's Gap shelter at 4.45 p.m. I found out
that there was a store just over the hill from here and I went down there and pigged out for supper. I spent $4.50 and
most of it was junk food. Hog Heaven! Harper’s Ferry here I come!!! 20.3 mi1es today.
I left early and ended up doing 20½ miles for the day. It was an easy hike down mountain out of the Shenandoah
National Park. Then I hit the jungle and it was a real pain. It was five miles of tall grass and grown up woods. There
were ticks everywhere. I walked passed a breeding ground for rare animals. I saw a lot of zebras, one camel, an
ostrich, etc. Took a picture of a sign which said to stay on the trail or “Violators will be eaten” I made it into Linden
since the shelter I had planned to stay had been burned down. I saw the biggest black snake today that I have ever
seen. It was at least seven foot long. It was stretched out across the road and I went to get it out with a stick I picked
up and the thing got mad and coiled up at me and started to hiss. Boy was that serpent big!! I called mom and dad in
Linden, and then set up my tent in a homeowner’s yard across from the post office. I’ll get mail in the a.m.
June 10, 1981 Camp in yard Linden Va. to Camp in house under construction
It rained all night. I got my mail at 8:15 a.m. I left Linden at 9:30 a.m. This was a miserable day of walking. It
rained on and off all day. At least now it is warmer rain. I just could not make it to a shelter. I was on a paved
road walking all of this day. It wasn't very nice. I walked to almost dark and went over hill to ask permission to camp
since there are no trespassing sings all over the place. I found a house being built over that hill that was completed
enough to have a roof on it. That is where I stayed. I slept without permission since there was no one around. I
could not help it. Eric McCloud who I met in Linden the day before stayed here too.
June 11, 1981 - House under construction camp to Key’s Gap Shelter-
Eric and I got up early and left the partially completed house by 6:00 a.m. I did not want to meet anyone coming to
work on the house. I made good time on the road in which I had to walk. This was an easy day of walking since on
the road there weren’t any sudden or steep elevation changes. I got to Key's Gap shelter at 4.45 p.m. I found out
that there was a store just over the hill from here and I went down there and pigged out for supper. I spent $4.50 and
most of it was junk food. Hog Heaven! Harper’s Ferry here I come!!! 20.3 mi1es today.
Mike Meets Another Hiker
June 12, 1981 -Key’s Gap Shelter to Harper’s Ferry W.Va.-
I left shelter at six a.m. and got to route 340 at 8:55 a.m. Started to hitch hike into town and the first car by picked
me up. It was a lady who worked at the A.T.C. headquarters in Harpers Ferry. She took me to there since that was
where I was going any way. The A.T.C. took my picture and I bought my solid bronze belt buckle that I would have
them send me in Monson Maine. I will carry this belt buckle the last 100 miles of this trip. I will not put it on until I get
up on top Katahdin!!! I also bought the 81 data book for the A.T. and looked around for awhile. At 11:30 a.m. I left
the A.T. headquarters and went to eat at a sub shop close by and then went to get my mail at post office. I got one
letter from chief. Wrote him back and mailed it and decided to go get a coke to drink. Whi1e walking down the main
street of town I saw mom and dad coming up road. I started hitch hiking to them and they drove right by me. They
did not even recognize me. I hollered at them as they passed me and they then stopped. My dad had told mom not
to stop. He said, "Don’t stop. The nut might think your going to pick him up.” We had planned to meet here in
Harper's Ferry at this time. I thought that they would recognize me but I have lost 25 pounds and I now have a
beard. We got together and went to Winchester Va, 30 miles away to get an inexpensive motel. We got a nice room
for 19 dollars a night for all three of us. We ate dinner in a Dutch restaurant for supper. It was very nice. We had a
very nice waitress who was interested in the trail also. “ a nice evening of visiting.”
I left shelter at six a.m. and got to route 340 at 8:55 a.m. Started to hitch hike into town and the first car by picked
me up. It was a lady who worked at the A.T.C. headquarters in Harpers Ferry. She took me to there since that was
where I was going any way. The A.T.C. took my picture and I bought my solid bronze belt buckle that I would have
them send me in Monson Maine. I will carry this belt buckle the last 100 miles of this trip. I will not put it on until I get
up on top Katahdin!!! I also bought the 81 data book for the A.T. and looked around for awhile. At 11:30 a.m. I left
the A.T. headquarters and went to eat at a sub shop close by and then went to get my mail at post office. I got one
letter from chief. Wrote him back and mailed it and decided to go get a coke to drink. Whi1e walking down the main
street of town I saw mom and dad coming up road. I started hitch hiking to them and they drove right by me. They
did not even recognize me. I hollered at them as they passed me and they then stopped. My dad had told mom not
to stop. He said, "Don’t stop. The nut might think your going to pick him up.” We had planned to meet here in
Harper's Ferry at this time. I thought that they would recognize me but I have lost 25 pounds and I now have a
beard. We got together and went to Winchester Va, 30 miles away to get an inexpensive motel. We got a nice room
for 19 dollars a night for all three of us. We ate dinner in a Dutch restaurant for supper. It was very nice. We had a
very nice waitress who was interested in the trail also. “ a nice evening of visiting.”
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