Mastodawn

September 14, 2013: it was a chilly morning, but the first climb warmed me up. From there it was mostly downhill to Rockfish Gap. The visitors center had a number for a hostel, but they were closed for the season. They also had a list of numbers to call for a ride into town, so I did. I did a lot of chores, eating, resupplying, haircut, more eating, shower, and getting some hi-vis orange for hunting season.
After that action packed afternoon I went to the hiker campsite in town for the evening.

#AppalachianTrail #ThruHike #hiking #sobo #AT #Virginia #ShenandoahNationalPark #outdoors #AppalachianTrail2013 #at2013

hambitious Sep 16

September 13, 2013: Another day in Shenandoah National Park. Not much exciting happened, though I did see four more bears. I should exit the park tomorrow. A cold front seems to have moved in, so the hiking is a lot more pleasant. Hopefully the hot summer days are done.

#AppalachianTrail #ThruHike #hiking #AT #sobo #Virginia #AppalachianTrail2013 #ShenandoahNationalPark #outdoors #SkylineDrive #forest

hambitious Sep 15

September 12, 2013: More easy trail today. Shenandoah really is a pleasant walk. I got a snack at a wayside, enjoyed views, and, in the afternoon, skipped since viewpoints drive I could hear thunder.
A few section hikers stayed at the shelter, and they had quite a bit of alcohol. Made the evening much more fun.

#AppalachianTrail #ThruHike #hiking #sobo #deer #AppalachianTrail2013 #Virginia #AT #ShenandoahNationalPark #outdoors

hambitious Sep 15

September 11, 2013: I saw six bears today. As I was walking, shortly after leaving the shelter, I heard a rustling in a tree nearby. I assumed it was just a squirrel until I heard a branch break. Squirrels don't break branches. There was a bear up in a tree. I watched him until he climbed down and ambled away. The second bear was also up in a tree. Three and four were on the ground. One was a small cub, and I tried to get a good picture. Wildlife photography is hard. Number five was running away as I saw it. This was all in the first hour of me leaving the shelter.
As it turns out, the bears in the national park are fearless.

#AppalachianTrail #thruHike #hiking #bear #AT #sobo #AppalachianTrail2013 #Virginia #at2013 #ShenandoahNationalPark #outdoors #blackBear

hambitious Sep 13

September 10, 2013: I forgot about a granola bar in the lid of my pack, and some mice nibbled through and ate it. Some duck tape fixed it well enough for now.
I got to the next picnic area around lunch time, but there was no one to try and get leftovers from. Oh well. There were some nice views today, which was a nice change.
There was a deer munching at the shelter when I arrived, and it didn't seem to care that I was there. The animals in the park are fearless.

#AppalachianTrail #ThruHike #hiking #sobo #AT #Virginia #ShenandoahNationalPark #AppalachianTrail2013 #outdoors #at2013

hambitious Sep 12

September 9, 2013: The Sun has been rising later, so I haven't been getting up as early. Once I did leave today, I got to the Shenandoah National Park entrance quickly, and filled out my permit. The trail was pretty easy, and it was close to Skyline Drive most of the day. I stopped at a wayside for second lunch, and caught a ranger talk about bears. Not as many weekenders at the shelter as I expected though.

#AppalachianTrail #thruHike #hiking #sobo #Virginia #shenandoahNationalPark #AT #AppalachianTrail2013 #at2013 #outdoors