Day 46 - 30 Miles!

Another couple of busy busy days. Let's see, yesterday saw me waking up after a long day fueled by trail magic at New Hope church. That's right. It's amazing, the days are really blending together! 

I started yesterday a good 35 miles outside of Pearisburg. In my mind I told myself "17, 17 and then go into town on the 30th (tomorrow)." Well, as you can see, I did not listen to what my mind was telling me! The weather was perfect, I felt great, I kept a slow and steady pace, and the terrain was not treacherous. Put it all together, and you get a feeling that anything is possible. It's like a runner's high, but with hiking. I felt this all day, and when I got to Wapiti Shelter, where I thought I might camp, I just made dinner and kept right on going. It started to get late, and the sun was sinking low, but I still felt the hiker's high, so I headlamp'd up and on I went. I stopped to watch the sunset, ate more snacks (including most of what I had set aside for the next day), and then it was decided. I figured that I would never feel as good to go tomorrow as I did today, so why stop? I kept hiking as long as I enjoyed it. In the end, I made it all the way along a ridge in Jefferson National Forest to a rocky lookout, not more than 5 miles from Pearisburg! It was 10:30 when I laid out my tarp, Thermarest and sleeping bag and fell asleep under the stars. I had walked 30 miles. 

I still can't fathom the fact that I walked 30 miles yesterday, and I especially can't believe how easy it was! There have been several days where I've struggled to make 15, yet yesterday was not as physically or mentally challenging as those. I will admit, I was sore this morning, but I wasn't dead tired. It's crazy how things work out. I will also say that it feels great to know that I am capable of 30 mile days. It makes me feel like a real AT thru-hiker! But, for the time being, my thirst for high mileage is quenched and I think I will be taking it easy for a bit. 

Night hiking was fun too. I didn't picture myself as much of a night hiker coming into the trail. I figured maybe on really hot days, when doing it would keep me cool, but not now when the weather is bearable. But man, it was fun! Or at least a nice reprieve from the usual day hiking. It was a little scary, and I think it would be more enjoyable in a group. There were some spots where the white blazes were augmented by a nail with reflective paint. I assume that this was specifically for night hikers. The problem for me was that from a distance, the reflective nails looked just like the reflective bear eyes from last week!

Today I made it to Pearisburg, a day ahead of schedule. Pearisburg's a nice little town, and the highlight is definitely the hostel. It's behind a Catholic church on the far edge of town. It was a good two miles to get here! But the distance means less hikers and more peace and quiet. Plus the hostel is in an old farmhouse, with a wood burning stove, big front porch, and a loft to sleep in. The fridge was stocked with food by the caretakers, so that was nice too! The other highlight, and pretty much the only other thing I did today besides come to the hostel, was the Lucky Star China Buffet. 6 plates of food and 3 cups of Hershey's ice cream, gone in a flash of silverware! 

Tomorrow I think I'll take my time leaving town. It's been an eventful 48 hours, and I think some slowing down is in order.

- Scribbles (aka Ted)
8:37 p.m. 4/29/2015

Day 44 - Chestnut Knob and Trail Magic

I want to say that the last few days have been good, but that's getting repetitive by now. The last few days have been average! 

A few nights ago it just about rained buckets on me, and the thunder was so loud it woke me up once. But I stayed dry, so it's safe to say I'm getting better at setting up the hammock since Roan. Then yesterday was a cloudy, cold, and windy march through some pretty nondescript terrain. The one big mountain, Chestnut Knob, might have been pretty if not for the fog that didn't let me see more than 100 feet ahead of me! The weather must have motivated me or something, because I pushed out about 21 miles. 

Now today I'm moving on. This morning I got picked up by the fine folks at the New Hope Union Church in Bastian Virginia. They serve breakfast to hikers every Monday. I had no idea, it was completely random! And it was good too. My favorite was the homefries casserole, which is homefries topped with cream of chicken soup, cheese, and corn flakes, put in the oven. Man I just about ate the whole casserole tin! 

Patrick, the guy who picked me up and dropped me off, told me that he liked that the magic was not well known, despite its organization. It certainly adds to the value when you don't know anything about it beforehand! 

I feel like I could hike a marathon right now.

Scribbles (aka Ted)
2:27 p.m. 4/27/2015

Week 6 Progresss Map

Weeks 5 and 6 Progress Map, and the territory to the north for the week to come!

(By now, yes, Ted is past Groseclose, 

but we are charting his progress week by week, 

and as of Friday and the close of the week 

he hadn't quite yet gotten that far.)

Day 43 - Blunders & Bear

Now I'm eating lunch in Groseclose Virginia at The Barn. Sitting near me is John Ellison, the writer of "Some Kind of Wonderful". How cool is that!? 

Last night was crazy! But first allow me to fill you in on my latest blunders...I think I've been getting a little too comfortable with the hiking life. It's making me careless! Y'all remember I lost a tent stake. Well, I followed that up with my spork and now, my crocs! The spork is a mystery. It has disappeared into oblivion. The crocs, I knew right where I had left them as soon as I realized they were missing. At the shower of Partnership Shelter. Oh well. After completing the trifecta of losing things, I think I am back down to earth. No more carelessness! It sure is humbling. 

