We hiked this section on June 22, 2008.
This was our second backpacking trip and we were joined by Sling Blade and The Messiah from the AHQ group. These 2 ladies, like us, preferred to backpack with a group for safety reasons. Hazy, hot, & humid all day long!
The trail started out pretty easy then it got rocky as we approached several overlooks.
We told Sling Blade and The Messiah that if we were quiet then we might have a chance to see a bear. We decided to break for lunch right on the trail and ate pop tarts and pepperoni/cheese for lunch.
When we reached the approach trail for Humpback Rock, we decided to pass on it. Our feet were definitely tired from carrying our backs plus the trail went downhill and nobody wanted to climb back up.
On the way down to the shelter, we met 7 members from the Old Dominion Appalachian Trail Club (ODATC). They told us that they had just moved a gray timber rattler off of the trail and that they had just finished working on the privy at the shelter. We thanked all the members of the ODATC for working on the privy!
The descent down to the Paul Wolfe shelter was pretty tough on our knees and we were all glad to soak our feet in the stream in front of the shelter.
Paul Wolfe shelter
We had a nice chat with a section hiker from Fairfax named "Not Yet" after dinner and around dusk two male thru-hikers rolled in but they kept to themselves.
Sling Blade and The Messiah had been backpacking several times before and they knew they were suppose to hang their food. Once we found a suitable branch, Sling Blade tried several times to throw her ENTIRE food bag over the branch but was not successful.
Dirigo then dug out a new fangled bear throw bag that was invented by The Professor.
The rope for the throw bag is threaded through the seams of the bag and a carabiner is attached to the end of the rope to add weight to the bag when thrown; note assembly may cause carpal tunnel syndrome.
As soon as Sling Blade saw the throw bag, she asked if all of our food food would fit into that little bag. Python was able to launch the throw bag over the branch on the first attempt and we pulled all the food bags up the line.
Sling Blade and The Messiah thought the throw bag was the best thing since sliced bread and couldn't wait to run out to REI to buy the supplies for a throw bag. Humans 1, bears 0!
Just before settling into our tents, Sling Blade then asked "if a bear comes into camp, can we all get into your tent?" I said "you have a hacksaw, you have mace, and you have a bear whistle. Why would you want to come to my tent?"
