Harper's Ferry, WV

6/17 ~ Harper's Ferry, WV (12.4 miles)

No doubt, I will pay dearly for this tomorrow. I had planned to camp somewhere outside Harper's Ferry, but that's not what I wound up doing.

It started pouring rain last night. I woke up at 5 am (that's what happens when you go to bed at 10 pm). I delayed getting up hoping it would stop raining. Not even close. Ate breakfast, signed the register & headed out at 9 am in the rain & fog. I saw two deer on the climb back up to the AT from the hostel. At this point, the rain was not too bad. I was able to justify stopping for lunch & not worrying about the food getting wet.

The rain remained at that level until I crossed WV 9. It picked up until it was a continuous downpour. It did take an hour for me to be squishing in my boots, which says something for Nik-Wax, I think. After about an hour, the rain slowed, but didn't stop. The trail descending into Harper's Ferry was steep & slippery. I fell pretty hard trying to come down that hill, but the pack saved me some serious back pain I think -- I'd have been really bruised by the rock I fell on without it.

Good things? I saw a million cute little frogs (or toads for all I know) & frogs look cheerful to me. I think it's the bug eyes. I also had a splendid view of Harper's Ferry from the Loudoun Heights trail -- right when it sotpped raining, too. What was I doing on *that* trail, you ask? I made a blunder at the top of that damn hill. I wound up going way out of my way to the Sandy Hook bridge. It was the first time I've crossed the Potomac on foot.

I decided to press on to the AYH near Sandy Hook. It was not what I wanted, so managed to get a ride back to Harper's Ferry, & I'm staying at the Hilltop House. It's a cute place, but the room & restaurant are both rip offs. I'll visit the ATC tomorrow.