Swiftrun Gap to Stealth Camp

Swiftrun Gap to Stealth Camp
Day 13 - Saturday, April 11, 2015
15.3 miles

We had breakfast at McDonald’s and took biscuits with us for lunch.  We were on the trail by 8:00.  The sun was shining it was a little windy and cool. We still had no views in spite of that though because we walked through forest most of the day.  The trail did not cross Skyline Drive all day until we reached Milam Gap.

Unlike most sections of the trail, there is no water in this area other than what is indicated in the book.  We missed Bearfence Hut and spring for some reason so we had to go over Bearfence Mountain, then Hazeltop Mountain, then on past Milam Gap to get water.  We reached the spring at 5:00 after 9 hours of hiking.  That means we hiked 15.3 miles today instead of the intended 12.5. 

We met lots of weekend hikers going south into the section we just finished.  I can understand why since it had lots of really easy ups and downs. 

hung our hammocks on a hill above the spring.  We saw 2 deer pass by our camp around 6:00. An owl roosted and hooted in a tree right over our heads in the middle of the night.  Also in the middle of the night, we heard a bear or two around our food bag hung in a tree.  Wait-up shined his light a couple of times during the night and they left then came back. 

The temperature was in the mid-30’s.  My hammock was pretty comfortable, but Wait-up had trouble with his sleeping pad slipping down inside his hammock so he didn’t sleep well. 

We finally made it through the night, got up around 6:00 and were on the trail by 7:30. 

 

Pinefield Hut to Swiftrun Gap

Pinefield Hut to Swiftrun Gap
Day 12 - Friday, April 10, 2015
11.6 miles

Started hiking at 8:00.  At 2:15 we reached Swiftrun Gap and our car.  We were very tired.  Hightop Mountain was very challenging going from 2600 feet at Simith Roach Gap to 3587 fee in elevation. 

We spent the night at Country View Motel in Elkton for $70.  It was ok, nothing extra special.  It was clean, but needed new sheets and blankets – they were pretty thin. 

 

Blackrock Hut to Pinefield Hut

Blackrock Hut to Pinefield Hut
Day 11 - Thursday, April 9, 2015
13.2 miles

Again, it has been cloudy and very foggy all day, blocking our view of the valleys below us.  But it was easy walking today, so that made it very nice. 

We were at Pinefield Hut by 4:30.  There we met Hard Rock, who was hiking from Damascus to Massachusetts to visit family, Cole or Loch-Ness, who was hiking south and trying to finish his thru-hike by August.  Later that night a night hiker came in. He was from Chicago. 

The mice in the shelter played with my sleeping mat bag all night and the next morning I found a nut in my boot. 
 

Jarmin Gap to Blackrock Hut

Jarmin Gap to Blackrock Hut
Day 10 - Wednesday, April 8, 2015
12 miles

Took a zero day yesterday in Waynesboro at Comfort Inn.  This morning refreshed and ready to go again. 

This morning, we drove the car to Swiftrun Gap where Kathy picked us up and drove us to Jarman Gap.  This time we headed north at 9:20 a.m.

It was cloudy and rainy so, therefore, we had very few views from the mountaintops.  Unfortunately it was this way for most of Shenandoah National Park.  We missed seeing the beauty around  us as we traveled through the park.  The trail ran through the forest adjacent to the  Blue Ridge Parkway most of the day .  It was easy ups and downs, with the hardest part of the day being at the end going up from Blackrock Gap to Blackrock Hut.   We were there by 4:00.

When we arrived at the shelter there was a single man there along with a father-daughter team.  Later in the evening a family of 5 came in, making the shelter pretty crowded.  Fortunately, the everyone was pretty quiet through the night.  We slept in the loft area and were up at 7 the next morning.