On the roller coaster

April 6, 2025

The rain should have started by now.

I’m camped up on a side trail, so-called ‘stealth camping,’ near a communications tower. I’m about a mile from the end of the infamous “roller coaster”—a series of steep up-and-downs in Northern Virginia that were added into the trail when the original road-walk got too traffic-heavy and dangerous for hiking. 

I could have gone further today, I guess, but it was supposed to start raining, and I was tired. By the last ascent I was literally going from sittable rock to sittable rock. I only cleared 3.4 miles today, but it felt like plenty. I’m still dealing with injuries on the foot, as well—the blister is slowly healing, but it’s hard to keep bandages on it while I’m hiking, so I have to stop and change out more than I’d like. I have liner socks waiting for me in Harper’s Ferry, so that should help a lot. Once I get there, that is. The sprain I have taped up with K-tape; it’s mostly good, but it does tire more easily than the other foot. The bruise under the toenail is an irritant, mostly. It looks worse than it did at the hostel, but hurts less. I’m pretty sure I’ll lose that toenail eventually, but it’s still hanging on. All told, I’ve been having to be careful about the way I step, and vigilant. This takes energy and time, and I’m sure it’s slowing me down.

Surprisingly, I feel ok about it all. It was a little embarrassing to be lapped by tourists at Raven Rock, but I find I’m caring less than I did last weekend.

I would have loved to put the roller coaster behind me, but I’m ok here. One more descent and one more biggish ascent before I hit the ridge. 

In this same area tonight are two other hikers, both going south: Borderline and Rusty. I met Borderline after he had already passed this stealth site, where he’d been trying to go, and I got to be the one to help someone else, for once. 

It’s cool outside and still not raining.

The sunset up here is beautiful. I know it’ll rain tonight and tomorrow, but I’m enjoying this while it lasts.

The side trail to the stealth campsite gave major Brigadoon vibes.