New Trail: Day One - Swift Run Gap to Pinefield Hut

Date: Monday, June 27, 2011 (day one of a three day hike)

Where: near Elkton, VA, Route 33

Weather: Mostly sunny, 60s to start, foggy, breezy, hot in the afternoon

Length: 11.5 m

Elevation change: Swift Run Gap - 2400, Hightop Mtn. - 3600, Pinefield Hut - 2400

Duration: 6.0 h including short break for lunch

Gear Test: Marmot EOS 1 Tent, Vasque Breeze XCR boots

The overall plan for this three day hike was to take on the 44.3 m from Swift Run Gap to Rockfish Gap.This is my first overnight retirement hike and, call it, a shakedown cruise to see how well I would do with full pack (37#) and longer distances. I used my old external frame pack; I like the back side ventilation. Forgot my camera, so no pictures.

Parked my truck in the parking lot at the south end of the Shenandoah National Park (Skyline Drive) about 8:45a. Now I'm looking for a ride up to my starting point. Chatted with Bill from Indiana; he was riding a Victory motorcycle and was waiting for the fog to clear. Good spiritual encouragement. My angels arrived about 30 minutes later and I ended up riding in the back seat with M (2 years old) with N and K piloting. They took me 30 m with fascinating conversation. Waited another 30 minutes and M picked me up; he was involved in the Parkway repaving project and regaled me with lots of interesting facts about it. By the time we arrived at the Rt. 33 overpass it was 11:30a; that's a bit later than I had planned.

As usual hiking out of major gaps is usually the most challenging part of a trek. Up 1200 feet to Hightop with my full pack was breath-taking. I am finding my pace. Had a quick bite at a grand overlook west from rocks with two folk from NC and and family of four from FL. 

Then I am off speeding down the mountain like a bank robber attempting a getaway. Not too long thereafter I am striding through a little saddle just feeling good on the downhill and making good time when I spot and hear, simultaneously, a dark coil smack dab in the middle of the trail with about a pinky sized rattler vibrating upright, about 15 feet away. Brakes on full, I fortunately did not go headlong with my full pack even closer than I wanted to be. No camera no picture but the one at left is a pretty good likeness. I will never forget what a coiled one looks like in the middle of the trail and I spent the rest of my journey scanning the upcoming trail for that indelible image in my brain. I tried to chase him off but he only coiled tighter and stood me down. I threw some sticks around him to make it obvious to another hiker that something unusual was in the trail. I circumvented him and soon encountered some day hikers headed north and warned them so that now folk going in both direction would get a heads up. Needless to say that was the defining moment of the day, since I was just cruising over a packed dirt trail without much consideration for footfalls and later wondering what would have happened if he had not warned me soon enough. Thank God for rattlers.

I am running late now and decide to end my trip at the Pinefield hut about 11.5 m from my start, not nearly the 15 m I had planned. I will have to make up for it tomorrow. I did encounter one of the National Park Backcountry Rangers, Margot, at Simmons Gap. I had failed to secure the proper Backcountry camping permit at entry, and she graciously sorted me out and kicked in a frozen mixed berry juice box, seeing that I was a bit tired and hot. Delightful.

I arrived at the hut (for thru-hikers only) about 6:00p to find 7 people ensconced, all northbound thru-hikers save one lady on a trip like mind. Boots came off and no problems. Pack did great; I had to repurpose a long side pocket to hold my 2.5 liter hydration bladder with the tube coming out the top which worked out well. There were some primitive sights adjacent to the hut so up went my new tent. Tent set up went fine; the tent and fly open on the side making easy entry for the old man. I socialized around dinner with the hut crew, had some interesting evening conversation and went off to bed. I was a bit creeped out as I settled into my one-man with visions of coiled snakes and fantasies of a bear raid in the middle of the night. Should I go down to the hut with the other guys? I had dutifully hung my bear bag, so the exhaustion of the day overwhelmed all of that and precious sleep arrived.

So day one concluded. With 33 m to go and a meeting in Richmond in the evening on Wednesday, I have got some serious hiking to do on Tuesday. Rain in the forecast. Am I having fun?