Pink Blazing: 210 miles in 5.5 days to catch a shooting star

Day Zero – Starburst

You are not a monster.
I was the one wearing all black.
But I prefer everything pink…starburst.
It started with a Starburst,
The thought did not escape me,
That started with a Starburst
And it ended all in pink.

My backpack is orange.
The arches are quite yellow.
My ukulele and Tennessee are red.
There was a murder
Or at least that’s what someone said.

It started with a Starburst,
The thought did not escape me,
That started with a Starburst,
And when I handed you that all-pink drink mix,
Your smile told me:
That everyone has a screamer inside
Trying to be freed.
The icy cold wind blows,
And also our souls.
But they see you.

It started with a Starburst,
The thought did not escape me,
That started with a Starburst
And it ended all in pink.
You were very encouraging.
I didn’t want to leave.
I didn’t want to go to sleep.
I felt like I could talk to you forever.
So no, you’re not a monster.
But I prefer everything pink.

Day 1 – Chick-fil-A Magic

I woke up at 4:14 am like from a nightmare. I rolled over hoping I could fall asleep again. No luck. I was at Boots Off Hostel outside of Hampton, Tennessee. I was preparing to do my best to cover 210 miles in 6 days to catch up with my friend Star before she finished the Appalachian Trail in Pearisburg, Virginia. I told Star I was going to learn some Justin Bieber songs, so I thought I’d take advantage of the moments before breakfast to practice.

After breakfast, I said goodbye to Starburst and left much later than I wanted, considering I needed to average over 33 miles per day. I didn’t get very far when there was another setback. I would consider it a good setback. I came to a crossroads and saw a couple walking up a hill carrying a table. They told me: «We are preparing a magical trail if you want to wait a little.» I replied, «I could be persuaded.» I then proceeded to help them prepare it before enjoying Chick-fil-A and soda for much longer than I probably should have.

Although the magic of the trail set me back further during the day, it lifted my spirits and propelled me forward. I didn’t even get closer than 30 miles and stopped just after 10pm. I promised to start much earlier. I fell asleep uncertain but not yet desperate. I already had the feeling that this chase had a lesson for me. He would learn that lesson in the morning.

How I met a real life star

The first time I met Star, at the base of Blood Mountain, I asked her if she had a trail named after her. She told me it was Lonestar on the Long Trail but she was willing to get a new one. Although our conversation was brief, I felt like I learned a lot about her.

The second time I met Star, the next day at a water feature, she had had a rough night because her tent poles broke. Despite that, she still shined brightly. It’s hard to describe. It was a vibe. Star seemed like the kind of person who found the good in the world.

The third time I met Star, days later at Winding Stair Gap, I played a little ukulele. He mentioned that I should learn Justin Bieber how to play the ukulele. I didn’t see her again after that, but for some reason, it became very important to catch her and play her the songs I had learned. So much so that I woke up at 3:00 am and started walking in the dark.

Day 2: Lone Star

As I flew down the trail in the dark, I wondered why I was doing this, could I even do it? Would it be worth it? I started to feel homesick. So I decided to download a Norah Jones album that I used to listen to all the time back in the day. While listening to the family album, a song I had forgotten came on. The song was «Lonestar.»

All the lyrics hit me like a ton of bricks. In one line, Norah sings, «How far you are, I just don’t know. The distance I’m willing to go.» The song begins with «Lonestar, where are you out tonight» and ends with «It’s dark and I think I’d do anything for you to shine on me.» Apparently, without knowing it, I was looking for a sign that would let me know that what I was doing was worth it.

It was what I needed to move forward. I was going to catch a star. So at noon I quickly headed towards Damascus. I grabbed my new shoes and ate some food. I didn’t dawdle and left town at 1:00 pm. Then it started to rain, so I kept walking. I only took a 20 minute break at a toilet before continuing and finally stopped at the 40 mile mark, tying my personal record for most miles in a day. But that was just the warm-up for what was going to be the longest day of my life. I set up camp in the dark just before the Roan Highlands.

Day 3: Longest day ever, only it flew by

The Roan Highlands are the highlight of the trail. I have been hearing about them and their ponies for many years. But when I left camp at 3:30 in the morning, I had to remind myself that even though I was hiking one of the most beautiful areas of the AT in the dark, when I couldn’t see anything around me, I was headed toward something even more beautiful: a great story. How often does someone chase a falling star and catch it?

