Resolution Update - Walking the Streets of Pasadena

Sweating and freezing on a crisp clear day

It's now February and I have successfully accomplished my New Year's Resolution, but I like things to be scale-able, so I am still walking.  

I have settled into the routine of walking everyday and have become used to my hiker hobble and use it as a gauge to measure my day's walk.  More hobble, good walk.  

For the month of January I was able to walk 196.9 miles.  Now that is something I would hope to do every two, two and a half weeks out on the Trail, but for around here, that was pretty good.  It averages out to 6.3 miles each day of the month.  

I started out pretty easy, but still accomplished my 30 miles a week goal at the beginning.  I also started with a light pack of probably 5 pounds or so.  After a few days, I added a another water bottle and a few other items to bring it up to 10 lbs.  After another week, I added a 5 lb dumbell to bring it up to 15 lbs.  That last 5 lb addition was felt quickly.  Especially in my knees and feet.  But it felt good to have the weight on my back and now, I don't even notice it.  It is time to add a little more.

Each week, I would add a few more miles to the total until I was doing about 7 miles a day.  After a few weeks, LoGear started coming out with me.  She came along most days unless the temp was sub freezing.  During the Polar Vortex, I walked alone.  

Exploring a new bike trail we discovered

We have fun out there.  It isn't the woods, so we have created a few games to pass the time as we walk the blocks.  One thing that was jarring was the amount of litter that is everywhere out there.  I shudder to think of the mindlessness that causes a person to litter.  It can be disgusting at times.  I learned at a young age that throwing your trash willy-nilly isn't a good thing for the earth.  

Ginger enjoying a new snowfall

After awhile though, you start to become numb to it.  One thing we noticed was how common mini alcohol bottles were.  We point them out as we go along, saying "mini" when we see them.  Extra points for a hotshot bottle.

Another game I created on the fly was cop baiting.  I suggested it as a joke to LoGear as we walked along.  The gist is, when you see a cop car along the way, you act suspicious.  Pull up your hood and hide you face with your hands as you go by. If the cop notices and responds, you win.  Of course, LoGear doesn't see it as a joke and takes on that challenge.  Later in the walk, we were walking along and saw a cop car waiting to pull out onto the main road.  I egged LoGear on an of course, she took on the challenge.  I immediately chickened out. We got closer and LoGear kept playing the game.  

As we approached the car, the cop rolled down his window.  I knew he was going to say something and I was practicing my explanation of our game, but we lucked out at that point.  The cop saw an opening in the traffic and pulled out.  I'm pretty sure he was going to say something to us.  So, two points for LoGeardor.  She had more balls than I did.  

Each morning, I bring up the map and try to alter our course a little, but still try to cover about five miles.  We have several favorite routes now and hope to keep doing it, pointing out our minis as we do our miles.  

Its good to get outside and move around the neighborhood and our favorite woods.  I will continue to do around five miles or so each day and try to keep ramping it up as much as time permits.  

Peace,
EarthTone

A Shiver of Excitement

Winter woods.

From time to time, I get this weird feeling in my gut that rises up my spine to my brain.  I don't know what it is.  I don't know what it means or what causes it, but it fills me with a strange excitement.  I know I have felt it before a race or a long hike.  Maybe before a vacation or even a sporting event, but I'm not sure what is stirring this feeling this time.

I felt it today as I walked in the woods with Ginger.  The weather was sullen, but my spirit was soaring.  I have a feeling it is a desire to get back out into the forest for a time.

I'm still methodically and slowly planning my hike to finish my Quest.  My daughter's pregnancy is dictating my schedule.  I have 600 miles to go.  Somewhere around 50 more days of hiking, I estimate.  Vermont doesn't recommend using the Trail before Memorial Day, so that is my starting date.  Shauni is due July 15th.  I hope to complete  the Trail around then.  

