Last update, I totally miscounted and didn’t post my typical 5 days! Enjoy an extra day this post! I was camped near a river to reconnect with my hiking partner in the morning. 

Day 22: Oopsie Daisy

Woke up damp as any other day, which surprised me as I slept right by a water source. I hustled to reconnect with her early, although I really didn’t need to as she was only 0.3 miles down trail. I saw her and immediately sat down to eat and resituate some food as she packed up. Once we agreed on an end point, I booked it to the midday point which also happened to be a large bridge crossing over a river. 

I laid all my stuff out to dry, then found myself all packed up and fed wondering where she was. Once reconnected, we went down the trail to a waterfall. 

Sprout enjoying the view before her dip!

She opted to jump in and I was a tad jealous. I’ll have plenty more opportunities I kept telling myself, but not many to keep my toes as clean and dry as I can until town. I’ve had both outer toenail on my big toes get a tad infected. I’ve always struggled with ingrown toenails and have been diligently growing them out from my last hike! We sat a little too long at the waterfall consuming caffeine and food to get us the remaining 10 miles to camp, or so we had hoped.

We had one last hurdle I deemed “the volcano”, as it looks quite drastic on the elevation profile! A little over 2,000 ft elevation in both directions to get up and over a hill! The ascent was surprisingly over with before I knew it! Once the climb was over with, we had to walk around the lake and camp wouldn’t be too far after that. Or at least that was the goal.

We both kept in communication as the sun was starting to fade and so were my hopes of getting to this campsite. I really struggled to find us two spots because the odds of us making it there were now zero. I did eventually find with some confidence two usable spots for the night as a rainstorm was brewing. I opted for the more time consuming tent spot more tucked away hoping to minimize Sprouts evening set up time as she made her way to me. 

Come to find out the spot I thought would be okay for Sprout was sprinkled with buried rocks, she sadly kept pushing on leaving me feeling horrible. The spot I thought was better than where I set up left me solo for the night. 

The storms started really rolling in an hour later or 9 pm and didn’t let up until midnight! That’s when, what I’m assuming was a wild hog started to circle my tent. I say assuming as the movement wasn’t heavy enough to be a squirrel and too quick to be a bear as I was never able to lay eyes on the perpetrator. Whatever it was, did not like me here by this tree! I ended up talking to myself for 2 hours to deter it from coming near before I got cleaver. I plugged my phone into my battery bank and played podcasts on loop. Ended the day with 23.5 miles hiked. 

Day 23: Here We Go Again!

Tired and soaking wet, I was off to find Sprout only a half mile down trail. I was a little late to reconnect and she was a little late packing up. Today was gonna be a tad ridiculous anyways with our mileage goal so let’s be ridiculous about how we start today. 

I pushed out the first 15 miles having the last 3 of that stomping through the river created by the large storm above. I know my toes are gonna be messed up from all this wet. Keeping my mind on the bigger goal, and not the temporary pain of your feet now. 

Just some cold, wet, and sore toes!

I soon came up on the shelter I was going to finally take a break at and wait for her. Not even half way through my snack this picnic table was suddenly engulfed with day and thru hikers alike. A little overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle I started moseying back down the trail. Trying to stay above these emotions that are flooding in, I kept pushing straight to camp! 

Setting up in my tent and reflecting on the day, I realized I hiked 25.5 miles in 12 hours time. That is bonkers! 120 mg of caffeine and a handful of gummy bears were to thank! 

Day 24: Damascus, Here We Come! 

I woke up to sprout packing up?! Someone’s excited for town! Packed up almost at the same time surprisingly, guess I’m excited for town too! The rain as we were leaving camp was encouraging, but annoying! I’m already ready to be back in bed, I want today to be over as the fatigue is setting in. 

We met at the state border and I practically ran to the road! I was running with excitement to see the iconic wooden arch that says “Damascus” and waited for pictures!

Just excited to be here!

We then made our way to Damascus Diner and unsuccessfully tried to find a spot to sleep tonight. Pretty popular place as everything was booked ahead, go figure! 

Feeling pretty defeated, we headed towards the gear store as they might have some leads for us. Walking down the sidewalk there was a sign; a literal sign. We read, “Room For Rent Inquire Inside” and immediately walked inside and got a room! Holy cow, the trail sure does provide! 

The owner of rooms for rent picked us up at the gear store once I grabbed my new shoes from the post office and brought us to the house for the lowdown. There was a couple bike packing that was in another room, but essentially had the whole house to ourselves! 

Wow, did it feel nice to spread out the gear, unwind, and tuck into a big cozy bed! We hiked just over 16 miles to get here.

Big pillows are my weakness.

Okay, goodnight! 

Day 25: Ditch It & Hit It!

Sleeping in was wonderful in this bed, even if it means only until 7:30. I made breakfast and started packing up to prompt Sprout to get a start on the day. 

Before heading back to trail, we went to the post office to send some random things home. There are a few things I’m tired of moving around in my bag: brim hat, notebook & stickers bought thus far, extra KT tape, and my lightweight beanie! It doesn’t weigh much in the grand scheme of things, but weight is weight! Especially when you’re carrying it everyday! 

It wasn’t a very eventful trek to where we would sleep for the night, but 18 miles up to a hill for slumber I went! I tucked in between the tall grass and old cow pies and called it a night just before the road. Sprout pushed on in an attempt for phone service at the road. 

