Monday, 9 June
Destination: Whiskey Hollow Shelter (987.5)
Start Location: Jim and Molly Denton Shelter (977.5)
Today’s Miles: 10.0
Trip Miles: 56.2
A thru hiker, Truffle Pig, came in before dark, made dinner and stayed in the shelter with Bob and I. It was comfortable sleeping and things dried out a little. As usual we were up early, had breakfast with coffee and hit the trail at eight leaving Truffle Pig still asleep. Started off in the mist, or cloud before the sun came out.
The trail is muddy from two days of rain. We followed deer tracks in the mud for the first two miles. Then some raccoon tracks. Lots of red cherries on the trees and strawberries on the ground. None as sweet as store bought. Today’s climbs totaled over 1,200 feet but were not too steep. I think we crossed our high point for the rest of the hike. We saw a doe with a fawn, smaller than knee high.
Bob and I met a woman hiking to Harpers Ferry, tenting near us. Truffle Pig finally passed us and was stopped just before the side trail to the shelter. Bob slipped and landed on his back crossing the rocky stream nearby. No damage, backpacks make great cushions when you land on your back. (Known from experience) You do feel a little like a turtle though when you have to remove your pack to get up.
After setting up our tents on the old dirt road above the shelter we headed to the stream for water and to wash up. Looks like three thru hikers in the shelter, one in a tent and two section hikers in tents besides us tonight.