Hot Like Hades – The Walk

Day 76-9 miles today from the Mason Dixon line to running shelters

Easy does it

I was determined to enter Harpers Ferry. I limited most of the six miles in Harpers Ferry, so I knew I needed to do something about my ankle.

After hanging out at the ATC Lodge and learn about a transfer of pain to my ankle, I expected my ankle pain to be due to a torn muscle in my calf. From there came the pain nexus.

«Therefore, for the good of Christ, I delight with the weaknesses, the insults, the difficulties, the persecutions, in the difficulties. Because when I am weak, then I am strong.» 2 Corinthians 12:10 NIV

New kicks

My shoes were completely erased. While Altra Olympus 6 was responsible for Kneaterz’s damaged heels, Olympus 5s have been incredible shoes. My Olympus 5 has gone a thousand miles. I had another pair of waiting for me in the house of my trail angels.

My Rastro Ángel Noelle said it would come from Harpers Ferry. So I took 2 days to zero complete at home to put my ankle and leg in a better way.

Easy does it

I started this morning at 7:30 from the Mason-Dixon line. The heat dome has been established in the area and it is assumed that temperatures reach record levels in parts of Maryland and Virginia. I will be very cautious to keep myself hydrated and keep my electrolyte levels well.

While I just took 2 days zero, it seems an eternity since I have been on the road. When we approached the path this morning, I began to excite myself to go out again and continue the walk north. I hope my ankle stays.

Pa is flat

The path descended to a quiet forest with a pleasant babbling stream before starting the first climb per day at about 600 feet in one mile. The general elevation seems to be much less than the previous sections of the Trail of the Apalaches.

I am extremely concerned about my ankle this first day. I don’t intend to make too many miles today.

I also have these new shoes. They feel good on my feet but a little uncomfortable because the filling is new. The padding of my old shoes was flat, but now I can feel the padded extra under my feet. My ankles want to shoot a little due to new shoes. So I want to be extremely cautious today while.

Heat dome

At 7 am, there are 75 degrees at this time, but it will rise to the 90s at noon. I can decide to call it early and find a good place to get out of heat for the rest of the day.

Coolwhip and Milkbone came to me and picked up my rhythm to walk with them for a short time. Today they were comfortable. Just then a great snake came out. He was 15 feet long and Milkbone grabbed him with bare hands and cut his head. (That is for you Milkbone as requested).

(That really didn’t happen)

I knew I needed to go quiet today, so I backed away and let them move on.

Hiking alone

Later I stopped in a spring and the Drsilvercrotch, so I walked with him for a short piece. Once again, I knew I needed to go quiet today, so I backed away and let him continue. He wanted to continue at his pace. It was good to have a conversation. I’m really going to follow my low miles today. I don’t want to have an excessive use injury that delayed me even more.

Drsilvercrotch said yesterday that he started at 5:00 am and walked up to approximately 1:00 pm and then took a nap for 3 hours in a shelter during the hottest part of the day. And then start walking again at 4:00. That seems to be wise. Such a wise young man with such a big attitude.

Deceleration

I’m slowing down now because it’s just 11:00 and I only have four miles left. I feel that I really need to put the miles and I really feel that I could put some miles today.

The elevation is nothing compared to the previous 1,000 miles. Until now, the amount of rock revolts has also been minimal. The ease of the path would allow 20 miles days. Except for heat.

Then I met MTH for the first time, a 70 -year -old who is making his second attempt at a walk. He had a rebuilt knee and a rebuilt ankle not long ago and now he is walking here. A little later I found a button that was heading south with a slack pack. He had fallen a few days ago and was returning to great miles.

Hot like hell

Around 1:30 I crossed multiple babbling streams near the Picnic Old Forge area. The temperature was 95 but felt as 110 °.

I was taking my time and I only had 1.3 miles for the shelter where I would call it one day. Now it’s very hot.

I sat at the shelter and ate food and tried to cool. Three other people also took refuge from heat in shelters.

After a few hours I moved to the group of group camp and created my store. It was 4:00 and still brutally hot. I lay in my store with only the mosquito network. He was sweaty and hot and still at hours of midnight from the hiker.

The blues

This first day back on the path has been more heavy than fun work. I know from past experience that leaving the civilized world and re -entering the forest always makes me melancholic that first day. I hope that tomorrow I can get more miles, but still plan to take it easy.

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