My Trails

/29/12 – 630 miles/29/12 – 630 miles
It was 16 miles to Pearisburg, VA, my next resupply and rest stop. My first thought was to walk about 12 miles, find a campsite, and position myself for an early arrival into town the next day. The more I thought about it, it made more sense to walk all the way and take a full day to recover and rest after a week of high mileage days. Another hiker I met at the shelter suggested sharing a room to save on the expense. It turned out to be the best stroke of luck in weeks.

We had some climb at the beginning of our hike but much of the way was level or downhill and we made good time into town. Not long after we booked a room at the Plaza Motel, the sky opened up with torrential rain. If I were still on the trail it would have been very uncomfortable to say the least.

The person I’m staying with has the trail name Kleenex. She is one of the few solo hiking females on the trail and it has been a pleasure to meet and talk with her. In other circumstances sharing a room in this fashion might draw criticism or judgment from some, even though our ages are a generation apart. But in the hiker community, we all seem to become like family. Our relationships are strictly friendship oriented based on a common goal to hike to Maine. I can’t describe it any other way.

When we move on tomorrow her pace is faster than mine and she will hike on ahead of me. I have to admit that it has been wonderful to have someone to talk with after this long stretch of few hikers and I will miss that. Once again, I’m reminded of hiking with Karen when I meet one of the independent, outgoing, happy, young women that hike the AT.

5/28/12 – 613 miles
Today was another hot one. It’s a good thing the trail is mostly in the woods, to be out in sun hiking would be unbearable. There were long stretches without any streams or springs so we have to be careful to carry extra water. I met a family hiking last night that had run out and were still miles from the next source. I offered some of mine but they wouldn’t take it.

I’m beginning to see more hikers. There are about ten people at the shelter where I’m camped, a lot different and enjoyable than being all alone.

5/27/12 – 597 miles
I slept in this morning. It was 8 am before I started hiking. The bad thing about being the first one on the trail in the morning is all the spider webs. It’s really annoying to get plastered across the face with sticky invisible threads every few yards so I usually carry a stick in front of me as a blockade. After a while I get tired of holding the stick and use the swinging treking pole method. I try to guess where I would build a web if I were a spider and swing my pole in those areas. Unfortunately, the spider and I disagree on good spots and I will catch many more webs across my face.

I’m camped high on a mountain all alone tonight. I watched the sun set on a beautiful evening. The afternoon was quite warm so I rested at a shelter talking with an Australian couple hiking the trail for their honeymoon. When it cooled off I hiked a few more mile.

5/26 – 575 miles
Got an early start and was on the trail by 6:30. I didn’t have much energy today, the hiking was slow, maybe the heat and humidity had something to do with it. I’m at a shelter all by myself. There is a huge group just ahead hurrying to a hiker feed that happened today. Hikers love free food. Today I found trail magic on a road crossing five miles back. A church group was grilling hotdogs with chilly on top and also had a pasta salad that was quite tasty. I think the lemonade hit the spot best, it was a long dry stretch along a ridge line for miles.

5/25/12 – 557 miles
I didn’t leave Atkins until 9:00 am. The owner told me he would take me to the post office yesterday but I fell asleep in the afternoon and missed the ride, so I had to wait until it opened this morning. Atkins was not a good place to stop. The motel was dirty and run down and resupply consisted of a few snacks at a Exxon convenience store. The rest was good, though, my shin splint is almost healed.

I stopped hiking early today. My knee was a little sore and stiff. It seems that first days after a rest are always like that. I met with Sampson, a young guy and fast hiker and we passed each other through the day. He likes to stop and eat every hour and that would let me catch him. We did find trail magic at a road crossing – pb&j sandwiches and sodas – and with temps in the 80’s today, tasted good.

I’m camped by myself for the night. Tomorrow I will get up early and try to get good miles in while it is cool. I’m hoping for good weather for a few days. Against Chicken Feathers advice I sent home my winter clothes. I hope summer is here to stay.