- Bears Den Hostel (1005.9) to Snickers Gap (1006.5)
- 23 feet rise, 333 feet of descent
The Concuse hit with an adrenaline shake this morning. This is all. I was linking 1975 with 2025. When I went out to Snickers Gap today, the impossible would be history. For fifty years, I had a gap in my life called Virginia. For lunch, the GSP will fill. It is the beginning of the end.
Filling the void was more agitated than I expected to be. I anticipated being wet, but I did not anticipate weeks of flooding. I hoped to be cold but did not expect temperatures in the years in May. I knew it would be hot, but I did not expect weeks of hiking in temperatures in the 90s and 100. Linking my life in half a century showed me as much as my world, I have changed.
Champions breakfast
The top floor of the Bears lair opens at 7 am hikers are invited to enjoy everything you can eat, make your own pancakes.
While we climbed the stairs to the kitchen, we were received by the expectant dog of the great Pyrenees. They assured us that he was never allowed to eat food from hikers, but clearly expected that rule to change. It was an affable Mooch.
The historian was anxious for his fatty, sugar and refined carbohydrate festival, but it really took the idea. While cooking pancakes for him, my eyes fell on a community can of black beans. Bingo!
I put a large pancake in front of the historian and a large cup of black beans coffee in front of me. We were both delighted with our breakfast.
In Snikers Gap
We make our packages and a fluttering heart, we undertook our walk of .6 miles to gap snakes. We made many jokes about whether there would be a climb or not. The historian decreed that he would not go uphill. He was only willing to go downhill to the gap. When we approached a slight ascent, he shouted: «That’s all. I don’t go further!»
We both laugh and continue. We stopped to enjoy the beautiful views of the Piedmont under the rock hills of Bears Den. Seeing the land of the earth down to the Tje Potomac River was a bit heartbreaking. We were reaching the end of the mountains at this end of the Trail of the Apalaches when we reached the end of this massive effort to walk through Virginia.
Giggin gap
We arrived at the bus bus in snickers gap. The historian asked me if he seemed to remember him and could only say that one of the small side roads of the gap seemed vaguely familiar.
After we enthusiastically take photos on the Snickers GAP sign, we wait for our ferry driver. He arrived as scheduled and we went to Harpers Ferry. I had been transferring to hikers for many years and could fill some of the gaps in my memory.
In 1975, the distance between Snickers GAP and Harpers Ferry included a 13 -mile walk on the road. I remembered having done that. He had even told the historian, in a collection call or letter about walking along the border of Maryland in one day. Ed Garvey had left me at Snickers Gap encouraged me to walk Maryland that day. The connection was made.
Harpers ferry
In recent years I have worked with a health coach. Until now, our monthly meetings while they were on the road were by email. Shortly after arriving at Hideoway Hideaway shelter, I was able to videoconferencing with my health coach. It was lovely to see her. She was encouraging and proud of our effort. His statement was more fuel for burned fire inside us.
After the videoconference, we walked to the Trail Apalaches Conservation Office. We had two goals. First, I wanted to get my photo for ATC records. Secondly, we had decided to buy at Tee Shirts to travel to New England.
After our visit to the ATC, we stopped at the Bolivar Breead bakery and fell head first in the fragrant sour mass breads. We buy two breads and two brownies together with butter and a little cheese. All this trip we have the most anxious fresh bread. This was the best of bread. Our next stop was in the Supermarket of the Apalaches, which specializes in organic local foods. We bought arugula and fruit.
Next steps
After finishing our tasks at the midpoint and filling our bellies, we put business to solve our trip to New England.
I have two short pieces of path to finish the AT. First it was a section of the AT between Hanover and Glencliff, NH. I had omitted it in 1975 to make sure the historian, who was visiting me for a couple of weeks, could walk in the whites. The second section was within the limits of the Baxter State Park. Since I was there in November in 1975, I could not enter the park.
In total, I have less than 50 miles to finish.
Organization of New England segments
We lived in Hanover for a couple of years in the 1990s. We made part of the section between Hanover and Glencliff then. Also during that time, the historian became friends and became commercial partners with an antique dealership. Over the years, his friendship deepened the brotherhood.
Our next step is to get to the house of our friends to relax, put weight to the historian and finish the section near his home in the Hanover area.
Originally we plan to drive from Harpers Ferry to your home. After a reflexive evaluation of how tired we are, we decided not to drive.
There is a train from Harpers Ferry to Washongton, DC, where we can connect to the Vonmontrak train to a city near our friends. Click the «Purchase» button of the train ticket was remarkably confusing.
Although it is possible to take the train in a day, the DC connection was only 30 minutes at peak time. We decided to spend the night in DC instead of risking the vonmont.
Fortunately, we know DC well of years of work there. I was able to locate and book a hotel inside a Union Station block. We even got a very good rate since it was Friday night, a time when companies of companies are often scarcely populated.
Dinner and dream
Decisions taken, we were exhausted. Walking this morning, an hour of transport of an hour, our visit of ATC, purchases and then make reserves of trains and hotels, was stressful. So many decisions and transitions in a day! Our most difficult options are usually which of our dehydrated dinners we must eat (the heaviest, of course!).
We were starting to think about dinner when food delivery arrived. Someone ordered a few thousand pounds of Kentucky fried chicken. All in the shelter were invited to participate. We enjoy the fried chicken and head to bed. All in our room in the shelter were over 40 years old, so we were all in bed at 8:30 pm
We will need a good night. Tomorrow is the beginning of the end.
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