3
Sunday, July 25, 2004 -Tom Floyd Wayside Shelter to Gravel Springs Hut
I did make it to Gravel Springs Hut, 10.5 miles today. I saw five deer, one was 15 feet away. I walked in rain and wet
weather all day. This shelter seems different from the time I was here last. I met Freddy Bear at this hut for the first
time.
Monday, July 26, 2004 - Gravel Springs Hut to Pass Mountain Hut
I made it to Pass Mountain Shelter, 13.2 miles. It rained all day and was foggy. I saw 15 deer today and two were big
bucks, 8 and an 11 pointer, 240 pounds each. Tonight Craig and Greg and Steve are here. They are from Ohio and
hiking the Shenandoah National Park together.
Tuesday, July 27, 2004 - Pass Mountain Hut Shelter to Rock Springs Hut
It rained all day again. I left Pass Mt. Shelter at 6:45 a.m. It was a hard day of hiking, 15.3 miles into Rock Spring
Cabin. The spring has a big rock under it. The shelter is really full, nine or so. We had deer around the shelter all
night. Near the shelter was a pretty boxed in spring and a nice campsite. I met Grettle, a thru-hiker north bound near
the shelter today. I stopped at Sky Land restaurant with Freddy Bear and we had an excellent meal there. I had a
Philly cheese steak sub, coffee, Ice cream, Blackberry, which was homemade. Man was it good. I called Virginia
before leaving. We got some views for a while today for the first time in days.
Wednesday, July 28, 2004 - Rock Springs Hut to Bearfence Mountain Hut
I was up at 5:30 a.m. and left the shelter at 6:30 a.m. There are deer everywhere. I am not sleeping very well with
the foam solid pad I am using. I will try and buy a Thermorest in Waynesboro or have my old one sent to me later. I
am taking a break on a log two miles from shelter. It is a beautiful day, sunny at last and it feels good to be sitting in
the sun. I stopped in at Big Meadows this morning and took a shower and did my laundry. Everything I have is dry
and clean for a change. 12:37 p.m. I made it to Bear fence Shelter at around 2p.m. I made ramin noodles with some
precooked hamburger which was given to me by one of the Ohio boys last night. The hamburger was real and good
but not real good. The spring here needed cleaning out and after it settled I filled my water bottles. 3:30 p.m. and I
am still by myself here. It is still a beautiful day. The weather should be fine for the next two or three days. My boots
are drying in the shelter and socks are on the roof sunning too. I did not eat at Big Meadows today so I got here
ahead of all the others. I need to resupply a little tomorrow to get me down the trail, however, I don’t need much. I
drank my first Diet Pepsi today while doing laundry since I left Harper’s Ferry. Wash was a dollar and dry was 25
cents for ten minutes. I bought laundry detergent for $1.25 and left unused at hiker box for Triumph and Freddy
Bear.
Thursday, July 29, 2004 - Bearfence Mountain Hut to Hightop Hut
I saw a bear today! It was a nice sunny day to hike with a lot of fine views. Hightop Mountain was a long one but well
worth it. There was a nice boxed in spring on top and would have made a nice camp spot but we stayed in the
shelter .6 mile down. The Ohio three go home tomorrow. This is our last night together. Craig, Steve, and Greg are
from Ohio and have been feeding me and Freddy Bear all week with all of their extra food.
Friday, July 30, 2004 - Hightop Hut to Pinefield Hut
I left Hightop Hut at 6:30 a.m. and saw two deer and another cub bear soon after. I walked in fog and wind all day
and it cleared a little by the time we got to the next shelter. Pinefield Hut is a nice area. It hat two streams coming
together over the hill and is clean inside. Freddy Bear and I walked the Ohio three back up to parkway which was .3
miles up and we sat with them until the ride came to take them back to their car. Steve called the people last night
on a cell phone and asked if they could bring some hamburgers for Freddy and me. They brought 4 hamburgers, 4
chillys, 10 snickers bars, cokes and Gatorades, bananas, Wow, what trail magic. Trail magic is alive and well on the
A.T. I tried to pay them for it and they refused. They were real nice people. They plan to open a hostile in and
around Staunton Va. soon. Don was the man’s name which will be mentioned later in my journal in Stratton Maine.
Saturday, July 31, 2004 - Pinefield Hut to Blackrock Hut
I am in for the night after 13 miles from Pine field Hut. I saw a bear cub early in the hike. Freddy Bear and I are still
hiking near each other and staying at the same shelters. I stopped at Loft Mountain and bought some food and
took a shower. I picked up a new map of Waynesboro at a shelter so when I get there I will know how to get around.
It would be nice if all shelters would have a map of the nearest town up on the wall so we could make plans. I will
probably stay at the Y.M.C.A. in town. You can camp there for free for two nights and take a shower for $2.00. I
found some puff ball mushrooms today and cooked them with some sausage I bought at Loft Mountain. Man was it
good. I have eaten puff balls a lot over the years and am comfortable in eating them. No samplers at the shelter
though. They thought I was eating something that would kill me. Ha. Ha. As I write this I am still alive will no ill effect.
On to Calf Mountain tomorrow. I am smoking a cigar here to keep the mosquitoes from bugging me. I found a nice
Pur water filter at the spring at this shelter. This is Black rock Hut. We met Neon, a thru-hiker at this shelter. I never
did find the owner of the water filter.