MattBob’s Killer Webspace…

and boy does it look much more different in July than in March.

– None of those are my packs… but next year they will & I’ll have a bigger beard!
First off, the ATC (Appalachian Trail Conservancy) was actually open, which meant there were hikers and many people in the park (Harpers Ferry is considered park land.) Unfortunately, Tara and I got a late start from Springfield to be able to enjoy the town in all it’s summerness.  We also noticed people tubing and kayaking down the Potomac, it looked like fun.  Hopefully we can go back and do that on a nice hot day.  After getting my National Parks Passport stamped, we headed north to Washington Monument State Park in Maryland. The AT crosses here and I thought we may be able to run into some hikers. Just as we pulled in we noticed two backpackers finishing up from refilling their water bottles from a park spigot.  Instead of the “are you AT hikers” I asked how long it’d taken them to get here from Harpers Ferry. They said “a day” and I knew they were thru hikers. So Tara and I chatted with them by the spigot for about 30 minutes before I inquired if they were going up to see the monument.  They said “sure.”   I asked them to wait a moment while I go to my car and get some goodies for them to eat on the way up.  They were more than happy to wait the extra two minutes.  Their names are “Scooter” and “Shine” or “The Canadians” as they are both referred to by most hikers. They were a very nice and cordial and Tara was finally able to witness how pleasant thru-hikers really are. We talked about a myriad of things from gear, food, the trail, interactions with other people, and of course, the World Cup.  They truly are a class act. We snapped a few photos and walked back down the trail with them.  At the trail crossing, we proceeded to talk for about ten more minutes before salutations started going round and inevitably, led to another conversation, some twenty to twenty-five minutes later, Tara and I bidded adieu and headed back down to the car. The hikers we ran across in Harpers didn’t seem warm or considerate really. Yeah, there were normal pleasantries and all, but they didn’t seem terribly open (like I knew most to be). I rationalized it to Tara that this is a ‘town day’ and that their focus is elsewhere and that most hikers form a strange kind of bond (after 1000 miles) that is hard to break into. “The Canadians” only agenda however, consisted of finding somewhere tomorrow to watch the World Cup Finals. GOOD LUCK!!

– Tara, Myself, “Scooter,” and “Shine” who together are known as “The Canadians” – Washington Monument, MD

Our intentions were to leave some trail magic further up the path (another day or so), but due to time constraints, we were not able.. but that’s okay.. these snacks don’t start going bad until 2008.  I’ll give it another go and try to make it up to Pennsylvania sometime to drop these off.  I’d like to see how Laura (from Trail Days in Damascus) is doing, she better not have quit! I went to the ATC to check to see if she’d made it yet and her picture was nowhere to be seen. Sigh.

except, i did it in a car.

Since I learned that I was not going to be able to hike the Appalachian Trail this year, I decided that I would go to the ATC (Appalachian Trail Conference Conservancy) HQ in Harpers Ferry to pick up additional information. Plus, I was in a real need of a road trip. So I grabbed my friend Tara and we checked out the town.

First things learned first. The ATC is NOT opened on the weekends.. not until mid-May. WTF? Grr. Oh, speaking of personal frustrations.. I also forgot my National Park passport, D’OH! So, now, when I go back, I have to back to the visitors center and do some back dating… hopefully I won’t forget.

Since we went at the beginning of March, we practically owned the place.. there were only a handful of people. It’ll be interesting to visit in the summer. Also, in March, the place is FRIGID!!!!! The wind is very similar to that along the Potomac River in Washington DC, right along the mall..

Tara and I walked around the town, jumping in and out of various shops and, as one may have guessed, I had to check out the local outfitters, aptley named, The Outfitters at Harpers Ferry. I chatted with the lone employee about AT stuffs and this and that, he said that he’d hiked sections of the trail and that would maybe hike the whole thing one day. As Tara and I wondered around, sifting through the bargin bins (best get em before thru hikers eh?), I educated her on the various gear and purposes. While checking out, I learned that this was the employee’s third day! I have to admit, I felt a bit cheated. He’d spoke as tho’ he’d been there for some considerable amount of time. Very disheartening. Moving on.

Of course, I had to get some shots on the trail..

Then we found this wicked old church that people seem to like to climb on.

Here’s Tara hanging out in the archway (presumably at the front of the church)

me just chillin’

and finally, here’s an ad posted in the General Store.. wish prices were still the same!

$4.00 for a gallon of Whiskey… sweet.