Camping (Mis)adventures

Cynthia, Sara, and I went camping (in cabins) for a few day in Shenandoah National Park. Some parts went smoothly, other parts were sooo stupid! 

Task: Drive part of Skyline Drive and make it to first cabin.
Result: Success! Incredible views, found cute lil Corbin Cabin, though we did not bring enough light sources.

Task: Hike Old Rag.

Result: Mixed. Did not check maps (shame on my maps and nav skills) so we went the wrong way for 2 miles. Got to the rock scramble while storm clouds gathered. Made it to the summit! Then, HUGE BOLTS OF LIGHTNING. We ate a gremlin lunch under some rocks.

They are called the Blue Ridge Mountains for a reason!

Impending storm.

It's an adrenaline lunch!

Task: Make it back to our cabin from Old Rag.

Result: Yes! We made it back 20 minutes before dark. Hiking back 7 or 8 miles through severe blisters, chafing, and exhaustion.

This sums up our accidental 16-mile day quite accurately.

At least we didn't hike Old Rag in a thunderstorm with a BABY like one family we saw. We're not that stupid!

All in all, it was a wonderful week outside in the mountains. I'm pretty sure I can never go back to normal backpacking, because wow staying in Potomac Appalachian Trail Club cabins was so convenient. Wood fire stove on a cold March night while camping? Yes please, all the time please! On the other hand, I do have my new tiny and extremely portable camp stove, so maybe real camping will happen too.

I'm in love.