Now, last night! It was exciting for sure. I woke up at about 1:30 and I heard what sounded like footsteps down the hill. Crunching leaves and snapping sticks. The trail wasn't down the hill, though, it was up the hill. And who would be bushwacking at 1:30? So I sat up, realizing that what I heard must be an animal. The steps were getting closer. They were heavy; whatever was making them was at least human sized. A bear! I was a bit frightened, so I turned on my headlamp and pointed it in the direction of the sound. All I saw was trees, but amongst the trees were two little dots of light. The bears eyes were reflecting the light. I couldn't see the bear, but he must have been 30 yards away or so. After about 10 minutes of watching the eyes move about, I dropped the headlamp, clapped my hands and let out a "whoop!" Then the bear ran away! Man, it was exciting and scary too.

-Ted
12:34 p.m. 4/25/2015

Day 41 - Grayson Highlands

What a last few days it's been. Lots to fill you in on, that's for sure. 

First off, the Grayson Highlands were spectacular! It's impossible to pick a favorite spot on the trail, but they are in the running for sure. I thought that I was transported to African Savannah yesterday. It was unlike any land I've ever been to! The wind was whipping, probably a steady 40 with gusts over 50. But the sun was shining and it was warm, so the wind only made every step exciting. At some points, I was leaning at what felt like a 45 degree angle to keep myself upright, and then if the wind died down for a moment, I'd nearly fall over! The day was a blur, to be honest. Every turn had beauty like none other. I loved it! 

That wasn't all, however. At Wise Shelter toward the end of the day I ran into a Boy Scout troop from Hopkinton, Mass. I took an extra long break there, and was treated to a game of setback, my favorite card game, and Miso soup! It was nice to be with some fellow New Englanders...and the food wasn't half bad either! 

This morning I woke up to completely clear skies (I haven't seen a cloud all day) more intense wind, and bitter cold. It was probably in the 20s, as I crossed several frozen creeks early in the day. The cold and wind combined for a brutal first 3 miles above treeline at 8AM.

I had actually sent about half my cold weather gear home in Damascus, only holding onto my winter hat, leggings, and cold sleeping bag. Luckily, those articles combined with my windbreaker, fleece, and long pants were sufficient. The only part of me that suffered were my hands. I had to put my poles on my pack and bury my hands in my sleeves to keep them warm! But it was not too cold to take a few pictures of the wild ponies before I left the Grayson Highlands.  

Interestingly, the ponies are not actually "wild." They were introduced to the area to keep the highlands bald and the views amazing. 

I sure hope this good weather keeps up. Hiking is so much easier! Oh, that's the other thing. I've been making really good miles. Yesterday I hit 500! Wow! It must be the good food in my maildrop.

-Ted

4:47 p.m. 4/23/2015

Day 39 - Yesterday's Zero Day

Oh what a difference a zero day makes! I got my ice cream fix yesterday, and then followed that up with another heap of food. I went through my bounce box, my food drop, and reorganized for the trail ahead. I played cards with some other hikers, practiced guitar, and got a great nights sleep. It was a total reset. 

I guess I didn't realize this, but I was really tired when I got into town. Not sleepy tired or muscles tired, but mentally tired. Hiking day after day takes its toll, especially when its through bad weather, as much of it was. Taking a break was a mental reset, too. 

In the last few days before I got to Damascus, hiking had kind of become this annoying thing I did between snack breaks and sleep. Now I feel refreshed. Hiking is what I'm doing, and the snack breaks are little interruptions. It's a very good feeling. 

Today I've already made it 10 miles, and to be honest I don't know how far I'll go. I feel good now, maybe it'll be another 10... Oh and that's the other thing; the weather is gorgeous today! 

The next bit of trail promises to be pretty. The Grayson Highlands...famous for wild ponies!

-Ted

4/21/2015

Day 38 - No Cell Service in Damascus

Hope y'all got the pictures! Damascus is a cute little town. It's strange though, hikers are so pervasive, as opposed to Erwin or even Hot Springs, where we were present, but just guests of the "real" residents. This place just feels like any point on the trail!

I'm glad to be in Virginia. Three whole states - Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Done, done, and done! Virginia will carry me through at least another whole month. In all, there's 550 miles; about 1/4 of the trail in this one state! The walk in was rainy, of course. Rain has become a theme in the last few weeks, ever since that nice afternoon at Beauty Spot really. I don't mind it that much. I stay pretty dry, the towns are close enough that there's time to get a break and air out wet clothes. But what makes the rain annoying, for lack of a better word, is that it makes places that are supposedly beautiful (see the Roan Highlands) into grey foggy blurs that I race through as fast as I can to get to cover. It's a little disappointing and...annoying! August, a chronic thru-hiker who has completed several thrus, attempts one about every other year, and is a wealth of experience and information, told me that this year is on track to be the wettest one he's ever hiked through! I'm staying positive, though. At least I'm in good health, and I'm making good time, and I'm in Damascus, the mecca of the Appalachian Trail! And the rain will clear up eventually, and everything will be a glorious green, right...?


Today is my first official zero. I had planned to stay outside town last night, per usual, and hike in this morning. However, the terrain was easy-peasy, and I was at my planned campsite by 1:30. On top of that, it was pouring. I decided that my half-day would be better spent in town than sitting in the rain. I'm staying at "The Place," a church-run hostel. Last night was fun playing guitar with other hikers, and tonight will be my first night sleeping in the same place since I left home! I'm eating tons of food, and really enjoying the zero. The library here is awesome. It's brand-new, the people are friendly, and the computers are fast enough to upload pictures.

Tonight will be more eating and then tomorrow I hope to get a bright and early start and get back out on the road. Expect another town-related update tomorrow. I'm off to find some ice-cream....

- Ted
12:59 pm 4/20/2015

Day 38 Photos Here!