Day 90
Start: US 33, Swift Run Gap, Elkton, VA
End: Lewis Rd
Miles Hiked: 16.1
Miles on AT: 926.1
Follow my journey on Instagram (@jenbrownhikes) for more updates!
After a very nice nearo, it was time to get back on trail. After grabbing breakfast at C&S Diner in downtown Elkton, I caught a ride back to Shenandoah to complete the second half of the park.
The trail was nice and gradual despite requiring me to complete several climbs. It was a little warm today, but not too bad. I had prepared ahead of time by freezing my water the night before. Now, I had ice cold water to sip on as I moved through the heat of the day. Perfect!
About 3 or 4 miles in, I took a break for no real reason other than I wanted to sit down. I wasn’t overly tired, but I figured now was as good a time as any to take a break.
Suddenly, a bright red flash flew by my right side. It was a bright red bird with black wings, the same kind I had seen on McAffee Knob but didn’t get a chance to photograph. I had been hoping to see another one and here it finally was!
Instead of disappearing, this time the bird perched on a branch right in front of me, a huge catch in its beak. That must’ve been why it swooped near me.
I stared at it for a while in awe; I had been in the right place at the right time. I felt blessed. It was such a beautiful bird. All too soon, it flew off to eat its prey and I got back on my feet to keep moving on.
My mood today was quiet. The Virginia blues were really getting to me. For those who don’t know, the Virginia blues is when the novelty of the trail starts to wear off and every day can seem like the last. Despite looking forward to Shenandoah National Park, I felt like I was walking through the same forest I had walked through for the past month.
My solution was to try and enjoy the little things even while knowing that sometimes I just need to get the miles done. My small joys today included seeing bees hard at work among the flowers and watching frogs swim and hop near the spring as I filled up my water bottle. Noticing the small things can make a load of difference.
After a while, I came upon Lewis Mountain Campground and camp store. I didn’t really need anything, I just wanted to see what the store looked like, so I headed in that direction. Just as I was entering the campground where car campers were set up, a man called out to me, “Want some trail magic?”
Of course I couldn’t say no. He, his wife, and their young son and daughter were giving hikers donuts, Gatorade, and coffee. Yum! I enjoyed my chocolate donut and their company. The husband and wife had attempted a thru in 2017 and wanted to give back, so here they were! I was so grateful for the sugar boost; who doesn’t love trail magic?
After saying my goodbyes, I found myself back on trail and almost halfway done with my day. At the top of one of my climbs, I saw a blue blaze to a rock scramble, so of course I had to take it. I had passed someone at an earlier vista who said the scramble was more scramble-y than expected, and now I saw what she meant.
The blue blaze wasn’t long, but I had to drop my pack and poles about halfway through so I could continue with free hands. But, it was well worth it! The view was spectacular, probably the best I’d seen in Shenandoah so far. There’s nothing like being on a rock and feeling like you’re on top of the world.
While up there, I met a young guy named Beer Fairy. We chatted for a while about travel and hiking. He has gotten his name because he would gift AT hikers beer when he could. And, it turned out, today was my day. Before we said goodbye, the Beer Fairy bestowed upon me a beer on top of the rocky summit.
After leaving Beer Fairy and descending, I decided to road walk for a bit for a change in scenery. It was only about a mile until I crossed the AT again.
When I got back on trail, I entered a cemetery; a young buck stood just on the other side of it, paying me no mind.
I was now on the hunt for a place to camp. It took me another mile or so to find the perfect combination of flat site and water access. But, the stealth site at Lewis Rd provided.
As usual, I completed my camp chores and, unusually, enjoyed my special beer with dinner. All too soon, it was lights out!
And that’s day 90.
A version of this post originally appeared on TheTrek.co.