Day 26: Grayson Highlands State Park 

I was tossing too early this morning! I even set a late “start packing” alarm! I did take my time packing up and still hiking to find her by 7 am. We started the day one in front of the other, eventually finding our own groove. My feet were starting to get that wet foot itch, so gross! 

The random rainstorm in the early afternoon didn’t help keep us together, but allowed me to take more frequent breaks. Between where I saw Sprout in the morning & where I planned to stop, I managed to eat lunch, dry out my things, and even get some trail magic for us! The candy made all the commotion of a busy state park weekend worth it! 

Trail magic candy is the best candy.

I waited for her at the junction into the Grayson Highlands State Park. This junction was also a little bit past the 500 mile marker!! Didn’t even see rocks, sticks, or any marker on trail as I completely blew past the “official” mile marker! 

The AT through the park is a little over 8 miles in a big C like shape with minimal elevation gain (to us). I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t heavily considering taking the cut off trail and skipping the park. I eventually ate all of my trail magic m&m’s and kept pondering how worth it the cutoff would be. The only reason I was so on the fence was it would mean all mile markers from here would be “inaccurate”. Although, for argument sake, it would still be accurate as completing the approach trail would make it darn close to even! 

Thank goodness Sprout came around the corner, I needed that friendly face and some motivation! We started our journey through the park together, chatting about our mornings. The climb first thing in the morning, sucked for both of us! Made it up our first little hill and we were greeted with this. Are these the ponies?! What are you? 

Are you cows or are you wild ponies?

Are the ponies over the next hill? Please let this be worth my troubles, the cutoff trail still lingering in my mind. I was joking. Truly joking they were going to be over the next hill, and turns out they really were!

Here are the wild ponies! Wow!

Look at them! I haven’t seen anything this tiny and majestic in a while! We took pictures of each other and we were off to keep pushing on past these people and the cluster of thruhikers we found ourselves in the midst of.

That did lead us to separate again and boy the weather ahead was terrifying! Seeing the dark clouds swirling ahead made my stomach do the same, I knew something was about to go down. I proceeded a little while later to put on my rain jacket and held onto hope this act would somehow deter the storm from unleashing. That’s how that works right? A quick glance at the elevation profile and I found myself in a heap of trouble. Thunder started to become louder and lightning strikes coming closer, I was on a 2 mile “plateau” with 3 high points. One thing was for certain, I was scared and my adrenaline was kicking in!

With every crack of thunder, my legs kept unlocking faster gears before I was in a light jog. Fashioned my pack as tight as I could to my body and kept trudging through the chocolate milk river that was the trail. This was the worst I’ve ever walked in and the most scared for my life I’ve ever been. 

This is the weather will either make you a stronger hiker and or make you reconsider why you’re out here. Rain sideways, pea sized hail, and wind that makes you walk crooked I started talking to anything that would listen. “Please grant me safe passage, please let me get through this safely, please carry me safely”. 

Was there a tree I could’ve found to hide under? Yes, probably. I would have most likely become prehypothetmic if I stopped moving my body. Needing a new rain poncho didn’t help my case either, but eventually the storm passed. I could then collect myself and attempt to feel a little bit less like a cold, wet rat. 

I finally stumbled my tired body to camp and got set up. I’ve never been so thankful to be in one piece, warming up in my sleep clothes and quilt staying greatful for everything my body has put up with today. 23 miles hikes today and I’m ready to put it behind me.

Day 27: An Iconic Shelter With Iconic Trail Magic

I woke up annoyed, what a great foot to start this already cold and wet day with! Packing up in the rain sucks, but it becomes bareable with my rain gloves. Call me a weenie all you want, but my warm and dry hands are free from all debris! I was dragging my feet pretty bad to pack up, even 

Our goal for the day was the Partnership Shelter. I believe it’s the biggest and most popular shelter on the AT! It’s within walking distance to a visitors center that most restaurants in town deliver to! Once I had it in my mind there was a possibility of a pizza for dinner, my legs went autopilot. 

Soon, there I was 14 miles done with the day before I took my first butt break. It was the combination of not wanting to get the chills and potential of phone service pushed me ahead! I really only stopped because I was crossing a breezey meadow with full sun. Time to do a gear sprawl and rest for a little while! I was hoping to catch Sprout there, but didn’t wait around long enough.  

Pushed out the last 9 miles to the shelter and boy did I find a party of misfits! A bunch of older gentleman around the campfire, people sleeping already in the shelter, and more folks heading back my way from the visitors center. 

Walked right up to the men by the fire and confidently sat amongst them setting my comparatively small pack behind me. Started listening to all the different conversations being had and enjoyed being a fly on the wall letting my feet breath before someone yells “trail magic at the parking lot, he’s whipping out a grill”! I’ve never seen so many people come out of nowhere! The bubble of 15 people were excited to find “a dad” pulling out hotdogs, brats, cookies and tons of cold drinks! Wow, I am without words and totally ready to start devouring! 2 hotdogs, many slices of watermelon, a gatorade, pepsi and 4 cookies I was pretty stuffed! 

Still waiting on Sprout and enjoying my newly extended stomach, I had realized no one was tending to the fire at the shelter. I head that way with the last of my cookies and chat with the few wandering around camp near the fire. Sprout later rolls in and I explain we may want to push ahead to camp tonight, but there’s trail magic ahead! A cold soda suited her and we were off to camp not even a mile up. 

Editing this at a later date, I realized I did not get the exact mileage for the day. my best guess with estimating off my phone map, 23 miles hiked today. 

Until the next update, happy trails everyone! 🙂