Left home Friday 2025-04-04. Took an early morning flight from Oregon to Washington, DC. My friends there were kind enough to host me for the weekend. Rode the metro to REI to pick up stove fuel (not allowed on the airplane) and some shoe inserts, and headed over to meet my friends after work.
For shoes I have settled on some trail runners with a wide toebox. On my previous hikes I got the worst blisters in narrower toed shoes, so I'm trying to avoid that this time. Trail runners are popular for this kind of hiking because packs are usually light and conditions arent too extreme. Lighter shoes that dry quickly are a big benefit.
On the topic of weight, my base weight (everything I'm carrying except food and water) is around 8kg (17.6 lbs). I havent done much to get the weight lower. My pack is an older model so there is probably room for improvement but I'd rather keep using the thing that works for now. I also have slightly more clothes than usual due to the expected cold weather (below freezing) at the start.
In DC I enjoyed catching up with friends. We walked around the city and caught up while taking in the "Hands Off" protests at the Washington Monument.
We also visited AwesomeCon for some puzzling and a talk from some cast members of Firefly.
Cherry blossoms were hanging around but past their prime. The most prevalent natural element of spring was a thin coating of pollen on absolutely everything.
Sunday I repacked my gear and took the train out towards Harper's Ferry where I planned to start the hike. Met Shuttle and another hiker on the train.
Walked up to Halfway Hideaway Hostel and got a bed for the night. It's a clean, well organized setup in an old house and exactly what I needed. Hippy runs the place with his dog Heywood. He's completed the Triple Crown.
Had a bite to eat nearby at Snallygaster's Cafe and Wine Bar named after the local cryptid. Turned in early. Everyone else at the hostel was in the upstairs quarters so I had the floor to myself.
No matter how many trips I do it feels weird leaving for a hike by myself. I anticipate the solitude, the nature, and the people I will meet. But there is also a feeling of loss which I cant explain. I suppose its the feeling of leaving friends behind for a while.