Bubbles DAY 3 (Wednesday, March 30th)

(Note:  This is published out of order because I just got it from Maggie today.  I figured many people wouldn't go back down to the bottom of the blog and might miss it!)

Ox and I

Day three was a tough day for me physically.  I really had to focus on why I was hiking instead of my throbbing legs.  When I started to think about my mom I got emotional and then very happy.  I feel really proud to be out here doing something positive with my life.  I really believe I am supposed to be here.

The people we have met are incredible.  We met an older man at a beautiful overlook named Survivor (because he beat cancer).  He was a very sweet man.  His pack looked like it weighed more than him!  He said it was close to 50 pounds!  Fifty pounds on your back when you are young and fit is hard, but being 67 it must be a grueling task.  We met again at a wonderful and refreshing creek. Ivy creek has to be one of my favorite parts of the trail so far. It was gushing crystal clear cold water which felt like heaven on my feet.  We spent some more time with Survivor and then the men took off (Jeff was probably already at the hut when we stopped at the creek).  I rinsed out my under garments, shirt, and buff (you can't use soap though so I still smelled like a raw onion) and enjoyed the solitude of the creek.

Ivy Creek

When I took off from the creek I climbed a very steep incline (it was only 600 feet in elevation change, but in only .7 miles so it was a leg BURNER) and I made it to ivy creek overlook.  I walked across the parking lot and looked out over skyline drive and started back down the trail.  I was happily humming to myself, "Yayyyyyy, I am close to the hut and my feet feel great!!!" and then I suddenly realized I hadn't seen a white blaze in a while.  I kept walking down and down for what felt like an eternity and didn't see one.  What was I going to do?  I kept going and going without seeing another blaze.  

A view from up the steep incline

Then, Skyline Drive popped up on my left and I remembered my dad telling me, "If you are lost in Shenandoah National Park and see Skyline Drive jump out and walk the road until you get help."  I took the opportunity.  I walked through a jungle of thick brush and pricker bushes. I had to take my pack off and throw it through prickers and maneuver my way through the maze of painful prickers. I got to the road, with some roughed up hands, and looked left then right, I knew I should have went left but for some reason I went right.

Not supposed to be walking on Skyline Drive right now!!

I walked down until I saw a mile marker and then checked my guide book.  I thought to myself, “Really, I went the wrong way twice?”  I walked an extra mile down the road!  I was annoyed, especially because I knew that I could get to camp if I walked down the road another .5 miles but I didn't want to miss any blazes, so I turned around and went back up to Ivy creek overlook.  

Peaking through the trees to take this picture

I was about to get back on the trail when two beautiful white Huskies came barreling my way. Usually a person would be alarmed when two strange dogs came galloping up to them barking, but I was jacked.  I met The White Walkers (named because they started the trail on December 13th and walked North from Georgia. He got his name because there was snow everywhere and his dogs are white). I told him I was lost and trying to make my way to Pinefield Hut and he told me I was heading the right way.  I didn't know then, but we would be running into The White Walkers for the next two days.  I am so happy we got to know him and his dogs better. He is amazing and I am in LOVE with his dogs.

I know their pictures are already on one of Robby's posts but I LOVE THESE DOGS!!!

After walking down the same path again, and panicking once again that I was heading the wrong way, I made it to the hut.  I was going the right way the whole time and was only about a half mile from the hut when I jumped off trail!!  Hahahaha!! I laughed so hard. It was a learning experience for sure. I am happy I walked the road for 2.5 miles because I saw some awesome views I wouldn't have seen from the trail!