I'm pretty sure I will need some time in the bush before that.  LoGear and I have been thinking about getting out for an overnight or two soon, but it is winter and we are waiting for a window of at least a somewhat decent weather forecast before we head out.

Heading out to finish this Quest while my baby is gestating one of her own will be hard, but I figured that I technically don't need to be there and their first fur baby was in the house for a week while I was away before I met her, so this is like that, right?   

The feeling is hard to explain.  The best I can do is describe it as a excited sense of well-being.  It's kind of hard to believe that I would be feeling a sense of well-being with what is going on in this country right now, but it does prove my constant mantra that I have always been responsible for my own happiness and well-being. 

I have said hundreds of times that in all of my adult life, no President has ever directly affected my happiness and well-being.  I generate that myself.  I maintain that frame of mind even though this "president" is using me and the organization I have served as a fucking pawn in a power struggle. I really don't like being a pawn. 

I'm ready for any challenge that is put in front of me.  Just like climbing a mountain on the Trail.  I take it one step at a time and just keep going until it is done.  

We are going to be just fine.

Peace,
EarthTone

Resolutions

I've been remiss on this site for a while now.  It's time to add a post.

Every year, I make a resolution or two on the new year.  Most times, I've forgotten what it was by the first day of spring and move on from there. It's never a real big deal with me. Plans change. Shit happens.  

Last year I resolved to get out for at least one overnight each month of the year.  I actually didn't do too bad and if you counted my nights as an Outsider, I far surpassed 12 nights, but I wasn't able to spread it out over the whole year.  After I returned from the trail with my injured shoulder and had surgery, I went from July thru December without spending even one night in the nature that I love.  I haven't slept in my hammock since my last night on the Trail in June.  

This year, I resolved to start walking again.  I have two reasons for doing this and I really hope I can accomplish the goals I have set for myself.  

First, I need to get moving again.  I don't run anymore, I have ballooned out to a very high weight that I need to start reducing and walking is my most enjoyable activity.

Second, I want to get my body once again used to walking every day.  If I'm going to finish this Quest, I need to walk another 600 miles.  Being ready for that is important.

So, for the month of January, I hope to walk at least 5 miles a day, every day.  Actually my goal at this time is 30 miles a week, which is less than 5 a day, but I hope to increase that goal each month as time goes by. 

I'm 11 days in and doing well still.  I have walked every day and am starting to really enjoy it.  I don't do it all at one time.  In the morning Ginger gets her walk in the woods.  I try to keep it around a mile.  After I work a couple hours on the Uber, I go out for a walk along the streets of my community.  I try to find a new route each day or at least add to or change a route that I have walked before.  I have been exploring some of the streets and woods of my past.  In the evening, Ginger gets another walk.  Usually another mile.  

I have also trespassed a few times, but that is the hazard of the activity.  As I explore some of the old woods trails nearby, From time to time, I end up in someone's backyard as I try to make my way to a street to continue my walk.  So far, no one has called the cops on me or shot at me yet.  

I'm liking the feeling of sore walking muscles each day.  I have even developed a little hiker hobble if I sit around too long.  

So if you live near me and see a guy with a long white beard walking out of the woods into your back yard.  Don't shoot me, I'm only passing through.

Peace,
EarthTone

From Hiker to RVer

Anyone who knows me has heard me starting to talk about EarthTone and LoGear's next Adventure.  We are planning on embarking on the Full Time RVer life.  

I know that I still need to finish my first traverse of the Appalachian Trail and that is still at the top of my To Do list, but over the last several weeks I have watched hundreds of videos, bookmarked dozens of websites and spent lots of hours researching what it takes to get rid of our stuff, sell our sticks and bricks, buy something that moves and head out on the road.  Saying that it has become my latest obsession is an understatement.

The Quest continues

When we first started discussing this new Adventure, we weren't sure what it took to make it happen.  When I started looking into it, I immediately became overwhelmed. After taking a deep breath and reminding myself of the technique of eating an elephant (one bite at a time), I started learning.  

