Day 4 – Sleeping with the Bears

0 miles (a zero)

Bears Den Hostel

I had a decent night’s sleep at the Bears Den. I was up around 6:30, and made myself some bad pancakes. For some reason, I’m struggling here with ovens and electric griddles. Last night the issue was heating the frozen pizza in an oven that was off (I clearly remember the caretaker saying he’d set it to be up to temp, and it WAS’T cold). This AM the griddle never seemed to heat up. I saw others using it later, with no seeming issue. <sigh>

I’ve been wrestling with the question of what to do about tomorrow, the first day it looks like we’ll have rain. Because the Roller Coaster is very rocky, with steep climbs and descents, I am not excited to hike it in the rain. So I had just about decided to take a second zero. Then I learned that the rain should hold off until the afternoon. Since there is a shelter (the Sam Moore shelter) at around three miles south, I decided I would hike to the shelter before the rain starts, then hunker down there for the afternoon. So that’s been where my head is at all day.

Then I learn that a Boy Scout group that arrived just before sunset is planning on staying at the Sam Moore Shelter tomorrow, too! What to do?!! Maybe something will suggest itself to me…

I got myself a private room for tonight, thinking it would be more comfortable than the bunk room. But there’s a lot going on with the laundry right outside the room, so I’m not sure I chose right.

I’ve been enjoying getting to know Steve and Shelley, the couple who came in last evening. The are from NH, and have a lot of hiking in the White Mountains. They did a slack pack today and were back a before noon. We had lunch together and a pleasant afternoon.

Near the hostel is an overlook called the Bears Den. There’s a beautiful view west from there, and since my day was open (reveling in the spaciousness), I could sit and look for a while.

Earlier today a pair of thru-hikers came tooling in, prepping to slack pack the remaining miles of the Roller Coaster northbound, then shuttle back here. Their trail names are Prepper and Sure Foot. They did the reverse of Steve and Shelley. We made plans to go to the Bear Chase brewery just .5 miles from the hostel for an early dinner when they got back.

It’s been a very social day. Steve at one point said he thought his time at the Bears Den has been his favorite part of his trip, because everyone was getting along so well. Prepper said something similar: that staying at the hostels was one of his favorite aspects of trail life, because he got to meet people like us.

And now we’re sitting in the backpacker’s lounge, while five more hikers have come in, and the conversation is easy and just fine!

A woman named Polly is here, having driven in from Syracuse to fill in a couple of gaps to finish off Virginia. Her plan tomorrow is to hike to the road just after the Sam Moore Shelter, so Prepper suggested that she park at the road and walk back to Bears Den, and I should hike from Bears Den to the road, pick up her car and drive back here. So something ( or someone!) suggested itself to me, that’s what we plan to do. The trail will provide.

I get to sleep with the bears one more night. And the best part is getting to slack pack 6 more miles of the Roller Coaster!!