June 4th Mile 845- Another day over, another 15 miles down. 13 days till Harper Ferry, WV.
The only consistent thing on the trail is that nothing is consistent. Our change of elevation chart showed an easy day today which was a relief from yesterday's monster decent down The Priest and climb up Three Ridge Mountain. Our hike today was full of rock falls which not only slows you down, but hurts your feet after 10 hours. Yesterday it was our legs that were hurting. Maybe this is why some stay on the trail and why others go home. We have really lucked out weather wise lately. After that cold front came through and decreased the humidity, we have had clear skies and cool mornings.
As we have been hiking through Virginia, I am reminded someone's life was here before me. Every few days we pass a hand laid stone wall that runs for miles up and down the mountains. I can't imagine the months and years it took to pick up and lay these rocks. I can understand having them in the valley, but these are on some steep inclines.
Two guys passed us wearing shirts that said "2011 Trash Tour". This is there second year hiking the trail and picking up trash along the way. Most of the trash you find out here is from campsites close to roads and the occasional wrapper that has fallen out of a hiker's bag. Tomorrow we get our permits for Shenandoah National Park and a good dinner in Waynesboro, VA.
Side note: Shadow and I are laying in our tent watching the bugs crawling on the outside of the fabric, trying to find a way in and listening to them fly by. It sounds like the Reno Air Races, insect style.