Tuesday, May 12, 2026
I continue toward Damascus as the trail tiptoes along a high ridge. Views of Watauga Lake and the adjacent valley accompany me as I hike over 1,000 AT miles.
get up and go
TO The cold morning belied the oncoming heat: it was predicted to be above 70° today. I struggled to get out of my warm bed until well after 8 o’clock. I gathered my things to do another long distance day hike. Just as I was about to follow the trail, a truck stopped and dropped off another hiker. They had come to the Appalachian Trail to backpack to Damascus for Trail Days. It was their first day on the trail and we spent about 10 minutes walking together and chatting.
I was looking forward to today’s hike based on what I saw on the map. After an initial climb, the trail kept its path along a ridge for over 10 miles. This was a welcome change from my recent experiences on the trail. The trail had been quite winding. He had also just climbed up and down the same side of a mountain. Today, a view from above the trail revealed a line as straight as an arrow pointing northeast directly toward Damascus. I felt like I was going to take the highway.
A view of Watauga Lake from the trail.
The Ridge and 1000 miles traveled
The Ridge hike exceeded my expectations. There were some undulations, but all the ups and downs were brief. To my right I could see the lake and the mountains across the valley. To my left, a view to the west, beyond the Appalachians.
After a few hours, I started meeting up with some of the Dividing Ridge hikers. The Riff Raff group prepares them a hot breakfast and then takes them to the trail. They were using the free packing service provided by Riff Raff. I had seen some of them the night before. The group did an excellent job organizing food, drink and accommodation at Dividing Ridge. I feel like this is a small sample of the hospitality and attitude I will find this weekend at the Trail Days festival.
About 6.5 miles into the hike, I unceremoniously walked my 1,000th mile since February 27th. What surprises me most is how well things have gone. I expected to have sprained an ankle, drawn some blood, or had my schedule out of control by now. But everything went well and I feel very good for the next few kilometers.
A straight, flat, glorious section of ridge trail.
A rhododendron blooms next to the path.
See you tomorrow he’s back
Since I haven’t packed for the last three days, I’ve seen the same hikers on consecutive days. Once again I am living up to the name of my trail! As I chat with my fellow hikers, I discover that I don’t need to explain my real name. For them it is already quite obvious.
The place to be
Besides finishing the hike and getting to Katahdin, besides the Trail Days event itself, what is the best time and place to be on the Appalachian Trail? I think it might be there. I’m at the end of the NOBO bubble. There are plenty of hikers to talk to. Trail magic seems to be appearing at every intersection. The trail angels know that many hikers will try to reach Damascus before May 15. Perhaps it will be similar towards Mount Springer as the bubble moves forward. However, without a definitive start date for the bubble, I don’t think the volume of hikers and magical trails will be as concentrated as it is now.
I wasn’t expecting this when I returned to Virginia after Easter. I had chosen a spot on the trail primarily for convenience. Once I hiked the trail back to Damascus, I had to choose between moving south or returning to the southern sections I had skipped. It seemed more practical to complete the southern sections and progress back to the Trail Days. I didn’t think I had a realistic chance of finishing all the way to Damascus. If I worked from north to south, I figured I would eventually have to choose between driving back and forth between the southern section and Trail Days or missing the event.
Fortunately, it couldn’t have turned out better. I’m meeting a lot of hikers that I’ll be able to hang out with at Trail Days. Plus, I’ll be able to tie the entire route together right before the big event.
A view towards the east of the valley from the trail.
Eccentric Hiker Update
While walking today, I heard there was a magical trail at the next intersection with Tennessee Route 91. I wanted to go there anyway as it would be my starting point for the next day’s hike. I arrived at the parking lot at 7:30 pm. I had missed dinner, but there was still a cold beer, cookies, and some candy to enjoy while hanging out with a small group of hikers and the two trail angels. The magic of the trail was courtesy of Mr. and Mrs. Discerned Hiker. They own a shelter in Cosby, Tennessee, with the same name. They had prepared a hot dinner for the hikers and were going to serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner the next day. I really enjoyed talking to the group while eating cowtails, Twizzlers, and starburst.
The hikers had traversed Watauga Lake with “aquamarine.” Even more interesting, they had also crossed paths with the eccentric hiker he had met and heard about in the Smokies. They found out that he purposely uses a woman’s backpack for the road. No one knows why he prefers a women’s backpack. I understand that the design may take into account women’s proportions. However, that’s certainly not this particular hiker’s body type. Oh, and he still eats plenty of wild plants along the way for “fiber.” The mystery grows deeper and deeper.
The snacks and conversation were a wonderful way to close out the day and I was looking forward to French toast for breakfast tomorrow morning.
Trail Magic Deals from The Discerning Hiker.
-See you tomorrow
| Leg | Begin | Mile | End | Mile | Ascent | Decline | Address |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wilbur Dam Highway | 433.4 | MM 447.0 | 447.0 | 3,694 | 1982 | NOBO |
| 2 | MM 447.0 | 447.0 | Wilbur Dam Highway | 433.4 | 1982 | 3,694 | THE ROOM |
Total: 27.2 miles, 56,426 steps
- Hike type: Day hike
- Camp: Minivan, Wilbur Dam Highway
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