June 6 - Goading Rattlesnakes

Woo hoo!!!

Luna Moth

From PJ:

It's [the Luna Moth's] wing was torn, so it might be in trouble.

This is the third turtle I've seen. They always make me laugh because it seems like they are hiking the trail, too - just very slow.

Plus, we like to say that we are in "turtle mode" whenever we are moving slow.

I made this into the wallpaper in my phone.

***

A group of at least five helicopters just flew over me. Must be Burt Reynolds or something.

I'm only about 50 miles out of DC. Down in Georgia and North Carolina we would see a lot of military planes training.

***

I just finished a little snack. I'm pretty excited because in about 6 miles there is a pizza place so Patriot and I are gonna go there and pig out.

And tomorrow only doing about three miles into Harper's Ferry. Probably eat a bunch of food there, possibly go tubing if the weather holds up. I know there is a hurricane/tropical storm to the south of us. Beautiful weather today, though.

[Catania: When Pete and I watched this, Pete said, "I can tell PJ has been on the hike a while now - he is GOADING a rattlesnake!"]

From PJ:

Haha! I almost stepped on him. He didn't rattle until the last second. I may have used a "sentence enhancer"...as dad likes to call it.

Circle of Life

It stunk bad.

Worse than I do.

I always want to pick up the turtles and bring them with me, but we try to let nature be out here, maaaaan. {peace sign emoji, peace sign emoji, peace sign emoji}

June 5 - In VA

From PJ:

The Proclaimers can kiss my grits.

[Catania - I think that PJ is referring to this post.]

This is an old picture, but I don't think I sent it to you.

June 3 - Turtle Power

Leave Me Alone

Bear count is up to 11. The two I saw today didn't want to be photographed.

June 2 - The Byrd's Nest (or something like that)

From PJ:

[The bear from last night] never came back. I'd be in trouble if a bear attacked me in my sleeping bag. It's mummy style and takes forever for me to get out of.

Not snow - just dirt.

I'm sleeping in a shelter tonight for only the third time on the trip. Been raining steady for a while now. I'm at the Byrd's nest or something like that. No bears today...yet.

Don't feel like dealing with wet gear.

I'm more worried about the mice in a shelter than the bears.

There's a dog in here which is good for keeping away critters. Fireplace, too.

I got a ride to breakfast...

June 1 - Big Meadows Campground

From PJ:

[Those videos] are from yesterday. Saw one more big one after that. Although that could have been a squatch.

Snail

From PJ:

Only wildlife today so far.

He looks like he outgrew his home

Another Bear Sighting

This one was pretty big. We scoped each other out, and then he ran off.

Dude Crew

We are in bear country for real. Patriot and I just set up camp in a very popular area - Big Meadows Campground. Technically we are not on the campground because it costs 20 bucks, so we just set up on the other side of the road in the woods a bit. We got camp set up and were just hanging out when I saw a black bear about 10 yards away. Just casually walking towards us. He walked off when I yelled at him, but I figured he wanted to check out the dumpsters about 200 yards behind us.

There are also tons of deer around here that could care less about humans. The Shenandoahs are awesome because it is a really touristy area, so every 20 miles or so there is a wayside (restaurant) or camp store. I sold out today and did laundry and took a hot shower. It was glorious.The showers were actually really nice, I came out feeling like a new person.

Also the terrain and elevation are really easy. I was able to get in 20 miles today by 4 o'clock, then eat, shower, do laundry, charge my anker and phone before bed. 

May 31 - BEARS!!!

From PJ:

[Catania said: AHHHHH!]

I'm in VA for another week. I saw the first bear cub when I was on a side trail. He seemed a little curious about me and took a couple of steps towards me but backed off when I yelled at him. I took a few more steps and didn't even see the mom right in front of me. I was within 15 ft of both of them. 

I went to the loft Mt. Wayside to eat lunch. Burger and fries. Came back with a girl who was waiting for me because she saw the bears, too and didn't want to walk back alone. When we got back, I saw three and then four bears! They couldn't care less about me, the mom especially.

The mom was just in the stream looking for fish or bugs. There was one cub who walked towards me again, probably the first one I saw but they weren't scary at all.

One was climbing a tree, which was pretty funny.

It was awesome. Right next to the road, too. But it really wasn't that scary. They quickly accepted me as one of their own.

[Catania: Maybe it's because of your scent...when's the last time you showered? ;) ]

Its been 9 days or so. I could have showered today, but I'm not a sissyboy.

Might as well poop on the toilet.

[Catania: Rex just told me he wants you to catch the baby bear and bring it to him so he can tame it.]

I'll try to capture one for him. These cubs were pretty big, though. Probably a year. Over 100 lbs.

***

Up to seven bears for the day. Also passed 900 miles.

May 28 - Living Like Kings

From PJ:

Patriot's friends from home are hiking with us, so we had marinated chicken and roasted potatoes last night. Today I left before everyone and already hit trail magic this morning. Now someone just told me there is trail magic half a mile ahead. Tonight we will have steaks for dinner. Living like kings out here.

And only hiking 16 miles today!

Taking a break at Cedar Cliffs. Mile 846.5

We did a 3,000 ft climb yesterday and that was a challenge. Took a while with a lot of people.

***

Only one snake today.

One of the craziest things about hiking so much is your calorie intake becomes very important. I've been trying to eat 500 calories for breakfast and lunch (each) which can be tough when you're carrying food for a week or more. Also been drinking over a gallon of water most days. Today was awesome, but an aberration. Trail magic definitely thins out the further north you go. Usually very hard not to run a calorie deficit.

It's weird how routine everything has become. I can't say I sleep great out here, but I do enjoy just laying down after hiking all day. I can lay in the grass with bugs crawling on me and still be comfortable.

***

Tomorrow we hit the Shenandoah's. The trail is supposed to be relatively easy through there. A good thing about the touristy areas is that the trails are usually a little easier. Still some climbing, but the terrain is usually much easier than normal.

Also there are little stores and restaurants right off the trail there.

We're really exicted to be getting into the 900s and of course 1000. Every 100 mile marker is a big mental boost, but 1,000 will be huge. Also should be out of Virginia in a little over a week.

Still taking it easy this weekend, but on Tuesday will pick up the miles. 20 mile days will be relatively easy in the Shenandoahs.

West VA and Maryland will be really quick. Some people try to do 4 states in a day. Camp at the edge of VA and hike to the southern edge of PA - 40 miles or so. Not me, though. I plan on stopping in at Harper's Ferry. I'm not gonna stay at the hostel tomorrow. I got a ride in town to resupply, but will come right back out.

I'm excited [about seeing family in PA], too. Still haven't taken a true zero day. A couple short ones, but it will be nice to rest. And eat!

I might go a hundred or so miles into PA before I meet with mom, hopefuly Clyde Miller will do a little section of the AT with me. He'd love it!

There are a good amount of dogs out here which is fun. The day we had the hound dogs it was pretty cool to have hiking companions. I think that Clyde would be fine hiking on the AT, but I'm not sure about camping. He's a foo-foo.