Halfway Through VA - Feeling Those Virginia Blues

Saturday (5/19) Groot and I were about 10 miles into our day when suddenly I heard a dog bark. I couldn't see around Groot to get a look at the dog, but when I looked down the trail I couldn't believe who was there - it was Sixlegs (this time with his other 4 legs). He had driven most of the night to surprise me after hearing what miserable shape I had been in hiking into Pearisburg. He had 36 hours off of work and drove 4+ hours to cheer me up and bring me trail magic.

Oh look - more rain! But a surprise is around the corner..

On Thursday May 17 I hiked what I thought would be an 'easy’ 18.8 miles to Pearisburg. The day before I had hiked 33 miles so anything under 20 sounded great! But when I woke up with swollen feet it turned into one of the most difficult days so far on the trail.

Heat Then Rain Then Pain - Atkins to Pearisburg, VA

When I got to the Barn Restaurant in Atkins it was 9am (Monday 5/14) and I was ready for breakfast. I found Grim inside, a thru hiker I had seen randomly for the last couple hundred miles. He's from England and meeting his wife in NY on July 3rd and they'll travel home together - his visa expires but he hopes to come back next year to complete the rest of the trail.

Damascus to Atkins, VA

Woke up Thursday (5/10) morning in the tiny house early, but not in a rush to get up since I was taking my first zero day since Hot Springs! Sixlegs had brought me a care package of basically anything I needed to have a restful day and prepare for the upcoming miles. He brought lotions, soaps, shampoo, Epsom salt to soak my feet, even a hair brush although I told him I didn't need it! He had also brought brownies from my mom and my favorite chocolate covered peanut butter filled pretzels from Trader Joe's.

Into Virginia!

I woke up on the floor of the lodge in Mountain Harbour Hostel after a surprisingly restful night and headed down to the all-you-can-eat breakfast. I got my fill of blueberry pancakes, sausage, potatoes, omelets, biscuits and gravy, fruit, juice and coffee. With a full belly I walked back up US 19 to the trail. The trail that day looked like it would be relatively mellow and I was hoping to make it 24 miles to Watauga Lake. 

Month 1 - AT Thru Hike Summary

Today closes out on month on the trail. I've made it just about 470 miles to Damascus, VA. I've taken two zero days and a couple of nero days. My longest day so far has been 26.9 miles.

50+ Miles in 2 Days

Since leaving Uncle Johnny's Hostel on Thursday I hiked 51.4 miles in two days! My legs are feeling great, but my feet are very sore. And I'm getting some interesting tan lines..

I woke up at 5:30AM on Friday morning at the hostel and was on the trail by 6:15. Speedy was up but was taking a zero. I also saw General who I haven't seen since the Smokies..he was getting back on the trail that morning and said he'd catch up to me. He asked me where Meredith was - I told him Worm had to go back to work, unfortunately. It was a little chilly so I started hiking in my rain coat since my clothes were still wet from showering in them the night before..I was able to get all the salt and sweat off, but it did nothing for the smell.

Hot Springs,NC to Erwin, TN - 300 Mile Marker and Marathon Day

Meredith and I made it to Hot Springs, NC Sunday and it's a good thing we did..Pige, Calves, and other hikers that arrived in town Monday morning said they woke up to a fire within eyesight of their tents. They had stayed at the shelter only 3 miles outside of town and hustled into Hot Springs walking next to burning trees. By Monday afternoon a 5 mile stretch of the trail from Garenflo Gap to Hot Springs was closed. We watched helicopters fill buckets in the French Broad River and dump water on the fire all day long. We heard that section of the trail could be closed for weeks.