Shenandoah

You ever talk to a squirrel? I mean, really talk to a squirrel. Not just the usual empty pleasantries, “how are you,” “lovely weather,” that sort of stuff. I mean deep, honest dialogue. With a squirrel.

Just kidding. For a moment I was just thinking it would be funny if this journal chronicled a slow descent into madness. It would probably help books sales. Or maybe I am already going crazy and just don’t know it. That’s called dramatic irony, and this is called meta, which people have built academic careers arguing about. I did talk to a squirrel today, but it didn’t say anything back, so I think I’m still good. The little guy was just sitting in the trail zoning out. “Hey man, you going to move? You doing alright?” I was like five feet away before he moved, and his motions were pretty languid even then. Maybe it was the heat, summer is definitely here. We did twelve miles with no water source so had to conserve until lunch at Blackrock Hut. In the park the shelters are called huts, and the structures they call shelters are only for day use. Go figure.

We see a lot of views in Shenandoah so far, but usually when the trail comes out onto Skyline Drive to a parking area at an overlook. It kind of takes away from the whole experience. But we got a nice view from the summit of Blackrock, and there was no parking lot at the top. Soon after I saw a baby snake on the trail, tiny and black with a yellow ring around its neck. After a long day we finally hit Loft Mountain campground (mile 888.1) where we got soda at the camp store and took coin operated showers. To most people, and to myself and any other point in life, camping here would feel like roughing it, but it is luxurious compared to your average day on the AT.