Where do I start?
Well, week 6 started in Hot Springs, North Carolina where I was able to do my first double zero on the trail while waiting for my super cool friend Cheyanne to join me on the trail from Florida. Hot Springs was such a cool town that the Appalachian Trail literally runs through it. Instead of white flames, we have these really cool flames on the sidewalks!
Hot Springs, North Carolina, USA
Hot Springs is such a small town that I was a little surprised that it was where I would take my first double zero, but it had a lot to offer hikers. It had been devastated by Hurricane Helene, so one of the shelters we had stayed in was actually right above a tavern on Main Street, which was exciting!
The Klondike Bar was a crazy trail of magic for Chey’s first day!
As we headed out of Hot Springs, it was nice to have my friend following us. I tell people all the time about what I’m doing here and the experience I’ve had and the struggles I’ve faced, but when one of your best friends goes with you on the hike, it’s nice that they can really appreciate what all of us hikers are trying to accomplish. Not to mention she kicked ass here!
Amazing sunset atop Rich Mountain Fire Tower
Cheyanne also enjoyed the best campsite I’ve had so far on the trail, which was a fire tower that offered amazing sunset views but was very cold all night. We spent the night shivering in our sleeping bags as the wind blew through the metal grates of the fire tower. I didn’t sleep that night but it will be a memory forever.
Pushing Erwin, Tennessee
There were about 70 miles between Hot Springs, North Carolina and Erwin, Tennessee. During this time, I was thinking about the idea of trying to make it to trail days in Damascus, VA and with 200 miles to go, I did my first 21 mile day, which is my longest hike yet to date. This section had a fairly constant elevation gain and offered me my first real experience of walking in the rain, which was honestly a little miserable. I had ridden 21 miles and then stopped after 9 the next day due to crazy thunderstorms and soaked feet. All the blisters and calluses I had worked so hard to grow were instantly soaked away and my feet were soft again, oh well 🙁
One of my favorite moments of the last two weeks, Bald Mountain was clearing up as I walked through the morning drizzle 🙂
Pushing towards Damascus, will we make it in time?
Passing through Erwin, Tennessee, I had to walk a 3.6 mile detour through town, which wasn’t bad at all. Halfway through my walk, I was picked up by a shuttle driver carrying Chef and Small Bites, which was nice. The real question was whether or not we could get it to Damascus, VA, which was 120 miles north of Erwin, in time for the tour days, which were about 6 days away. It would require me to do my best so far, but it seemed like an achievable moment. For those who don’t know, Trail Days is a 3-day event held annually in VA at the 470 mile mark, home of Damascus, VA. Trail Days are a huge event, apparently with 25,000 visitors, bringing together both hikers and people from the surrounding towns. I plan to do another post about my trail day experience soon!
After doing about 4 20 mile days, the miles definitely started to wear off. I had already been working on consuming more calories and staying hydrated with electrolyte packs and lots of water, but between my diet and the blisters and sore feet, by day 4 I started thinking about the possibilities of walking through Damascus. In the end, my two trail buddies and I decided to push through to mile 430 and stay at Boots off Hostel, which was a super cool and unique place, and then ride with them to the first trail day on the 15th. I admit, this was tough, I was really hoping to be in Virginia at this point, but I also wanted to feel good and be able to use the trail days not only as a place where I could connect with the people I’d met on the trail, but as a time to relax a little after putting in so much effort. for so long. I didn’t want to be tired when I arrived!
Boots in Hampton, TN
I loved the rustic vibes of this place.
05/10
During this trip to Damascus, I had a special day that I thought would be great to talk about on the blog. A year ago, I had hiked Roan Mountain Park in Tennessee during a period of some personal struggles I was facing and was using hiking to work and try to clear my head. I knew that the year before I had hiked this park around May, but when I woke up and checked FarOut, the app I use to navigate every day and get an idea of what I’m going to face during my hike, I realized that I was hiking Roan Mountain exactly a year later. This was a coming full circle moment as my head is in a completely different place and I don’t get into situations that aren’t good for me. I thought about this all day and I can say that although the sky wasn’t completely clear this time, my head was much clearer and I felt great!
Freezing and windy here near Jane Bald in Roan Mountain Park
Just after Carver Gap on Roan Mountain
Views in Roan Mountain Park
Do I already have a route name? I’m sorry…
Umm guys, I’ve had a route name for about a month now. I realized in my last post that I hadn’t even mentioned it, which was crazy, but yeah, my route name is…
VETO!!
So backstory, I had been offered all sorts of trail names since the beginning of my hike. One of my tram members wanted to call me a drunk because when we were at the Green Dragon Hostel, our hostess was lining us up for photos and she called me the drunk of the group and everyone loved that. I like to have a drink or six from time to time, but no, that doesn’t feel like me. Then they gave me diva, which based on some of my quirks and habits I’ve had along the way, I can see this one a little more than drunk. The thing about a trail name is that, firstly, you can always change your mind, and secondly, you can adapt to it. I didn’t like Diva, so I banned her from camp one night. A good friend who now has a trail name but I don’t remember it and I don’t want to give her real name; she recommended Veto since I have literally vetoed every name that has been offered to me. And it clicked! There’s a feeling you get when you hear a name that sounds like it could be you, and wow, it’s Veto, hoe!
Veto had to show some chutzpah after an arduous climb to find an empty magic cooler full of standing water! IYKYK
Anything else?
I know this was a long post for everyone, and if you read it carefully, it means a lot. If you skimmed it, that’s fine too. I missed wishing my dear aunt a happy birthday last month on Earth Day, which feels even more special now that I’m hiking the Appalachian Trail and she has been one of my biggest supporters. Happy birthday Aunt Heidi!
I had to prepare my aunt’s birthday to enjoy a much appreciated magical trail last month!
My favorite toilet so far, if you must know. Gurl made me bend over deep!
Well, it’s a lot of blisters, a lot of poop in the forest, and a lot of ramen and clif bars. I’m doing the damn thing, keeping my head up and having a good time. Feel free to send some love in the comments or if you have any questions, ask away!
Thanks for coming to my chat tent 🙂
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