Onward through Virginia

Day 64

I passed under so many huge power lines on the way into Daleville, some of which were quite buzzy. When walking under them I imagined my hair would  stand up, but it didn't.

Upon arriving in town three of us checked into the hotel, showered, ate fatty food for lunch, then went to get food for our resupply. I have learned to eat before going into a grocery store, it decreases the number of spontaneous food purchases dramatically.

In the evening we hung out with Mufasa and Dory. We played a game called Nouns which was new to me but I now love. We each wrote nouns on slips of paper and put them into a hat. Round one-describe, round two-describe using only one word, round three-charades, and round four-charades under a sheet. It was quite funny and a lot of fun.

Day 65

I hiked out of Daleville on a stomach full of hummus and cucumber. Eating in town is so wonderful. My pack was heavy again with six days of food and two liters of water. In the future I should remember not to leave town at noon, it was so hot and muggy!

I managed to hike 0.7 miles uphill in 12 minutes this evening. What was my motivation? Ominous looking clouds and thunder. I got to the shelter and pitched my tent before the storm hit. In fact it never did!

Day 66 

I went swimming today! The day ended with a hike down to a river. It was very hot, so being able to rinse away all the sweat was wonderful. There were some people fishing too. As a group of us were sitting around eating a man came and brought us fish. We cooked it over the fire and it was delicious! It reminded me of the fresh fish I ate in Micronesia. Now I'm worried a bear will come through the campsite because of cooking the fish. I doubt I will sleep soundly tonight.

I walked about one foot away from two snakes today before I realized what they were. I thought someone's shirt had fallen in the trail. I waited for Chameleon to arrive. She looked at them then shooed them off the trail.

Day 67

The weather was beautiful today. The air was much cooler with no humidity, it made such a big difference. Still sweaty carrying my pack but overall it was much more pleasant.

There was an FAA tower on top of a mountain today. I was glad I read about it in the book first otherwise it would have been very strange to see. It definitely looked like something other wordly.

Ticks are out in full swing. I haven't found one on myself yet, but others around me have. I've been told they are very small here too. Ugh! Other bugs are out too and now I've got bug bites. Life on the trail is always changing.

Day 68 

Last night was chilly. I slept with my down coat inside my sleeping bag. Overall having a summer bag has been a good choice but last night wasn't quite comfortable.

It was a gray, damp day. Today had the same level of light from 7am - 8pm which was odd. There was no way to tell what time it was by the sun. I walked over the James River on the longest foot bridge on the AT. I walked past so many places that would have been great for a quick dip had I been sweaty. I can't complain too much though. Overall we have had beautiful weather.

Day 69

I have walked 800 miles on the Appalachian Trail. That is crazy! Today was chilly all morning, I actually had to wear my long sleeve and a hat.

It wasn't until I arrived at the shelter tonight and saw the number of weekend hikers that I realized it was Memorial Day Weekend. That also explained all the day hikers from today too.

How do I identify a section hiker from a thru-hiker? Section hikers smell clean or like some kind of product. They have clean clothes and boots. They have large packs and brand name foods and snacks. If there are loud people up late they are a section hiker.  Granted these are stereotypes but they are based on my experiences.

Day 70 

Chameleon and I had great luck getting our resupply in town today. As we came off the trail a person offered us a ride to town. Other hikers were lent a car for the day so they gave us a ride to lunch. While filling up on Italian food a father and son asked us all about the trail then gave us a ride back. It was so amazing to get 10 miles to a town so easily!

I am camping in a large field with so many other people. It's a busy weekend for sure but somehow there are a lot of thru-hikers too. I sang ukulele outside tonight and it felt wonderful. It is approaching first quarter moon. I love having moonlight at night!

Day 71

Today was one of the easiest hiking days so far! The terrain was relatively flat and the trail itself was quite smooth. The weather was great too, sunny with a cool breeze. I was enjoying myself so much I managed to trip both feet over the same small rock.

Day 72 

Today I hiked down 3000 feet, crossed a small river, then hiked back up 3000 feet on the other side. Some days hiking up and down just seems so silly! I did have a great view this afternoon of all the mountains and ridges I had walked today. That was really neat.

For the past number of days all the privies have smelled very badly. I didn't realize how lucky I was to have moldering privies and open air privies for so long. Now I walk into a completely enclosed box with screen and mesh over the one window that only seems to keep all the flies in. Now that no leaves or duff is being added to the waste,  they really stink too, a smell similar to ammonia. There is an exhaust pipe of sorts but that results in smelling the privy at the shelter. Good thing I get fresh air the rest of my day!

Day 73 

Today I met a hiker who started a month after me in Georgia. She jogged past me just as it started to rain. After chatting i learned she hiked over 30 miles today. I just cannot fathom that! It's amazing and I have zero desire to do that.

I saw a fawn this afternoon. It was quite small and still hadn't adjusted to using its legs yet. Despite growing up in Maine and seeing deer all my life, I don't think I have ever seen one so small.

