Make it count: Day #32 - AT Hike

Day #32 - AT Hike

Monday, April 13 - Day #32 - AT Hike

Miles Hiked Today - 10.2
Total Miles Hiked on AT - 379.8/2,193 (17.32%)

Abingdon Gap Shelter (460.5) to Damascus, Virginia (470.7) - hotel in Damascus- The Dancing Bear Inn

Total ascent - 908’
Total descent - 2,754’

Total States Completed - 1/14

I made it through the second craziest storm of the whole trip last night. It started raining at the shelter around 4pm. I went into my tent at 6:30pm. It continued to rain (non-stop — and I am not exaggerating) until 4am (12 steady hours of substantial rain). I know this because I couldn’t sleep all night with the heavy rains and wind pounding the tent. The only reason this is the second worst weather event - it didn’t have the severe lightning with it that I experienced many days back. The other weird thing (and the others at the shelter corroborated this) - the temperature actually appeared to increase during the night. Still cold - but probably mid 40’s - versus mid 30’s

When I was laying there in my tent (playing Spider Solitaire, Sudoku, looking at the Guthooks app for the upcoming trail segments - because I had no internet) — I was thinking: “This is absolutely crazy! How often does it rain for 12 hours and never stop. This is not common”. So you know how you may experience something - nobody is around - and you wonder if you were just dreaming it up. Well - when I got into Damascus mid-day today - the creek normally flowing through town had turned into an overflowing river. When I flipped on the local news - all the reports were that this is one of the worst flash flooding events in the history of this area. Roads closed or washed out, houses flooding, businesses sandbagging around properties. So — I wasn’t dreaming —- this was a BIG storm.

Today’s 10+ miles were pretty smooth. Wind and periodic rain - but not too bad. Less than 1,000’ vertical - so I was able to average nearly 3 miles/hr. I left around 7:50am and got to town at 11:20am. I hope to keep improving on the ascents. Yesterday - Maddy, Pepper, Cascade, and Pan would just walk away from me on the hills. Even though completing this AT journey is not a race or competition - I still “want to win”, “want to be faster than the other guy”. It’s a good thing, but also a curse for me. I can’t just be “happy” to hike - I want to make sure I’m a “fast hiker”. Hiking alone is tough - but I’m also blissfully unaware of my abilities (or lack there of) when I’m out there by myself. It’s all good - improving on the hills is something that keeps me motivated!

OK - so I finally made it to VIRGINIA!! This is my 4th state. I’d be done with 3 already - but I still have that 90.9 miles in the Smokies (Carolina/Tennessee). It’s a big deal to be in Virginia. Damascus is Trail Town USA. It’s where “Trail Days” takes place. This is the annual hiker party that is generally held in mid-May. It’s cancelled this year - but you can definitely feel the hiker vibe around the town.

So - Virginia has the most AT miles of any other state (by far):

Virginia - 553
Carolina/Tennessee - 388
Maine - 282
Pennsylvania- 229
New Hampshire - 161
Vermont - 151
New York - 91
Massachusetts- 90
Georgia - 78
New Jersey - 72
Connecticut- 50
Maryland - 41
West Virginia- 6

As I was hiking today, I was thinking about what song comes to mind when I think of Virginia—- well - Queue the Band:

“Met a man wearin’ a T-shirt, says “Virginia is for Lovers”
Had a Bible in his left hand and a bottle in the other
He said “All you’re really given is the sunshine and your name”
We both started laughin’ when the sky started to rain

Get along, on down the road
We’ve got a long long way to go
Scared to live, scared to die
We ain’t perfect but we try

Get along while we can
Always give love the upper hand
Paint a wall, learn to dance
Call your mom, buy a boat
Drink a beer, sing a song
Make a friend, can’t we all get along”

—— “Get Along” by Kenny Chesney

I know this isn’t necessarily a “Virginia” song - but man - if you read that first verse and the main chorus — doesn’t it apply. With the 553 miles in the state of Virginia - I have a long way to go on the AT here. We’re given our ‘Trail Name’ and hope for sunshine daily. We all live in uncertain times - we’re all scared to live and scared to die. So - all the things he says to do in the chorus are just simple things we can all do right now -- “learn to dance, call your mom, make a friend” ——— It was just really weird that I kept coming back to this song in my mind. If you haven’t heard this - pull it up on YouTube - it’s worth a listen

It’s 10pm now in Damascus - after getting into town I went to the Post Office and picked up my resupply boxes. A special “Thank You” to my buddy Derrick that sent out my new shoes, an additional charger, and more packaged meals. The new shoes couldn’t have come at a better time. I felt like I was walking barefoot the past couple days. Another special “Thank You” to my buddy Greg that sent me his pair of waterproof gloves and a much needed hand sanitizer. These gloves could be huge if I continue to find these cold, wet conditions. After getting my boxes - I did my laundry, went to get a few groceries, had a nice lunch, and then took a nap. But my favorite part of the day was talking with my sister and then having a group Happy Hour on Zoom with all my friends from Lifetime Fitness back in Colorado. It was so awesome to talk with everybody! I appreciate you guys greatly - I look forward to many burpees together in the future!

Alright - sounding off for now. Tomorrow I’m going to do a “State of the Journey”.

Goodnight from “Trail Town USA”