Calling all boneheads!! SNP HIKE

“Let's do it!!!!!

'32oz
last edited: 5/15/09 12:56:37 PM”

“This trip is nuts (A 41 mile day!), but if I am still unemployed, I'll consider it.”

“Heck the hike across MD was 42 miles....

Also I was basing the mileage around shelters, we can cut/add where needed...

In all honesty this may turn into a 3.5 day trip, but 3 days has a better ring to it!!!!

'32oz
last edited: 5/15/09 3:43:44 PM”

“If ever I slip a sedative into your drink, it's nothing personal.

You're making the rest of us look all slothy. ;)”

“Hey spindle.. just curious.. I got this weird idea tonight while attending my sons band concert...

A 2010 SNP Sadistic Slackpack.. 105 miles - 40 hours.. fully supported... what do you think?

I'll probably need 1 or 2 supporters and someone to hike through the night with me...

I'm thinking chowdahead and trailg8r would probably make a stab at it....

So what do ya think.. there would be something in it for you... like.... a cup of hot chocolate with ice cream topped with amaretto floating in it.. that or a world famous SNP Blackberry Milkshake.. lol

'32oz”

“smell the roses, bud.”

“I am, I do, and I will...

Just looking for another challenge....

You are more then welcomed to smell them with me...

'32oz”

“i'm the turtle, jack. ;) :D”

“When we were being shuttled to the start of the Hike Across Maryland, the guy in the seat opposite me was talking about a 100 miler that he had done in California.. He said that the hardest part of it was as he was approaching the second night. The race started at 6:00 pm.. he had hiked all night, all of the next day, and was about to enter his second sleepless night...

He said that the hardest part was trying to put that fact out of his mind... I'm just curiouis to see what the heck this is like... After ahile it is all mental.. just willing your body on....

'32oz”

“well, mostly mental.. your body may have it's own mind. if not now, it will.”

“You have an email..

'32oz”

“Be careful. Moving like that you won't see the rattlesnakes until they chomp down on your shins. Crazy man.”

“Spindle.. It's the 3rd person that gets nailed.. there's only 2 of us... (Or were you planning on coming?)

'32oz”

“I thought it was the second? First person pisses the snake off, second takes the bite?

Not this time. sooon, soon. Back to dayhiking this weekend. In a few weeks I'll renew my Bonehead membership. I hear it's only fiddy dollah ifn you have cleavage.

You're going to be in primo shape for Rainier, provided you don't damage yourself before then.”

“I am already damaged....

oh, you meant physically...

'32oz”

“Where can I get some of that cleavage?”

“Artifically..

http://www.zipperstop.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/bstenh01.htm

Naturally..

http://www.vortexhealth.com/thenaturalway.html

Good luck...


'32oz”

“I am off to meet up with Mocs.. I hope that you all have a great week!!!!!!!!!!!

'32oz”

“Got back at 1:00 AM this morning. We did the trip in 4 days, but I am still whipped. I should have my pics up shortly.”

“Ah watta hike!!!!!!!!!!!

Didn't quite crank the whole thing out in three days but it was still awesome..

Due to some change in logistics we had to hike north to south.. We got to Compton gap at 6:00 pm on monday night and set out for Gravel Spring hut. In the two and a half hours it took to hike the 7 miles we saw 8 bears, 6 deer, and 1 snake. Mocs snap a bunch of pictures of the bears...

We got to the hut before nine and set up our tents...

Tuesday was an early 7:00 AM start, and we spotted our first bear at 7:04. By 9:00 am we had cranked out the 6.5 miles to Elkwallow wayside, and we rewarded ourselves with a couple of egg and cheese sandwhiches, then it was back to the trail... We then made our may down to Thorton Gap before starting our ascent up to Mary's Rock. We got some great pictures there, as well as from Little Stony Man Cliffs. It was awesome weather as we made our way through my favorite section of the AT in SNP.

My hopes were to get to Hawksbill Summit, which at 4051 Ft is the highest point in SNP, but unfortunately by the time we got there the clouds were rolling in, so we didn't bother with the climb up to it. Instead, we got to the comforts of Rock Spring Hut at about 7:00 pm. Total miles - 28.

Wednesday we awoke to rain..... the same rain that had started at midnight, and would continue non stop for 28 hours... What should have been an awesome hike, just kind of fell appart.. we did manage to get down to Lewis Spring Falls, but other then that we just trudged on... We hit the Bearfence rock scramble in the middle of a torrential down pour, so instead of risking a fall, we stuck to the AT.. then after 21 miles of hiking, we hit RT33 and the 1200ft climb up to High Top. We got to the summit and headed down to the hut, only to find it occupied by a bunch of nice, yet totally unorganized section hikers.. After standing in the rain for 10 minutes waiting for them to organize their crap so that we could get into the hut, we got out of the rain...

The 24 miles in the rain had taken a toll on our feet. Mocs had blisters, and mine are still now twice their normal size. We bedded down to a lot of snoring and rain. the rain finally stopped at 4:00 am. but I really wasn't looking forward to the hike...

