Day One:
Summary
April 26th
Harper’s Ferry, WV to Ed Garvey Shelter
NOBO mile # 1030.0
Tolmann’ daily mileage 6.3
Tolmann’ total mileage 6.3
It’s been quite an ordeal actually; a heavy, heavy pack and quite a climb up out of the valley. The trail followed the C&O tow path, which is very flat and smooth for about 3 miles.
I met two gentlemen at the point where the trail left the towpath; one from around here and the other from Wisconsin.
The one from Wisconsin was very moved when I mentioned the name of the shelter I am staying at tonight, because lately someone from Wisconsin named Ed Garvey (that’s the name of the shelter, perhaps coincidentally) died recently, and he was a real voice of the progressive movement for the state. He was talking about how Aldo Leopold, John Muir and another person I am blanking on that were very involved in the ecology movement were all from Wisconsin. He talked about going to the march in Washington this weekend. I thought there was the March for Science last weekend so I’m a little confused, or at least uninformed.
The gentleman that is from around here knew the trail, and told me that it had gentle switchbacks. But it was actually ended up being kind of difficult. I’m pretty out of shape. He also highly recommended doing the side trail to Weverton Cliffs.
Nearly at the top of ridge, I met another gentleman, hiking with his dog, going to the cliffs; we had a pleasant exchange and I had a chance to catch my breath. I ended up eating lunch at the cliffs.
The trail from that point until the shelter ran across the top of a wooded ridge, and was very gently graded. Still with my new hiking legs and my too-heavy pack, let’s just say I didn’t fly down the trail.
Water at this shelter is down a .5 mile side trail, down a pretty steep slope. Folks at the shelter are not happy about the effort expended. I’ve met a few of other flip-floppers; it seems that we are traveling at a similar pace. On guy (trail name Sycamore (I think)) has his ukulele; pretty accomplished and very nice voice… traveling with his wife, trail name Tilly.
But I am nestled now in my hammock, And the sun is starting to go down.
Time to call it a night…
Day Two:
Summary
April 27th
Ed Garvey to Rocky Run Shelter
NOBO mile #1039.1
Tolmann’s daily mileage 9.1
Tolmann’s total mileage 15.4
Tough, tough day! Got in nine miles, but at a cost. The day began very foggy and wet. I had to pack up a wet tarp and gear. It took until mid afternoon for it to clear. Chatted briefly with a fellow flip flopper from Nebraska, who’s been having some logistical issues. Had gear sent, then didn’t receive it, so he bought replacements in Harper’s Ferry, then got the original gear last minute. He was also missing the section of AWOL’s guide that had the first few days of the trail, so was traveling pretty blind. He left 20 minutes or so before me.
The trail at first was very park-like, wide with gentle ups and downs. With the fog blowing through it was pretty surreal. After an hour or so I caught up with Matt (from Wisconsin) at Gapland National Historical Monument, a Civil War park. I had plans to stop at the shelter at 4 miles for lunch, but decided against that when I saw it was .25 miles off trail (that would have added a half mile to today’s mileage which I wasn’t sure I was up for. Turned out I really wasn’t!). So I don’t know if he went there and was looking for me. I hope not! Not sure I’ll see him again, but who knows.
The rest of the day slowly got worse as my hips and shoulders gave way under the weight of my pack. I kept picturing the sores on Reese Witherspoon in the movie Wild. In the end I adjusted my pack to drop the belt below my iliac crests; that worked well for my hips, but my shoulders were on fire.
Anyway, here I am at Rocky Run shelter by myself. I’m feeling a little freaked out; anxious and a little trapped. The couple from last night was at the turn out for the shelter, but decided to go another mile to a campground. I couldn’t imagine doing another mile, so here’s where I ended up. There’s a part of me that wants to pack up and run for the campground so I won’t be here alone tonight. Forecasting rain after dark; hopefully not thunderstorms!!!
So I’ve decided to divest myself of some gear to get my pack weight down to something manageable. It’s either get rid of things that are important to me, or risk hurting myself bad enough to take me off the trail. Next town stop stuff has to go!
Day Three:
Summary
April 28th
Rocky Run to Pine Knob Shelter
Tolmann’s daily mileage 7.5
Tolmann’s total mileage 22.9
A sunny day! It’s beautiful, but a little on the warm side today!
Made it to Pine Knob Shelter at mile 1046.6; translated to my miles: 22 miles total. Felt pretty strong for most of the day, but my hips and shoulders are continuing to be a problem.
The trail passed the first Washington Monument in Booneboro, MD.
Here I had lunch and talked with Deb for the first time since I came on trail. I miss her terribly.
Eventually, the heat got to me (and my shoulders), so I stopped a few miles before my planned stop. Sycamore and Tilly are here, too; we shared some music this afternoon.
The shelter is close to MD RT 40, so we’ll be listening to traffic tonight. Haven’t had a night yet without sounds of traffic, planes, and trains…
Addendum: Boy Scout troop came in just before dark, I’m thankful now for the white noise of the highway!!
Tom Maynard 
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