This is a backpackers' shelter?

The shelter at Compton's Gap did not have to save me from falling trees -- there weren't any -- and unlike the next stop, the spring was close by. So I loaded up with four liters of water and pulled my way back up to the ridgeline. (How much does a liter of water weigh?) Good place for an overnight stay, best of the trip so far. On to Ed Garvey Shelter!

Compton's Gap has a curious place in Civil War history, detailed by a number of roadside memorials. As General Lee marched the Army of the Confederacy into its first invasion of the North, General McClellan sent the Army of the Potomac through three passes near South Mountain, one of which was Crampton's Gap.

The 500 Confederate defenders were overwhelmed by a carefully and methodically led Union force several times their size, leaving half of Lee's army vulnerable -- but McClellan did not pursue the victory at South Mountain aggressively. The larger part of Lee's army regrouped and marched on to Bloody Antietam while the demoralized Union forces left to fight on their own at Harpers Ferry surrendered to Stonewall Jackson's corps. McClellan was relieved, and Lincoln used the popularity wave after the victory at South Mountain to announce the Emancipation Proclamation.

Might have beens ... might have been, but were not. On, on, on!

Today's walk was intentionally planned to stop short of descending the steep trail down Weverton Cliff at the end of a tiring day. I found the Ed Garvey shelter, usually bustling with hikers, emptied out -- why? The signs of active work to cut down trees vulnerable to wind damage reminded me; this was the location where a hiker died last year when, in a fit of random bad luck, a tree fell square on his tent.

Chastened by the risk of lawsuits and bad press, the trail authorities surveyed Ed Garvey and several other shelter areas to remove the weakest trees, leaving many of the trunks lying near the tent sites. Which apparently spooked people who might have enjoyed the day here in tents (because the threatening trees had been removed) or at least enjoyed the outdoors from the safety of the two story backpackers shelter built of ten inch logs.

This is a backpackers shelter?

Carefree risktaker types would think "good, problem solved", set up tent in the middle of the woods next to a couple of trees that had been cut down, and spend the night among the soft sounds of wind blowing through the trees.  The only difficulty I had was finding a good branch to hang my bear bag.  

Safe haven at Comptons Gap

Fast paced walk today, running the ridge towards Harpers Ferry with an eye on the weather. The NWS alert says 50-60 mph gusts; not having a tent rated to that level, I chose to turn off the Trail and go a quarter mile downhill to stay in the shelter at Comptons Gap.

Which is on the lee side of the oncoming wind storm.

And is freshly renovated.

And within 50 *horizontal* yards of the spring.

And unoccupied by other travelers, though a place of interest for chatty tent campers farther up the hill (because, on the way to the spring, also the privy).

One of whom insisted that I share some of the Bud Light he and his airline flight attendant girlfriend were packing.

Life is tough sometimes. Tomorrow, weather permitting, the last shelter before I descend Weverton Cliff into Harpers Ferry for a hot shower, a restaurant dinner, and some ice cream.

Comptons Gap Shelter

Annapolis Rocks

The forecast thunderstorm held off until 4 p.m. Wasn't much of a storm, either.

As a way to keep my muscles from tightening up, I went back up the hill to visit Annapolis Rocks. Serendipity again! A trio of hikers wearing PATC overseer ridgerunner shirts were headed up with all the gear that the Annapolis Rocks caretaker needed to seet up his base camp for the next 8 months.

One of the hikers identified himself as one of the "Magnificent 7" that lead the N.C. Hoodlums trail repair crew, another group of volunteers like my own Cadillac Crew team.  We exchanged polite and cheery compliments about the quality of work each team is doing, and shared regret over the fading number of volunteers willing to spend a weekend raking, digging, sawing, and dragging rocks around. Can't imagine why, leaving all the fun for us, &c.

Another introduced himself as a member of the PATC Executive Committee, the people who get the responsibilty for every injustice and visionary shortfall in the organization. I admitted that I have not yet attended the annual meeting (people who attend seem to find their names attached to the really messy jobs). I assured him that I would attend this year.

Guess I'd better make sure my dues are paid up to date, as well.

Site admin note

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Still learning how to build websites.

Spring!

Occasional and gentle rain, just enough to sweeten the air.

Keeping a wary eye out for First Snake.

Racing to resupply!

Hoping for an early start on the trail today, but -- even without chatty neighbors -- I wasn't able to start floowing the white blazes until 8:30. On, on! Weather forecast is for rain this afternoon and tomorrow. Back up to the ridgeline and the boulder fields. 

This is starting to work pretty well. I made Pine Knob (no pines, and not much of a knob, either) set up camp, and gratefully greeted my close friend and Resupply Manager.

Custom mixed dried meals, homemade snack bars, oatmeal, a fully charged USB battery, and dry socks. I'm set to shelter in place until the storm passes.

Crossing the line

I walked into Maryland today, crossing a train track and the Mason-Dixon Line.

There is a largish wood sign just north of the border that marks the location of the old trolley station, the city post office, and John's Store. The store, the sign said, sold ice cream, and also hot and cold sandwiches. This was in the 1900's ... disappointing, I could really have gone for an ice cream cone. Or three.

After a stiff climb back up to the Appalachian ridgeline, I climbed back down a few hundred feet of the "Devil's Racecourse", filtered four liters of water from a spring, and then climbed back up ten ponds heavier. Commiserating with the father of an unappreciative son doing the same, I suggested we should write a letter to the Management.

His son surfaced from his phone and said "You should just put in a motorized zipline - use solar panels to power it."

Okay, it's a solution, and it's more practical than mine. Advantage, youth.

I pushed on another seven miles carrying the water in my pack to camp at Ensign Cowall Shelter. Got lost along the way, and wound up bushwhacking up a boulder flow for two hours to regain the trail. GPS, very useful.

Very tired.