Damascus, Virginia is home to an annual festival know as Trail Days. It celebrates the quest of hikers – both past and present – that attempt to hike from Georgia to Maine on the Appalachian Trail. In a few short days, the little town will be mobbed by lanky, smelly hikers, young and old, male and female, all with the strange compulsion to hike 2000 miles through the Appalachian Mountains. Strung out for miles in either direction, hikers try to hitch rides, catch a shuttle, or plan any way they can to get to Trail Days.
It is such a beguiling accomplishment that past thru-hikers will travel back each year to the town of Damascus and join in the celebration. On the last day of the festival, all hikers take part in a parade, each representing the class of the year they thru-hiked. They are like a family all reuniting in the experience.
Backpacker Magazine will have people there doing presentations. All the gear companies will have representatives and demonstrations. The latest and greatest ideas in the backpacking world will be discussed, debated, and shared by experts and beginners alike. There will be forums, slide shows, and talks by famous thru-hikers. I think I may hang around and see what it’s all about.
I’ve been staying in a campground in Jefferson National Forest. It’s more expensive than I like
but there are showers and trails nearby. I’ve been tossing around logistics for a hike in the area and it looks like I may have one figured out. The AT runs about twenty miles through the forest, traversing the ridges and peaks of the mountains, always pushing continually north. Down in the valley, paralleling the trail, is a bike path, converted from the bed of the abandoned Virginia Creeper Railroad. I plan to backpack up the trail for a couple of days and pick up my bike for the return ride down the bike path.
I postponed the hike for two days because of a cold snap. The temperature may get down below freezing tonight. I could swear I saw some sleet a little while ago. I’m the only one in the campground and I’ve availed myself to many hot showers to offset the high price of my site. I think I may rationalize that many showers will keep me cleaner longer when I can’t find one. A hot shower seemed like a good idea to warm up before bed tonight, but I had a few problems.
The windows were still open at the shower building I usually go to so I decided to walk to another restroom on the other side of the loop. When I got there, I closed the windows, stripped down and started washing in the hot water. Almost immediately – within seconds – the water turned ice cold, and I jumped from the stall. Wrapping a towel around me and carrying my clothes, I scurried to the other building in freezing air and darkening gloom. When I got there I noticed the women’s side had windows that were shut. Hey… I’m the only one here… who cares if I use the girls side… it’s not like anybody’s going to catch me or anything. Feeling a little naughty, I stripped in the women’s stall and hit the button for the shower.
The water for the women’s shower had been turned off. Defeated, I returned to the drafty, men’s shower to finally finish what had turned out to be an ordeal.
Trail Days sounds like fun — something you would enjoy.
I can picture you running, with a towel around you, through freezing air. It is supposed to be 100º here today.
I guess this is one camping experience (the shower adventure) I’m glad not to have shared with you. But Trail Days sounds like fun.
Is it not possible for you to close the windows yourself.
Can you post some pictures of the beautiful areas you are seeing? (The scenery, not your naked, towel covered butt running through the woods.)
Trudge, you might have to change your trail name to “Streaks”. 🙂 Enjoy trail days!!
Donna – I should have explained in my story that the windows in that restroom were take out – like a storm window you put away for summer.