AT Day 52 – Harper’s Ferry And The Washington DC’s – The Trek

4 Mile Camp to Harper’s Ferry, WV
Remaining Virginia Camp to DC Sofa Camp
AT miles: 4.3
Whole miles: 1034.3
Elevation change: 741ft achieve, 1421ft loss

Will that subsequent view be cool? How clean is the path going to be? When will I get my subsequent contemporary apple? Questions and hypothesis abound throughout a protracted thru-hike, like what’s going to it really feel like to succeed in West Virginia? On the subject of ending the Virginia part of the AT and reaching Harper’s Ferry, the non secular half-way level of the path, I used to be cautiously optimistic that it might imply one thing, that it might really feel good. I need to admit, that my last week+ in Virginia had changed into a grind at instances. That was actually influenced by some moist climate, however I inevitably questioned whether or not I used to be pushing myself tougher than I wanted to. By blitzing by resupply stops, was I skipping an necessary, rejuvinating a part of the thru-hike expertise? Was I grinding myself down, or was my tempo sustainable? Whereas I didn’t look forward to finding all of the solutions on the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers, I hoped to search out one thing, a sense, a shift. One thing to point that there was a milestone someplace between Springer and Katahdin that would give me a lift. If climbing the primary half of the AT didn’t really feel like a giant achievment, then would climbing the entire thing? Thankfully, what I did really feel as I stepped down the historic stone steps right into a quaint preservation of the previous, was highly effective. Harper’s Ferry was the correct instrument for the job, and I felt the increase that I used to be searching for.

With an necessary day forward, I didn’t waste any time this morning. No time to really feel groggy or drained, it’s Harper’s Ferry Day. My pleasure was mirrored within the shiny sky and shimmering droplets hanging on the bushes and bushes. I gulped down the dregs of my dry granola and packed up, post-haste. My backpack felt empty, and it almost was. Someway I had nearly completed the appalling quantity of meals that I had purchased in Entrance Royal. I’d thought it might be means an excessive amount of, however it was truly the proper quantity. Astonishing.

Some extremely rocky path to start the day’s strolling painted a wry smile on my face. Dry humor was my solely remaining coping mechanism for this punishing tread. My others have been as worn ineffective because the cushioning in my sneakers. Nonetheless, the rocky shuffling was short-lived, and the nearer I obtained to city, the broader and smoother the path turned. I met a couple of flip-flop hikers coming within the different course, and their cocktail of contemporary enthusiasm blended with sobering realizations about what that they had signed up for put my discomforts into perspective. I felt like a hen in a room of rabbits, so I unfold my wings and flew. In actuality, I ran, however it felt like flying.

Street noise blended with the enveloping rumble of the mighty Shenandoah River, swollen and brown with the wet remnants of the day gone by’s storming and raining. I needed to test my map to substantiate its title. It appeared too huge and stressed to be the identical river that looped meandering turns by the peaceable Shenandoah Valley. But when it wasn’t the Shenandoah, then I used to be not the place I used to be purported to be, so it will need to have been the Shenny itself.

I crossed the mighty torrent subsequent to screaming site visitors on a pedestrian walkway throughout a protracted concrete bridge. Historic properties dotted the minor ridge forward, and except for the Tesla’s and massive rigs, I imagined that the view hadn’t modified an excessive amount of over the earlier two centuries. A whole lot, or perhaps 1000’s, of swallows banked and dove over me, snatching a buggy breakfast, or perhaps simply having enjoyable. Now that was flying. I ended to look at them and take a look at the combination of solar and cloud hanging above the horizon. Heat gentle bathed my face and open palms, the river’s breeze rustled my hood and pinwheel. I stood over the river that marked the tip of Virginia and the start of what got here subsequent. The load of the previous lifted, leaving only a sip of water and my baseweight hanging on my shoulders. The heavy moods and recollections of moist climate would do me no good forward, so I left them behind. Perhaps the water would carry them to the ocean, or perhaps they’d get snatched up by a hungry swallow. Feeling a lightweight excitment, I completed the traverse again to strong floor, whispers of ‘favourite second of the day’ making their rounds.

The ultimate hike into city wasn’t a complete stroll, however it felt straightforward immediately. Inexperienced was as considerable because the guests flocking to the historic downtown on this nice Saturday. The outdated buildings have been cool in a means that I didn’t anticipate, and I immediately fell in love with Harprer’s Ferry. With deep roots in historical past, there was all the time an informational signal to assist convey the previous to life. It was a residing museum. On the snout of the city, the place the 2 rivers divided three states, I halted my progress on the AT. It was time to push pause on my march northward. Time to disconnect in order that I might reconnect. I turned west into the center of the historic city, and began strolling.

The outdated properties and blossoming bushes held my consideration as I wandered to the Appalachian Path Conservency headquarters. There, I met Dave, the friendliest volunteer, and checked in because the eleventh nobo thru-hiker of the season. The one factor that this quantity advised me for sure was that I used to be positively not the eleventh nobo thru-hiker of the season. I might record the names of some hikers forward of me who’s footage I didn’t see within the three-ring binder. Nonetheless regardless of the precise quantity, it was so much decrease than 252, what they wrote on my tag at Amicolola. The place did all of the hikers go? What number of of them have been nonetheless climbing north? What number of would have their footage added to the yearbook?

I jogged one other block to the put up workplace to gather my subsequent pair of sneakers. Once I emerged, there have been Didj and Karishma ready within the parking zone with the following greatest issues after a burrito, kombucha and fruit. Heros, huge time. My good mates had pushed from Washington DC to gather me from the path for the weekend, and it was nice to see them certainly.

After a giant field of nachos on the native vegan eatery, they whisked me east to the nation’s capital with wonderful pace and ease. They tolerated my stinkiness like champions, however I didn’t push their limits greater than I wanted to, and jumped within the bathe as quickly as we arrived at their condo. It was my first correct soaping since Pearisburg, and the residual dampness of the previous week had me and my gear in a cool state. Even after my bathe, I used to be fairly positive that my toes nonetheless stank.

Subsequent, after some peanut butter and apples, they handled me to a bicycle tour of the close by websites. Oh, you realize, simply the marble beacons of democracy and freedom that shine brightly in a world of darkness and disaray: the US capital constructing, supreme courtroom, washington monument, white home, and lots of others. As somebody who claims “The West” as my major residence, these locations nearly felt like a fiction. I’d seen them on the information, watched historical past unfold on their lawns and extensive steps on a display screen, and even visited throughout an unremembered eighth grade college journey. Seeing them in particular person as an grownup was awe-inspiring and humbling. For higher or worse, this was the place the shakers and the makers modified the world.

After the cross-training session (Biking is quick, individuals. A means higher strategy to cowl distance than strolling.), we bundled up again at their place with heat blankets, scorching hommade enchiladas, and the most effective guacamole this aspect of the Mississippi. Sinking into the comfortable sofa with my toes up and a heat stomach, I felt days away from the path, although it had been simply 12 hours since I used to be there. It was a superb feeling. The psychological respite was clearly one thing I’d been missing. Not immediately although, and never tomorrow both. What was coming north of Harper’s Ferry? I had simply the slightest concept, however I wasn’t going to fret about that for a short while longer. No have to freak myself out but, or construct up unrealistic expectations. These would each come, however not earlier than a superb relaxation.

This put up was initially revealed on my weblog hikefordays.com. Test it out for journey reviews from my different hikes together with the CDT and Sierra Excessive Route.

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