Seven States!

1,112 Miles !!!!!!!
Which means less miles to go than I have already hiked!
Only1,067 to go!

So the last 250 miles have been lots of fun. The Shenandoahs really spoiled me. The AT goes through a camp ground, gas station (called waysides) or Lodge area almost every day. It really was awesome for some change from regular trail food but it kept my food bag heavy and lightened my wallet. The Park was the single best place to see wildlife! Deer seemed not afraid and grazed freely as I watched, Bear were numerous and I had to try not to see them on a daily basis and the trail was so incredibly maintained that I made 20 miles every day except for the first!

With all the awesomeness of the Shenandoahs I am really glad to be out of them. With a the constant rumble of motorcycles, endless road crossings, and better views from the road than the trail, the Shenandoahs were really less fun than they should have been.

After the Shenandoahs came some real treats. I hike 20 plus days for two days out and stayed at the Bears Den Hostel, a real treat for any hiker. Clean sheets, laundry, shower, great people, a whole pizza, Ben and Jerry's, and a dry place to sleep it was close to heaven on Earth. Then only 8 miles the next day to another hostel operated by the PATC ( Potomac Appalachian Trail Club) with free spaghetti, homemade bread, more brownies than 15 thru-hikers could eat, and yet another dry place to sleep, life couldn't get much better.

The next day's hike would land me at the symbolic halfway point at the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) in Harpers Ferry, WV. This really was a huge mile stone. Every hiker who comes through the ATC gets their picture taken and the hiker number recorded along with their start date. Its a great way to check and see the faces of all the people who are ahead of you and who have been writing in the shelter registers, a really great way to put a face with a name.

After Harpers Ferry was also a very spoiling hike passing through three state parks showers and swimming options were got to be almost common place! A swim in a chlorinated pool = a shower, laundry and an awesoem cool down place to a thru-hiker!

After a few day rest here in Boiling Springs and a visit from Kaci its off for the next 1,067 miles and only triple digits to look forward to!

Don't forget to check out pictures on facebook