We started at 7:30 and were making pretty good time until we hit the blue blazed trail down to the Loft Moutain Wayside. Then sanity took over, and we escaped our sore feet for the compforts of Bacon Cheeseburgers, fries and black berry milkshakes. I also ran into some fellow members of the ODATC, out for a 9 day section hike of the same saction that we were covering in 4 days. Unlike us, they were staying in hotels and lodges.. How sweet in THAT?!?!?!?

After the wayside we headed to the Loft Mountain camp store so that I could replenish on Snickers and grab a beer.. Then it was on to my favorite place on the AT in SNP: the summit of Black Rock Mountain. I can't explain what it is about the place: the mound of boulders at the top: the incredible views, the fact that you can see all of the other awesome places that you have been and all of the awesome hikes you have taken.. but there is something about that spot that is just special... You walk around the top and there is about a 270 degree view... everytime I get up there, I am just in awe...

Afetr pausing up there to get some pictures we headed down to Black Rock Hut, were we found some space in the hut, as well at a Boy Scout Group of 28.. yeah that's right 28.... They set up tents everywhere... Total miles - 21

Friday we awoke and hit the trail early.. I had wanted to blue blaze onto the Riprap/Wildcat trail, but by now the wet shoes and socks had taken its toll and i wussed out on the additional mileage and climbs.. Instead, we stuck to the AT...

The southern-most 6 miles of the AT through Shenandoah are my least favorite.. It is rocky, there are few views, and the steep descent is interupted by equally steep ascents.. there is not one redeeming good quality about it, and although I had previously vowed never to do it again, we did it again.. the 5.8 miles takes forever, and it was an awesome feeling when Mocs truck came into view...

It was still a great hike, although I didn't get to take him on all of the blue blazed trails that I had hoped to.

Next time we will do a blue blazed trip to catch all of the good spots that you don't see while hikng the AT..

'32oz
last edited: 6/21/09 5:04:28 PM”

“Awesome trip report. I stayed at Rock Spring when it wasnt cloudy and you can watch an awesome sunset right from the shelter.

So, are you going to let yourself heal this time before you do something else?”

“Rock Spring is my favorite SNP hut.. I have probably stayed there 5 or 6 times at least.. and yes the sunsets are awesome..

as for healing.. couple of PA day hikes this week before the 30K race next saturday...

then 100 miles in TN.. i'll heal sooner or later.. lol

'32oz”

“At some point you are going to have to take a break and heal or you will be looking for trails that are wheelchair accesible.”

“32oz, you need to check out this site:

[url]http://www.fixingyourfeet.com/[url]”

“What was that tape that you were talking about...

'32oz”

“I have used Leukotape with good results. I have also heard good things about Keniseo Gold.

LEUKOTAPE P is a nonbreathable tape made by BSM Medical. It comes in one width, 11⁄2 inch. It is strong and very sticky-a good choice as an alternative to duct tape. It works well on the bottom of the feet and heels.

KINESIO TEX tape is made with an elastic polymer and cotton fabric, is very thin and very porous, and has a heat activated medical grade acrylic adhesive. It is commonly used in physical therapy. It is a ribbed tape that stretches longitudinally.

Both seem to stick well, but can be better attached with an adherent like tincture of benzoin that is sold in small amulets and in larger bottles that can be repackaged into somthing like the Gossamer Gear Mini Dropper Bottles sold here:

[url]http://www.gossamergear.com/cgi-bin/gossamergear/mini_dropper_bottles.html
[/url]
This is a great site that carries a lot of really good foot care products, including Leukotape, Kinesio Tape, Tincture or Benzion, Hydropel, etc..

http://www.zombierunner.com/store/categories/foot_care/
last edited: 6/22/09 9:51:34 AM”

“Nice report, I just missed you guys, I was down there 13-15. saw LOTS of animals, coyote, several bear including a 400lb mom and cub, who wouldn't leave the trail, many deer, a tiny spotted fawn, a a nice rattlesnake.
Did an exteded White Oak canyon/Cedar run loop and Old Rag the next day.
In spite of all the rules, I still love SNP”

“After lots of problems with Webshots (as you can see a few are uploaded more than once), I finally have my pics up.

”

“Nice pictures. Was the bear near bearfence shelter? Thats where I got pictures of one a couple of months ago.”

“We saw 11, but the one in that pic was a couple of miles north of Gravel Springs Hut.”

“11!!!!! OMG!!!! That's really cool, sounds like it was a good trip for seeing wildlife. I hope to another hike with you guys again.”

“Ifn you want to see bears you gotsta hit Compton Mountain in the North Section of the Park.. that place seems to be loaded with them..

We saw 8 there, 1 just south of gravel springs, nad i forget ewxactly where the other two were...

Also right around loft mountain campground and the dondo group campground...

need to get out there again soon!!

'32oz”

“I still have yet to do the north section. I would like to do a 3 day weekend for that section.”