Hiking companion Lynn Rush sheds her day pack and prepares to enjoy a snack break along the Appalachian Trail in the Shenandoah National Park of Virginia (above) and reads entries in a trail hut, guest register (small photo below).
MOUNTAIN ‘MOTEL’—
With some blisters, some bears and some poop
We had a luxurious rest in the mountain sunshine that day as we explored one of the more than 250 huts along the Appalachian Trail (AT); this one pictured
above in the Shenandoah National Park of Virginia.
The huts are scattered all along the AT and, like this one, are usually three sided with a roof covering some arrangement of permanently installed sleeping platforms with a nearby privy—pretty Spartan accommodations by civilized standards, but a welcome relief to weary hikers faced with an overnight stay in a cold, wet woods.
That may sound like a lot of huts but this trail of over 2,000 mountainous miles stretches from Maine to Georgia and all of the trail’s customers are walking.
A delight of our hut visit was reading through the guest register notebook where hikers who stop by pen their often humorous, sometimes soul-searching, thoughts and signed by a “trail name”; a moniker often accumulated by the serious, through hikers.
Here’s a sample: “6/17 In from Big Meadows for a snack and to get out of the crazy rain...I got soaked. Sunny now. On to Skyland for some good eats and a bed.” Signed Spoon-Steen.
This entry was embellished by a caricature of a soggy hiker dreaming of a dry pillow, a blanket and a bed.
On the internet regarding the Pinefield hut, this hiker wrote, “...Path from shelter to outhouse crosses over stream. Makes for tricky midnight trips to answer the call of nature...Two bear poles, both close to shelter...Next water supply travelling north is either from Loft Mt. campground (during season) or Ivy Creek, about 5 miles north. Signed Kncats.
Another hiker noted online: “I stayed there alone 1 night the third week of April this year (06). Hung my food on the pole in back and would’nt you know it a bear came down and nearly tore the pole out of the ground. He growled and snorted for about 10 minutes while I lay silently in a fetal position inside the hut holding a hiking pole and buckknife praying he did not come around the front. He finally gave up and left after about 10 minutes.
MOUNTAIN ‘MOTEL’—
With some blisters, some bears and some poop
We had a luxurious rest in the mountain sunshine that day as we explored one of the more than 250 huts along the Appalachian Trail (AT); this one pictured
above in the Shenandoah National Park of Virginia.The huts are scattered all along the AT and, like this one, are usually three sided with a roof covering some arrangement of permanently installed sleeping platforms with a nearby privy—pretty Spartan accommodations by civilized standards, but a welcome relief to weary hikers faced with an overnight stay in a cold, wet woods.
That may sound like a lot of huts but this trail of over 2,000 mountainous miles stretches from Maine to Georgia and all of the trail’s customers are walking.
A delight of our hut visit was reading through the guest register notebook where hikers who stop by pen their often humorous, sometimes soul-searching, thoughts and signed by a “trail name”; a moniker often accumulated by the serious, through hikers.
Here’s a sample: “6/17 In from Big Meadows for a snack and to get out of the crazy rain...I got soaked. Sunny now. On to Skyland for some good eats and a bed.” Signed Spoon-Steen.
This entry was embellished by a caricature of a soggy hiker dreaming of a dry pillow, a blanket and a bed.
On the internet regarding the Pinefield hut, this hiker wrote, “...Path from shelter to outhouse crosses over stream. Makes for tricky midnight trips to answer the call of nature...Two bear poles, both close to shelter...Next water supply travelling north is either from Loft Mt. campground (during season) or Ivy Creek, about 5 miles north. Signed Kncats.
Another hiker noted online: “I stayed there alone 1 night the third week of April this year (06). Hung my food on the pole in back and would’nt you know it a bear came down and nearly tore the pole out of the ground. He growled and snorted for about 10 minutes while I lay silently in a fetal position inside the hut holding a hiking pole and buckknife praying he did not come around the front. He finally gave up and left after about 10 minutes.
I did see a beutiful moon rise over the ridge out side the front of the hut at 3:10 in the a.m. My guns are not as dangerous as Ted Kennedy's car.” Signed Cannonball
Remember folks, these hikers often are traveling alone and carrying everything they need to survive in a very heavy backpack—food, clothes, shelter; everything—even their garbage.
They may be out there in the wilderness weeks or months at a time.
It could be days between hot showers. It could be weeks between home-style meals. Calls of nature are answered—somehow.
In the next lower photo are “Spoon-Steen’s” musings mentioned above. In the bottom photo it says: “5 meals, 4 blisters, 3 bears, 2 poops, 1 sunset and 32 miles later....” Signed Rufio.
I bet these hikers have lots more stories to tell.
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