The people running the Baymont Inn are incredible! I asked if they knew of any taxis or informal shuttlers. They connected me with a woman named Chrissy who shuttled me today.
Chrissy is an occasional taxi driver who charges a fair rate. She tried to drive me to my planned starting spot, but it would have involved going down a muddy road meant for ATVs, so I chose a closer spot on Bear Run Road. This one was easily accessible, so she dropped me off and I began hiking backwards. I knew rain was coming around 3 p.m., and I’d hoped to avoid it, especially with this shorter trek.
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Making My Way from Bear Creek Run
The trail here was OK, but also difficult. There were a lot of super steep climbs, plus downed trees that required you to hike way around them or clamber over multiple enmeshed trees. There was a fair amount of level trail at one point where the path follows Bear Run – yay! – but the vegetation here was up to my hips and even waist. It was wet due to all of the rain, so my legs got soaked.
I did see some cool, big rocks in the woods, and got nice glimpses of Bear Run. Eventually, I was back on roads. But then it 
began raining, earlier than predicated. Sigh.
Pivot, Pivot, Pivot
Chrissy can shuttle me again tomorrow – yes! I’m scheduled to stay at a motel in West Virginia, which will be nearly an hour’s drive, but it’s too late to cancel the reservation without penalty, so that’s what I’ll do. Not sure about the days after that. I’ll be getting too far away for Chrissy to shuttle me, and I’d hate to have to do multiple out-and-backs on this soggy, muddy, difficult terrain. I may head home early.
Snowshoe
Ohio NCT miles today: 14.3 (23 km)
Ohio NCT miles to date: 746 (1,200.6 km)
Total NCT miles to date: 3,593.7 (5,783.5 km)
Total NCT miles to go: 1,006.3 (1,619.5 km)
Most useful gear today: My Prana hiking pants, which protected me from scrub and water!
