Pursued by a storm – The walk

Day 74-14 Miles Today from Bears Den Hostel to Keys Gap (Stoneybrook Inn) 2,500 feet high, 2,900 feet down, total 1,095 to miles

I want this trip

Five miles at the end of the roller coaster. The Russian mountain is 14 miles long, 4,600 feet of elevation gain, 3,800 feet of falling on what I count like 11 peaks. Up and down, up and down, he tried to kill me yesterday, but he was not successful, almost.

Yesterday I pushed the miles and elevation. Not much beyond what I have done. I have strategically increased my miles and elevation. You may have reached my limit for now. I have some ankle pain after yesterday’s walk that did not explode up to a few hours on today’s walk.

Take the shelter

The bear’s shelter was a good stay yesterday. Last night I got just when a final downpour made me wet. For $ 10 more, I obtained a pizza, a pint by Cherry García de Ben & Jerry and a soda, a lot of worth it. I hoped to go to the brewery, but they were 3/4 in a mile in a way and there was no way that I was walking more. My feet were toast

«Bears Den was built in 1933 by local stone masons like a summer house for a Washington doctor. The house is designed after the European castles. The living room has acoustic characteristics for the wife of the original owner who was an operatic soprano. He had a box office at the door where visitors were 5 cents to access at the height of the fields and a company of the fields. due to septic problems. «

Renewed and ready to start?

Bears Den was completely oriented to the hiker. In the morning a very strong coffee was prepared. As part of your stay, you can make your own pancakes.

I could barely climb the steps last night. I was a little worried that I might have pressed it too much. That was the greatest elevation (4,600 feet) that I have made in a single day the greatest mileage from the Sam gap to 19 miles. The last time we made 19 miles we had two weeks of zeros. However, this morning, when I went to drink my coffee and pancakes, it tied it through the completely renewed steps. The Bears Den shelter was a great stay.

Go back to work

Today I had a late start at 8:30 am, it is not hot, but it is threatening to be hot with a rain of rain in the forecast.

My package is much lighter because I have been working on my food supplies and avoiding strong refueling. It seems that lately there are regular refueling options. Today’s goal is to get to Keys Gap and, hopefully, be collected for a trip and visit with the 12 tribes in Stony Brook Inn for the night.

New kicks

After crossing a busy road divided with four lanes

I did not find snickers in Snickers GAP. But I found Milkbone and Coolwhip that had just received some support from their warrior expedition.

They had changed their kicks for new shoes. It was good to see them again. I have not seen it in a couple of days.

So many steps!

Yesterday I recorded 33,000 steps. I just made the calculations and in a thousand miles that are approximately 1.7 million steps!

The path serpent up and down of some more hills of the roller coaster. There were some rocks that were a bit challenging. The path to Raven Rocks was obviously well traveled because sometimes it had 10 feet or more wide from all pedestrian traffic.

Living great

After several miles, once again I came across survivor, the high English type. A couple of days ago I saw a hammock created by a waterfall at noon. I suspected it was him and now he only confirmed that he really didn’t feel good yet and ended up stopping there in that waterfall. He settled and slept all day taking a zero in the waterfall. That is living great.

He is trying to enter Washington DC to see the city, but to do so he has to get to Harpers Ferry. It was still 18 miles away and I only had 7 hours to get on time to take the train. He is a machine when he walks, so he will probably arrive on time.

Finally the end

And then there it was. The last 400 feet climb of the roller coaster! It was just after leaving Virginia to Western Virginia.

I do not know what I am happier to finally leave Virginia or finally leave the roller coaster, or maybe both.

The storm

I was listening to an audiobook when I thought I had heard a rumbling noise. We have been in air traffic to approach DC for days and those similar rumbles that I have heard were aircraft.

This time it was different. It was a storm front that was approaching. I took my phone from airplane mode and fortunately I had a signal. I lifted the radar and an unpleasant storm cell was coming quickly. He had 1.9 miles to go to the next refuge. I was also approaching a higher point on the crest.

I collected the speed with the hope of reaching the shelter before the front hit.

As I approached Buzzard Rocks, the temperature fell 15 ° instantly. And the sky became dark black. It seems that dusk was approaching that he was so dark. I still had three quarters of mile to go. There was no way that it was on time.

I said a prayer that would reach the shelter before the storm front hit. I have to admit that I was a bit terrified.

I felt like Peter

Do not give up your faith in God

«But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, shouted: ‘Lord, save me!'» Mathew 14:30.

I started thinking about what the path has meant for me so far. And the lessons I have learned. And how much more he wanted from life. I still didn’t want to die.

There was no way that it was on time. I was definitely going to be caught at the highest point. This was an unpleasant storm. I was imagining the end for me.

I swear that the storm was divided and was starring in front of me and behind me, but was briefly retaining the crest on which we were running.

I was chasing Milkbone right in front of me who was also running ahead. We barely take refuge as soon as the rest of the storm collapsed around the north and south ends of the storm that had already advanced on the crest. Coolwhip was already inside.

Make plans

I had aligned before to be collected by the Stony Brook Inn 12 tribes in Keys Gap.

The storm hit us with lightning, heavy rains and strong winds. The shelter was one of the best shelters I’ve seen along the way. It even had a separate building with a picnic table and a swing.

I contemplated spending the night at the shelter when I received a phone call. It was the 12 tribes that came to me to make arrangements for my collection in Keys Gap.

The very kind people of Stony Brook called me and gave me the contact information to call Josiah when he was close to the gap. They returned little later to tell me that their meeting was at 6:00 pm and then the food was served. Milkbone and Coolwhip were listening to my conversation and shaking their heads. The rumors that the 12 tribes were a cult prevured along the way. Who would stay there?

Final thrust

I really wanted to get to the meeting to witness what all the rumors were. Then, after feeling that the storm’s front had continued enough, I decided to go to the road again. The path had become a stream.

In Keys Gap, Josiah picked me up from the Stoneybrook Inn. These are the 12 tribes. I had heard a lot about this place and wanted to see him for myself.

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