Lets break in those boots!

Above: Carl M. Chapman, Dr. John Copenhaver, Kelley Mitchell and John Stevens Jr.

The Shenandoah Ecoventure students, faculty leader and outdoor coordinator packed up some gear, laced up a few boots and we headed north. We drove to Harpersferry, gathered our wits at the Appalachian Trail Headquarters and bearing and then preceded to hike on. We encountered 2 snakes, another hiker, spider webs, electric lines, rain, mud, a deer, and a sea of rocks. We had 2 falls, one of which only one witness was present. No this wasn't me, this time. Carl had a little trouble with a log and I'm not sure what happened on the second fall. Apparently there was a cliff involved, from what was disclosed. If you want more information I would have to direct you to talk to John Stevens, he was the witness. Fortunately, Carl was not seriously hurt, but I'm sure an ego was bruised on the way down.

The sea of rocks is what I couldn't forget about this trip. Imagine, if you will, a forest. This forest has trees, but these trees are few and far between. There at your feet and outstretched in front of you are rocks of all sizes. These rocks came at your feet like the ripples in waves, but these waves had pointy ends that cut your soles and weren't as forgiving as water. From where you are standing, you can't see the end of the trail nor the beginning. You just hope that there will be a white blaze upon a tree ahead of you, so not to lose your way. I couldn't tell you how long we were on this sea of rocks, but I can tell you I was watching where I set each of my feet. And if you ask the others if I almost fell, they would probably tell you yes. But, the truth is I didn't, I jumped. Your probably wondering why would I jump on a sea of rocks waiting to bruise more than my ego. Well, let me tell you my friend, you didn't see what I saw at my feet. At first glance one would mistake this creature as a long slender worm. But, no no no.. you would be mistaken if you thought this and would probably have a bite mark on your leg. Shame shame, for not being observant! This creature is more or less labeled as snake and my first reaction was jump. None of the others witnessed this snake, although it was there! I was leading and the closest person to me was paying attention to my feet not to what was in front of me. GO figure! But, lucky me didn't hurt anything nor did I get bitten. Best of both worlds, aye?

After near drowning and eaten in the sea of rocks we made it to the field of electricity. And you think I'm kidding. I kid you not! See the picture above, this is what I like to call the field of electricity because 1. we were in a field and 2. you could feel the electric currents in your feet. I felt the hairs on my legs stand up, literally when I walked through this field. My gut instinct told me rain was coming and we should probably not stay here very long. But, who says gut instincts are right? We stayed for a little longer than I would've liked soaking in the view and learning about a certain type of plant vine. This vine nearly tripped me when I first walked in to this electric field. The picture above is of our leader John Copenhaver showing John Stevens the vine, which I call the tripping vine. (I know, I should be a name maker or something!)

After electricity finished running through my feet we continued to venture on the trail to our final destination, Keys Gap. But, before making it to our destination mother nature caught up to us and started crying. I'm positive these were tears of happiness because they were just pouring down the closer we got to Keys Gap.

We piled into our vehicle and drove back to headquarters. We then proceeded to hike the remaining trail through Harpersferry to the Maryland side of the C&O Canal. This is where the second fall occurred and the deer started to follow us. Again you think I'm kidding. HA! Actual deer stalker photographed above.

I can't wait for our next hike and I feel that this is not only the beginning of many new adventures, it's an ending. (I'm feeling the eyebrows raising right about now.) I say ending because we all know with beginnings there has to be an ending, otherwise it can't be a beginning. I can't tell you what it is the end of, but I'm sure right around the end of this Shenandoah Ecoventure I could tell you.

Until we meet again!

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