Trip Report 02-07 - 02-08

I went to Turners Gap on Saturday to hike north along the AT for a quick refresh and an unexpected primer on foot travel through mud and over ice. Conditions were perfect. With temps spanning the low 60s and mid 40s I was comfortable in running shorts and long sleeve poly T. From Turners Gap I hiked north, past Washington Monument, and over I70, to Pine Knob. There, I went to work making camp as the light transitioned from orange sun to pale moon. I pitched my tarp in a modified lean-to configuration. Pitching this tarp gives me a feeling of satisfaction. I made this tarp, and I have become skilled in regards to site selection and making a graceful pitch. This trip I selected the modified lean-to for wind protection and the ability to block light from the bright moon. This is a feature of tarp camping that I thoroughly enjoy. By moving just a few inches I can transition from watching the moon to blocking it's light when my eyes get heavy. For ground insulation I took a torso length egg crate Evazote pad and a small section of 1/8" Evazote for my feet. Add a 3 mil plastic ground sheet to help keep my down quilt clean and you've got a great sleeping system that is light and comfortable in a wide range of temps.

After a short lived morning drizzle I loaded my pack and continued north to Annapolis Rocks. The sky had cleared and the view was amazing. The rounded hill tops roll out like 3D sine waves. Trees stand leafless and stark revealing the forest floor. Simple beauty. My gawking done, I made my way past empty camp sites to the trail and turned south for my return. Just as I was passing my camp site form the night before I met a woman hiking opposite my direction. We talked over the beautiful weather, our fantastic luck, and her child's ball game at 1:00. We didn't share names, or where we had come from. We departed giving warnings of ice and well wishes. Then, over I70, along the low, flat ridge of South Mountain, down into Turners Gap I went. I fell four
times on long swaths of ice that covered the trail. No harm done. I was intentionally challenging my speed over the ice. I found that a low center of gravity and careful foot placement provided efficient means of travel. Of course skirting the ice would have proved the best course of action. However, I use these weekend trips to expand my
skill set. Walking over ice without crampons isn't something I'm exposed to on a regular basis. The risk is minimal given my proximity to help if I need it. There is a ranger station just three miles away. So, I experimented. Where should I put my weight? How should I place my feet? What is the ice telling me? Are there soft spots that will break and provide traction? Which contours provide for good placement and how do I position myself to take advantage of that? What is the best method for using my trekking poles? Once I made a system for travel I pushed it with speed until the system broke and I would fall. No harm done. All in good fun.

As the day warmed ice gave way to water, mud and more mud. It was a slippery day through and through with the exception of the last 8th of a mile. The AT ribbons across a small clearing as it drops south into Turners. A small church sits there in the grass. I stopped to have my breakfast for lunch. For the first time I used my Bush Buddy Ultra to heat my water. Yes, an alcohol stove is lighter and faster. Yes, an alcohol stove takes up less space in my pack. Yes, alcohol stoves, if made correctly and burning the correct fuel, leave you with smut free pots after cooking. But for me none of those reasons comes close to negating the enjoyment I get from cooking over a fire. A fire I made without a lighter, without matches, without Tinder Quick tabs, without
cotton balls covered in petroleum jelly. A fire I made with a flint and steel, with tinder and fuel provided by my surroundings. I like knowing how to find dry materials for building a fire even given the wet conditions of the weekend.

All in all, it was a great over night. I wish I could take longer forays into the woods and travel the trail longer distances. Those wished will be fulfilled in time. Soon I will begin planning my thru hike. Appalachian Trail, here I come.