I’m STILL in Virginia?!

Virginia contains about 550 miles of the AT, close to a quarter of the entire trail. So it’s been a hot minute since I’ve seen a state line sign. Speaking of hot, not only is summer gearing up, but the humidity is really throwing its weight around. I don’t think I’ve ever been so sweaty in my dang life. On we go…

Day 81 – Long hard climb this morning, made more difficult by the humidity. There was a section of trail strewn with fallen trees, most of them torn up by the roots. We figure it was either a tornado or giant activity. 

Orange Man’s friend Kringle picked us up at the end of the day and helped us resupply, then let us stay at his house. A shower never felt so good! 

Day 82 – Slack-packed 18 miles, and a good thing too, because almost all the water sources are dry and we had to carry a lot with us. We passed the Keffer Oak, which is about 300 years old and has branches wider than me. 

There was a mile or so of slanted rock ledges for us to creep across, with great views of the valley below. 

We passed a few more burned areas; these look like the fire got a bit out of hand and jumped the trail in a few places.

Close to the end of the hike, we passed a memorial to Audie Murphy, a WWII vet who died in a plane crash near that spot in the 70s. 

Kringle picked us up and we spent one more night at his house before heading back out. 

Day 83 – Another water-sparse day. The climb up to Dragon’s Tooth was long and tough and I definitely didn’t bring enough water with me. We hit the 700 mile mark on the way up. 

Dragon’s Tooth was cool but the descent was the really fun part! (Insert a bit of sarcasm.)

This descent had some pretty gnarly rock scrambling, made tougher by the 30 pounds on my back throwing off my center of gravity. Somehow I was supposed to walk along this:

I didn’t take a ton of pictures, being preoccupied with not falling and breaking my face. “Scared” isn’t the right word to use, but I was more conscious of each step I took and which direction my weight was pulling me than on any previous part of the trail. 

Halfway though the day, we did a 0.5 mile roadwalk to a gas station, where we ate lunch and bought about 3 gallons of water. I’m learning what my body’s water needs are, especially when it’s humid, and I was definitely dehydrated when we got to that gas station. I wasn’t in trouble yet, but it was a good wakeup call. Gotta make the weight sacrifice and carry more water. 

Day 84 – This morning was pretty epic – we got to McAfee Knob! It’s one of the most famous spots on the AT and the site of such iconic photos as these:

There’re been lots of reports of bear sightings in the area but alas, we didn’t see any. Very hot again today, and I carried a ton of water. By the time we got to Tinker Cliffs, the final third of the Virginia Triple Crown, I didn’t particularly care.

The descent into Daleville was long, rocky, and hot. Orange Man’s dealing with some back pain, and my feet are killing me. I’ve got new shoes waiting for me in Daleville, which should help. I sampled some blackberries a couple hours before we got into town, and my legs broke out in hives later that night. Fun way to find out an allergy! But a dose of Benadryl cleared it up. 

Day 85 – Picked up new shoes from the post office, then left the hotel in Daleville around noon, with the heat already pretty severe. Officially 1/3 of the way to Katahdin! 

The climb out was really tough and I could tell the heat was getting to me. We got to a shelter after 5 miles and decided to call it for the day. Tomorrow we’re going to try hiking early and late, with a long rest during the hot hours. We met a hiker who’s doing 30+ miles a day. No idea how….maybe he’s secretly an Animagus and transforms into a cheetah to make those miles? 

Day 86 – My first 20 mile day! We started hiking at 6 am and reached our first of many crossings of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Around 2:30, we pulled over at a shelter and slept (or tried to) until around 5. Then we hit the road till about 8. It was full dark by the time we got to bed, and I saw a pear of eyes watching us from the woods. Thinking it was a bear clocking our food, naturally I did the whole clapping/yelling/grandstanding show, only to have a doe wander out of the trees and give me a withering look.

Day 87 – Actually found some decent water sources today! 

Passed through/under the Guillotine. 

When we got to the shelter, I tried to watch Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final with my one bar of reception (which was only available next to the bear box), but to no avail. Two section hikers stayed there with us, and opted to sleep with their food in the shelter, despite the available bear box. The resident mice certainly thank them.