Make it count: Day #29

Friday, April 10 - Day # 29 - AT Hike

Miles Hiked Today - 14.7
Total Miles Hiked on AT - 337.5/2,193 (15.39%)

Moreland Gap Shelter (413.7) to boots Off Hostal (428.4) - cabin at Boots Off Hostal

Total ascent - 2,954’
Total descent - 4,797’

Total States Completed - 1/14

Well - coming to you live from a little cabin at Boots Off Hostal & Campground. This is an unexpected surprise. I hadn’t planned anything but tent camping until Damascus, Virginia in 3 days. However - when I looked at the map again this morning to check out my course for the day - I noticed a very well rated Hostal around the exact place I had hoped to finish today. I don’t want to stay in hostels or shelters with Covid-19 - but this place had individual cabins for a respectable price. So - I had a good shower (the outside variety but still with warm water), I’m able to charge up all my devices, and was able to get a pizza and some snacks for dinner - A+ stuff. In addition to all that - I’m able to sleep in a bed away from the below freezing temps and windchill expected tonight

With my miles expected to increase very shortly - this is what I had hoped would be a possibility — big efforts with big rewards. If you’re going 20-something daily - you can come across things more quickly. I sort of divided the AT into fourths. The first 1/4 - slow (hills, getting trail legs, weather) - this is around Mile# 0-548. The final 1/4 - slow (again big hills, wearing down at end of journey) - around Mile# 1,645-2,193. That leaves me with the middle half - Mile# 548 - 1,645 — these are the money miles (flatter, trail legs optimized). I’m hoping to slowly start ramping up - I’m not at Mile #548 yet - but it’s around the corner.

Today was a solid day. I didn’t get much sleep last night because of the howling winds and low temps. I was fairly sluggish most of the day but made it through just fine. There was a big 1,700 foot climb with 5-1/2 miles to go. The climb was nearly 3 miles - then a descent to the Hostal. I did OK - just slow. My feet have been really hurting at the end of the day this past week. I think my shoes have run their course. I have a new pair arriving in Damascus in 3 days - so I just need to get by a little longer. Still the calf and shoulder pain - but my feet are the limiting factor right now. I just think the support is gone from my shoes and I can feel every rock, branch, and root I step on. I feel almost like I have bruises on my heel and top portion of my feet.

42 miles to Damascus. I have a 16, 16, 10 mile plan in place to get me to Damsscus around mid-day on Monday. Then - the goal is a Nero-Zero. Rest up after my 10 miles on Monday, take Tuesday off - back at it hard on Wednesday AM. This is the goal - now I just need to execute.

Goodnight from a little cabin in the woods!