First post, but sorry no pictures....

Well Mike really has you all filled in on the first part of our journey, so I’ll try to talk a little bit about my experiences since we decided to hike separately. About the photos, well, I’d been trying for nearly an hour to figure out how to put them on the blog, and thought I did have it figured out, but then the camera battery died. So no pictures this time.

As I left Hot Springs and headed towards Erwin, I found it difficult to plan my days, without having Mike there to discuss it with. I started hiking kind of carelessly, without plans, but soon found out my body wasn’t going to have it. I realized it was a necessity to plan my hiking around what my body could handle. As I’ve done this, I’ve gotten to know my limitations much better and what I’m capable of.

Just before Erwin, my bowel activity was suddenly less predictable than normal and my BM’s were much looser…sorry to those of you who are unfamiliar with my obsession with poop talk…anyway, I was running to the bushes nearly not making it, maybe five times a day. Of course this coincided with a section of the trail that didn’t have privies. I shit in the woods more times in two days than I had in my entire life. Things started looking up in Erwin, but then I decided to eat Mexican, which made things worse. I proceeded to have the shits for another three days without any privies…now I’m pretty much a pro at crapping in the woods.

After Erwin, while having the shits, I started doing 20 mile days, consistently, because my body was feeling good, besides the incessant cramps. I had my favorite climb yet up Roan Mountain, where the highest shelter on the trail is at 6,275ft. I didn’t stay in this shelter, but I did stop for water and to take some pictures. It was actually a firewarden’s cabin, which was rebuilt to accommodate hikers. From there I went on to the largest shelter on the trail, a large, red, renovated barn. The hiking between these two shelters was some of the most magnificent scenery yet. Several balds in a row, with panoramic views from each summit. All of the these balds were at least 5,500ft.

At this point I started hiking with some hikers who were doing similar miles. This group has since split up, but I’ve been hiking with one of the guys from the group, a 52 year old English guy named “Charlie.” His trail name is “Charlie,” because he walks like Charlie Chaplin. He’s an amazing guy. He’s hiked the AT, the PCT, and the CDT, each twice, and done several cycling trips, including one from Alaska to Chile. I’m starting to hike a lot of miles and it feels good. The aches and pains are mostly gone and I’m able to spend more time thinking about life and what I’m doing.

The night before I entered Virginia, we (me and other hikers in the shelter) experienced a really intense t-storm, with hail and winds we thought were going to tear the roof off the shelter. Upon entering Damascus, VA, I realized everything was closed. Apparently there had been a tornado in the next town over, which killed several people. The power was out, meaning no shower, laundry, resupply, etc. Charlie and I befriended a section hiker who just happened to have her car in Damascus, so she brought us to another town where we were able to do everything except shower.

From Damascus I hiked my longest day yet, 28 miles! During this hike, I encountered a group of Urban Trekkers on the Virginia Creeper Trail, where they were doing a day of cycling. Jim was the only one I knew in the group, but I was sure it was him, so I turned around and approached the group. Jim didn’t remember me, but was really excited to see a Maine Trekker person in such a random setting. After talking to them for a few minutes, I continued on, but was chased down by one of the Urban Trekkers and questioned about my experience. This day of hiking brought me into the Grayson Highlands, where wild ponies roam on 5,000 ft. mountains. These ponies are accustomed to hikers passing through and often don’t get off the trail when approached. I camped in the shelter on Mount Rogers, in the Grayson Highlands. The night started with snoring from an overweight section hiker who I thought died several times that night, due to sleep apnea spells. He really stopped breathing several times, for up to 15 seconds. It was something. For some strange reason he stopped snoring at about 11pm, but that was when the ponies arrived and started there chewing, licking, grinding of teeth routine, at the shelters open face. I literally could have reached out and touched them. They did this through the night and early morning hours.

Despite the lack of sleep, the following day was one of my favorite days of hiking. The Grayson Highlands are beautiful…I will be returning to them at some point. Since then I’ve had a couple long hiking days, which have brought me here to Bland, VA, where I will be staying in a Motel for the first time on this trip. Trust me it’s nothing fancy, especially since I’m dishonestly sharing a room with four other hikers (the rooms are limited to four per room), but whatever, we’re saving a few bucks.

Throughout this hike I’ve thought regularly about all of my loved ones—family and friends. I’m excited to be where I am, but I’m also excited to be making my way home to see and be with everyone. I hope everyone is well, and look forward to seeing everyone this summer. Love you Mom, Dad, Bre, and Isla. And lots of love to everyone else who is following this blog.