Quarter of the way complete! – The walk

Sitting here at The Merry Inn in Marion, Virginia, at 4:45am, planning my first 20 mile day. The intimidating thing doesn’t quite cover it. I have a lot to remember, so I’ll share the highlights, the lows, and most importantly, the shenanigans.
It’s been a month since my last update. I might bore you with the daily routine, but I’d rather take you for a walk.
Hot Springs was worth every extra day I spent rebuilding and recovering. The restaurant served the best sandwich I have ever had on the road. Well, sandwiches: I ate three. Imagine thick-cut fried bologna topped with pulled pork, topped with bacon and cheese. I told you I was consuming calories. I felt stronger after the first day.

The first day back on the trail after a zero is always uncomfortable. That’s the only word I can think of. It feels like hard work. You lose the rhythm that took you to the city and you have to recover it.
I’ve settled into a routine that usually takes me to a shelter at the end of the week. I keep track of my stays on a calendar and rarely spend more than four or five days at a time in the forest. I walk for four or five days, take a full day off to refuel and recover, then go out again for another four or five days.

My daily mileage ranges wildly between 8 and 16 miles. Because? Altitude determines attitude. Long climbs and steep slopes still destroy me. Screw you, hurricane deflection.
At the same time, beautiful places stop me in my tracks. Some days I feel powerful and want to go miles. Other days I just sneak up to the next camp or shelter.

I entertain myself.
There. I admitted it.
If I wake up to a beautiful morning and enjoy good company, I stay put. If I’m following a perfect pace and Trail Magic offers me a chair, a root beer, and a PB&J, my plans for the day instantly disappear.
One day, after only six miles, I found a stream so magical that I stayed by it for eighteen hours.

These little vortexes of beauty don’t happen often, but when they do, they’re worth every minute.
I entertain myself.
Trail days
The trail days were incredible. I was able to reconnect with friends who had left me weeks, or even months, before. We traveled from Mount Roan over the weekend.
Mountain Harbor served the best breakfast I’ve had on the AT so far.
I also attended two AA meetings in town and a hiker-focused meeting that included food. I ended up being the only hiker who showed up.

Tramilia
I don’t belong to a single tram. I drift between four different groups of hikers. However, over the last month, I’ve spent most of my time with some fantastic friends: OV, Old School, The Dude and Grace, Frodo, CBS, and Ratpack.
I also got to help PK and Wooly at Boots Off.
Moving between groups comes naturally because everyone walks at different paces and takes different zero days. I enjoy my friends immensely, although I know that eventually they will move out of my recovery range.
For now, I’ll enjoy your company while I can and watch new friends catch up and pass behind me.

Damascus and Grayson Highlands
Damascus and Grayson Highlands absolutely blew me away.
Returning to Damascus organically was rewarding in a strange way. I remember thinking, «I was just here.»
No parade greeted me. No fanfare. No celebration.
I bought new shoes and mailed home the boots I started with.
I can jump very high now.

The ponies became my favorite part of Grayson Highlands, and the saddle where I camped gave me the most beautiful view I’ve seen since the Smokies.

How the trail offers
The trail has a fun way of providing exactly what you need.
One night, I stopped early because a storm had damaged my tent the night before and I wanted time to see if glue could fix it. The family I had met the night before also camped there, so I stayed while other friends went another six miles.
The next night, I fell even further behind because I found a beautiful waterfall and decided to sleep next to it.
Finally, I ran out of food and made my way into town from a trailhead.
And who did I find there?
My tram.
They were waiting for their transportation to Marion.
I jumped on the ferry with them and we spent the afternoon resupplying, napping, and catching up.
Fourteen miles further down the road, we all met up again for sushi and a Tom Petty tribute concert.

Moving forward
Today was supposed to be my first 22 mile day. A Mexican restaurant at a gas station near the end of the road gave me extra motivation.
Honestly, I worried less about finishing the miles and more about making it to lunch on time to eat with everyone.
Update: I didn’t make it.
My first day of more than 20 miles will arrive.
Thanks for reading my somewhat disjointed trail journal.
I listen to my body every day.
I’m having fun.
I’m happy.
I am healthy.
The most important thing is that I am calm.

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