Sorry Virginia, but I Hath no Blues!

Week nine, days 58-64

I last left y’all on a post-zero day with a plan or perhaps a crazy scheme following a crazy weather system. We named it a weekathon—that’s to say, after the weather threw us an unexpected yet appreciated zero the tramily vowed to hike a marathon every day for a week!

Prior to this, personally I’d never hiked more than 25 miles in one day on the AT. I’d actually hiked a total of only four days of 25 miles or slightly more.

Day 58 was my longest mile day at 28.2; it was Lucky’s longest too. We followed up day 59 with 27 miles and 28.3 on day 60. Day 61 was 26.5 and day 62 was 27.2 and respectively 28.7 on day 63 brought us into Front Royal, where trail angel Flip Lewis picked us up and delivered us to the Super 8 and made sure we had some hot pizzas too. Thanks, Flip!! Day 64, we completed our weekathon with a 23.6 day, giving us a grand total of 189.5 miles in seven days averaging 27.7 miles per day.

Everyone preaches hike your own hike (HYOH) and I concur but I can also tell you that big miles are possible and you can still smell the roses too. The sacrifice for that is less sleep, early starts and rolling into camp in the dark, but at last the days are lengthening.


Our weekly highlights are not only the gorgeous scenery and amazing flora but the prospect of catching up to hikers that passed us early on or those we’ve followed in the shelter journals.

At that breakneck pace, we actually have been experiencing ou pacing spring as we got to witness everything from dainty bluets, violets, red buds, dogwoods, serviceberries, Virginia bluebells, and trillium start their blooming sequence all over. As a retired horticulturalist this is pure magic.

 

Happy trails!
Catmando

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Comments 3

  • Nikki : Apr 24th

    Seems like you are really cruising! Good to hear that the Virginia Blues don’t look like they are going to hit. 😀

    Reply
  • TBR : Apr 24th

    That’s some big miles!

    Reply
  • Jan : Apr 30th

    John,
    I was away for a couplea days and missed your post till I went looking for it. Found it and happy to hear that all is well with you and your fellow hikers -AKA Tramily??????
    Tell all, I wish them the best. You too!

    Reply

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