Day 81 (Wednesday, July 2nd) - Harpers Ferry ATC to Crampton Gap Shelter 1030.0

The Potomac

Today's Miles: 10.40
Trip Miles: 1030.00

Harpers Ferry

We had breakfast with Heike who had come into town last night. She is going into Washington D. C. today and will return to the trail on the fifth. It seems a lot of hikers are going to the capital. The only drawback for them is that the train that takes them there always runs late; sometimes by as much as five hours. I don't know how they get away with advertising an eleven-thirty departure when it never happens. It's embarrassing having to admit to our German friends that the train system here just can't match those in Europe.

We left the Econo Lodge at eleven and walked to the P.O. up the street. The building also houses the Town Hall, the police station and the safest liquor store in the U.S. We mailed extra food and other things ahead to Boiling Springs, Pa. Today we'll test out the leg; I hope the ice and rest did the trick.

Cool gutter

We took our time leaving town, first going to the ATC, where we had come into Harpers Ferry, and then following the trail into historical "Old Town." It was a really cool place with older buildings, and streets with stone gutters. I'd like to come back here and spend more time. Of course we made a stop at an ice cream shop, mmm mmmm! Baltimore Jack, who we first met at Neels Gap so long ago, was working at the outfitters where we chatted with him for a bit.

Finally we hit the trail at 12:30. The first part of the hike was a stroll along the old canal that ran beside the rapids of the Potomac River. It was a nice flat road that my sore leg was glad for. We crossed into Maryland unceremoniously because there was no signage and move up off the road and into the trees. It was nice to get under cover and out of the sun. There was a steady climb to Weverton Cliffs where there was a great view down onto the Potomac and to where we had entered the woods. It was brutally hot and humid, with a feels-like temp of 107 degrees. We were all drenched with sweat.

Old Town

Looking off to the west we could see a storm approaching so we picked up the pace and headed for the Ed Garvy Shelter. Within minutes the sky darkened and the thunder started to boom around us, the air cooled considerably, and the wind began to gust into the thirty mph range. Small branches and leaves littered the trail and as we neared the shelter the rain began to fall. From the safety of the shelter overhang we watched the storm grow in intensity. There were eight other thrus there with us, all waiting for the storm to pass.

We gave some thought to staying there because it was a nice big shelter with an upper sleeping section, but we needed to put in more miles. After a short time the rains abated and we moved on.
We passed through Gathland State Park which has a war correspondent's monument (Civil War). Natalie met some hikers she had hiked with when she first started. They gave us some Oreos and water from the truck they use to supply their group of hikers. It's some sort of missionary program. Thanks guys.

Another half mile of hiking brought us to Crampton Gap Shelter. We're sleeping in a shelter for the first time since the Smokeys because there is a threat of rain tonight and tomorrow. I hope the leg responds well to today's miles.

TTFN  

All better.... sort of

Handcut stairs

Handcut stairway

The old canal

Walkway over the Potomac

AT u curve

Nat on the rocks