Day #54 - AT Hike

Day #54 - AT Hike

Tuesday, May 5 - Day #54 - AT Hike

Miles Hiked Today - 11.5
Total Miles Hiked on AT - 696.4/2,193 (31.76%)

Harrison Ground Spring (775.8) to Stanimals Hostal in Glasgow, VA (787.3) - Hostal stay

Total ascent - 1,463’
Total descent - 4,145’

Total States Completed - 1/14

**Rain day (all day rain)

Currently sitting at the Stanimals Hostal in Glasgow, VA. 15 total people here tonight. A family of 6 (4 small children), a group of 5 thru-hikers, and then our group of 4 (Chickweed, Amber, 2 Cans, and myself). The Hostal caretaker just made us all fresh brownies with ice cream & chocolate syrup. All good!

It’s great to be inside tonight. It’s turned back to really cold, rainy conditions here. It must be low 40’s outside.  Just like the Boy Scout Motto is “ Be Prepared” - the AT Motto should be “Adapt Well”. I keep thinking about all the ebbs and flows of this journey- it’s pretty incredible. You really don’t know what the next day will bring.

The actual hiking day was pretty low key. 11.5 miles into town.  We actually called for a shuttle 5 miles out (while we still had a cell signal) to setup our 7 mile ride into Glasgow. The Hostal we’re staying at provided the shuttle as part of the overnight stay.

Pretty solid place.  I was able to get my laundry finished, shower, and get my resupply for the next 5 days.  I ate a bunch of food again tonight with pizza, the ice cream, chips, etc. They have a scale. Right after the hike today - I was down 14 pounds from when I left Denver in mid-March. I don’t know how accurate this scale is - but I feel this is plausible based on how I look in the mirror.  I need to keep the calories going - and make sure I’m getting more nutritious stuff whenever possible.

I spoke with the Smokey’s today. They are not issuing any AT Thru-Hike permits during this Phase 1 of the reopening on May 9th. It IS possible to get a back country permit and reserve spots at shelters throughout the trail however.  The kicker is - you can only start reserving spots on Sat, May 9th -  but they haven’t set an actual time on Sat when the reservations go live.  The other potential major issue - there’s only 8 spots per shelter (normally 12 - but they are reducing the numbers). I just don’t understand why I can’t just camp - it’s crazy to me.  Isn’t camping being more socially responsible than staying in the shelters?

Interesting times.  Tough to accept for a planner like myself. I’m certainly being pushed to the “Adapt well” limit at this point in the game.

On the Trail Name front - these guys continue to float names my way. The newest one is “Blue” - because I have blue eyes, a blue raincoat, a blue middle jacket, a blue shirt, a blue hat, etc. When I wear my blue Arcteryx shirt with my brown long pants - I know I’m in for several comments throughout the day. Everybody thinks I’m a day hiker out here - ready for the bars. Some older guy at the Hostal just walked over and said I look/talk like Andy Kaufman. I don’t even know Andy Kaufman - so I look him up.  WHAT????  I see zero resemblance to Andy Kaufman.  This is a very bad way to end the night.  There is a dude at the Hostal with the coolest, most appropriate, and most unique Trail Name I’ve ever heard. His name is “Dirty Jobs” because he sounds exactly (and I mean exactly) like Mike Rowe on the TV show “Dirty Jobs”.  If I could only be that cool.

All right - time to shut it down. Another really big elevation day tomorrow.  Those people that have said this section of Virginia is “easy” - I have some thoughts for them at another time.

To good times and good health!

Where we got picked up by shuttle

Cool trail today 

James River Foot Bridge

Crossing the Bridge

Really cool