Day 74

I hiked a short 5 miles into town this morning. There was a list of 20 trail angels to call to get a ride into town. How nice!

After getting our resupply a friend came to pick up Chameleon and me. I am so excited to be taking a zero in a house! We made burritos for dinner and plan to relax all day tomorrow. Thanks for hosting us!

Happy Belated Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day Mama!

Here is a bouquet from the Appalachian Trail!
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two Months on the Trail

Day 55

Chameleon and I successfully hitched into and out of Pearisburg! It took three rides each way but we didn't have to wait too long in between each one. I was definitely glad to have someone with me even though these communities are accustomed to seeing hikers.

I got my summer package from the post office. My new sleeping bag takes up so much less space! Everything except my ukulele now fits into my pack when I'm fully stocked with six days of food. It weighs less now too!

Day 56

Today I saw two hikers I hadn't seen in a long time. Bean Counter passed by our camp site this saying he had been chasing me for a while. I met him during my first week on the trail in Georgia and hadn't seen him since.  Then I saw Ninja Face when I stopped for a snack. The last time I had seen him was in the Smokies. You never know who will turn up!

This morning was quite nice. There was some leaf cover that kept things cool. The afternoon was very hot with a lot of sweat. I was glad to see the shelter to cool off and rest my feet.

Day 57

Happy Mother's Day! Today I had multiple great views out over a valley. At the first lookout I watched rain move over the mountains in a sheet with sun shining behind it. At the next overlook a bird was riding the wind currents the dove and spun straight down before swooping back up to the sky.

The sunset was beautiful tonight. I am so lucky to be here.

Day 58

This morning I got an earlier start than usual. As I walked up the hill and over the ridge I saw mountain tops emerging out of a see of fog. They looked like islands on a smokey gray sea.

 

As the weather gets warmer streams are more important. First, they provide water which is much cooler than the water that has been sitting in my bottle for hours. Second, I can rinse off and cool down. I didn't realize just how lucky we were on the beginning of the trail.  I never had to worry about where the next water source would be, I never ran out of water.  Now, in the mornings I look and plan how much water to carry. Running out of water after five miles and not finding water for another five would be terrible.  Thankfully that has not happened to me yet, but there are others who have not planned so well.

For the first time I have partially  set my tent up inside a shelter. I saw a mouse while cooking dinner and there were just two on the wall. As long as they don't eat a hole in my tent at least they won't be running over me.

Day 59

The thunderstorms did arrive last night. I was glad to be in a shelter with the thunder and lightning right over head. The good thing was that it seemed to scare the mice into hiding for the night. The cloudy morning turned into a beautiful day. The air felt fresh and crisp, perfect for hiking.

Day 60

There was a great cool breeze all day today. It was a bit chilly last night but certainly not cold. I hiked along a ride today with large rounded grey rocks. The terrain reminded me of New Hampshire and hiking I did as a kid. The sun was warm from the south and every time there was a break in the rocks cool wind would blow over from the north. Lovely hiking weather.

 

Chameleon and I stopped to make dinner by a river around five, then kept hiking. There weren't going to be any water sources in the next 10 miles or so. We hiked into the evening, found a great camping spot and set up our tents to watch the sunset.

Day 61

Today marked two months on the trail and we walked through the 700th mile of the trail!

I saw my first rhododendron in bloom on the trail this morning! After seeing so many of the bushes and buds, seeing the flower was very exciting. Later in the day whole bushes were in bloom. I also saw mountain laurel in bloom. The buds look like the stars made of icing.

I hiked up to Dragons Tooth. It was a large rock formation jutting up from the mountain. The climb down was steep and a bit challenging with a pack on. I was glad to have hiked some extra miles yesterday!

I'm staying at a hostel tonight. Unfortunately the grocery store listed in the guidebook had closed, so I bought food for the next few days at a gas station. Thankfully they also had burgers, pizza, homemade brownies, and ice cream. Yum!

Day 62

I slept late this morning, until 7:30, at the hostel. We decided to rest and take a lazy morning and to take three days to hike the next section rather than two.

There was a good rain shower this afternoon. I think that was the first time my new boots had gotten soaked. Not bad since I have been wearing them since Damascus!

Day 63

This morning I woke up early in an attempt to see the sun rise. I didn't get to see it but the early morning om McAfee's Knob was beautiful. Fog was in the deeper valleys, the silhouettes of the mountains faded into the distance, and the sun glimmered through the clouds.

 

On my way up to Tinker Cliffs I saw a mama bear with her cubs. I don't think she ever saw me. At first I wasn't even sure what I was looking at. She was on all fours and was hidden by brush. I could tell she wasn't moving like a deer so I stopped on the trail. As she wandered I realized she was a bear and that the rustling behind her must have been cubs. They were tumbling around after her. I watched and waited for a while giving them plenty of time to move on.

We ate lunch with a fellow hiker on the cliffs. The houses in the valley were surprisingly large. So many great things to see today!

It was a short walk down the mountain to the next shelter. It was another short day, but with waking up early I was glad for a relaxing afternoon.