I knew that to get as many miles as I needed, I couldn’t take many breaks until camp. So I just tried it. I walked a lot in the dark, and when dawn broke, I saw three bears running away from me as I flew down the trail. My goal for the day was to travel 43 miles to the settler museum where I could camp. I arrived there long before sunset. However, he was exhausted. There was trail magic there and I ate well before falling asleep in the sun.

Day 4 – Self-doubt

The night before I had met a hiker named Bambi. He was about to go off trail to attempt an FKT (fastest known time) on the Ice Age Trail. I told him that doubt only has as much power as you give it; that every time it arises, it is important to recognize it, accept it and then let it go. I would need this advice to get through the next two days.

At that point, I hadn’t heard from Star in a couple of days. I had no idea if I was gaining on him. But I got up once again and started walking in the dark. I was feeling good and thought at least I had one more great day left. This day was particularly difficult, but I had had a series of really long days and I had no idea where I was in relation to Star. Had I lost her? Then, as I was setting up camp 38 miles into the day, I got a message. I’m close. She camped just 14 miles ahead of me. I had closed a 70 mile gap between us. I went to bed feeling like I would find her the next day. Spoiler alert…that didn’t happen.

Day 5 – The hardest day by far

She gave me a lot of outlets. I plan to let myself know that I wouldn’t disappoint her if I didn’t make it. She said she would even come find me after going off the trail and give me trail magic. But I made a promise and I intended to keep it. However, during the night there was a thunderstorm. I’m afraid of lightning and I can’t sleep. I slept in once the lightning stopped and had a hard time getting out of bed. I started late but it was going well. I probably wasn’t going to catch Star that day, but I was going to get as close to the city as possible so I could be there on the sixth day, the day I had promised to be there.

As I approached mile 600, I hit a wall. I was so tired I couldn’t move fast. I slowed down and she went further. I stopped well short of my goal, at just 32 miles per day. Somehow I needed to drive 31 more miles to Pearisburg the next day so I could hang out with Star.

Day 6 – 31 miles in 11 hours

Somehow, I managed to get out of bed and start walking again in the dark. I walked until dawn and just as I was about to stop and take a break, it started to rain. I must say that it started to pour rain. It continued to rain for what seemed like hours. I couldn’t use my phone, so I kept walking. I took a 30 minute break at a shelter and discovered I was less than 10 miles from the city, and it was only 11:00 am. As soon as I started my final push, it started raining even harder. Then it stopped. Around me was a solid blanket of white clouds, but above me, directly above me, was the blue sky and the sun that followed me to Pearisburg, Virginia. I did it.

I checked into Angel’s Rest Hostel and took a well-deserved and necessary shower. Star invited me to dinner with her trail family and it was spectacular. It was so nice to be able to spend time with her and have real conversations. It felt good to be a part of your trail family’s beautiful farewell. Star had officially completed the AT and I was there just as promised. After dinner, I went back to the hotel and played him the songs I had learned. It was a special moment.

The next day, we all had coffee, and when it came time for Star and I to say goodbye, it was difficult. But we agreed that we would be friends forever. That was important for both of us. It turns out that catching a shooting star is possible and worth it.

catch a star

She descended from above me and landed gracefully.
At the base of a mountain.
Blood without pain.
she told me her name
And something about a Lonestar.
The next day
After a windy night, thank goodness your tent didn’t blow away.
It breaks but is still so bright.
I think I would chase him.

I sang “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” before the ferry.
I think he saw something in me as the trucks roared by.
She took off so far, so fast and with so much confidence,
As I stumble behind.

To catch a falling star
Has anyone actually caught one?
I would chase a shooting star
Just to sing him a song.

Not far now; I just need to pack my bags
And walk all day to catch up.
Come and find out that she went on to Damascus.
I’ll never catch her now. I’m too far back and damn, my knee isn’t going to give out.
Devastated. The word is assimilated.
So, lying in my tent, I made a promise:
That it would be there.

To catch a shooting star.
Has anyone actually caught one?
I would chase a star
Just to look into her eyes and see.

Early morning and late night hikes to camp.
So many miles traveled with just a headlamp.
It’s true, she gave me so many outlets,
But I made a promise that I would be there.

To catch a star.
It doesn’t matter how far.
Two hundred miles of running,
My back doesn’t sweat.
She told me I was crazy, I was crazy.
So here I am walking all day in the rain.
To reach Star,
Just to say goodbye.

When I finally reached her
And he looked into her eyes so bright and kind,
And when we say goodbye,
Friends forever was on our minds.

To catch a star.
It doesn’t matter how far.
I reached for the star.
So in case you’re wondering what a man looks like once he catches a star,
now you know.