Jack called about 7:30 Sunday night to wish Dad Happy Father’s Day. He said he had tried earlier today from a little picnic area but the service was bad. He is at a hostel in Front Royal, VA which is at the end of Shenandoah National Park. He said the Shenandoah’s were a cinch. It really rained on him only one day. He did 3 twenty mile days this week. The AT basically follows Skyline Drive and there are lots of picnic areas and snack bars run by the park. He said that beer actually cost less than water at some of the convenience stores there—Natural Lights for .65 a can.
Sunday was not only Father’s Day and the first day of summer, but Dad read that it was Hiking Naked Day. He asked Jack if he had seen any naked hikers, and Jack told him that one guy hiking with them today said he was going to drop back and try it. Jack didn’t actually see him, but heard a few whoops from some who did.
Jack finally saw a bear. He said he was hiking by himself and when he went around a bend, there was a full-grown black bear sitting up on the hill. He said that some people have seen 4 or 5 bears by now, but he’s glad to finally see one. He said deer are everywhere and that they will come within 15 ft. of you.
By Friday he should be at Harper’s Ferry, which is the 1,000 mile mark. If everything works out, he plans to catch a ride back to SC with Tyler Hollingsworth’s parents who are going to visit Tyler on the trail. Jack said that after 1,000 miles, he would like to take a short break with the family at Folly Beach for the Wiggins’ Family annual beach trip.
Today Jack hit the 702.5 mile mark at Mount McAfee. He stopped to admire the view and he ended up drinking all his water. He went to the closest shelter to get water from the spring that ran behind it. When he came out of the woods that surrounded the stream he was covered in hives and his whole body was itching. He panicked and quickly hiked to the next town. The whole way he said he could feel the itch climbing up his body and before he got to town he said his beard started to itching to. He is hoping a shower and good nights sleep in a hotel will get rid of the itch before tomorrow.