I have been searching online for a nice used truck to buy to tow a Travel Trailer and we have already gone to three RV shows and visited two local dealers to look at a few coaches.  At first we were looking into the Class C.  That is one the midsize one that you drive yourself.  The large Class A were a little too big for our needs.  

Class A

After looking at a lot of Class Cs, we decided that if we went that route, we would need a vehicle to tow behind so we could be mobile when out camping without having to pick up the whole rig and break camp every time we want to head out.  Next we looked at a couple of 5th wheels, but then focused our search on a regular old Travel Trailer.  

Class C

As I learned more, I decided that I don't want anything much more than 30 feet long.  We are trying to find that sweet spot of big enough to be comfortable, but not too long to challenge my towing skills or restrict where we can take it.  The Goldilocks Trailer.  

I now know what the model name codes mean and can get an idea of the layout just by reading the code.  We really don't care if it is a Rear Bath or Front Living or any of the other layouts.  As long as it has a bathroom of a decent size, a kitchen with the essentials a couch and dinette table, heater, AC, TV and a decent amount of storage.

5th Wheel

Travel Trailer

My truck search has been a task.  My mind keep changing about what I need/want.  I've gone from an overpowered diesel to something that would work, to a regular truck that should be able to handle what we buy.  It hasn't been easy and I'm still suffering from sticker shock at the price of heavy duty pickup trucks.  I have been searching the webs and visiting dealerships, driving a few and comparing their options.  

As a kid, my family used to spend a lot of the summer renting a small Scotty trailer that somehow fit the six of us and we would go up and down the east coast staying at campgrounds.  Those fond memories still linger in my mind as I think about what LoGear and I will be doing in the hopefully not too distant future. I have plans of visiting all of the lower 48 states and maybe even do Alaska and Canada. There are so many places in this great country that I want to see or re-visit.  I am excited to get started.

My childhood trailer was like this

So now I'm learning new terms like boondocking, black tank, dump station, lithium batteries, brake controller, sway bars, bunkhouse, rear living, converter, toy hauler, full hookup, slide-out, and the list goes on and on.

I have found that the RV community is a lot like the Hiker community.  They have their own language and the camaraderie is just as strong.  And just like hikers, RVers talk a lot about poop.  

Each day I pick a topic to research and learn about and I take my notes, bookmark another site or two and watch several more videos.  

We are slowly trying to get rid of all the "stuff" we have accumulated over the last few decades and we are planning on attending another RV show this winter.  We have a nest egg that we put away several years ago, not knowing what we would use it for, but using that seems like the perfect way to get on the road without increasing our debt.  

Once we sell our sticks and bricks house, we will re-egg our nest.  

Spending so much time on the Trail has instilled in me a need to simplify my life, decrease my "stuff" and keep Adventuring before I'm too old to do what I want.  

So, the Quest continues, but has once again evolved into seeing all I can in this already Great Country.  

Peace,
EarthTone and LoGear

Pamola's Quest - Push 13 - The Push to Rockfish Gap- Part 2

The Push to Rockfish Gap, VA (Push 13) - Part 2

I had four days left to finish the Push and Phase III.  I was ready to get off trail and see what was up with my shoulder.  I was also looking forward to all the Other World delights that are so rare or non-existent out here.  I would see another long day in these last couple of days, but it would be sandwiched in by shorter days that contained their own challenges.

Day 407 - 18.5 miles - Bobblets Gap Shelter
Day 408 - 14.6 miles - Hilltop campsite
Day 409 - 12.3 miles - Harrison Spring Camp
Day 410 - 13.1 miles - John Hollow Shelter
Day 411 - 18.3 miles - Brown Mountain Creek Shelter
Day 412 - 15.8 miles - Seeley-Woodworth Shelter
Day 413 - 20.4 miles - Maupin Field Shelter
Day 414 - 15.8 miles - Paul C. Wolf Shelter
Day 415 - 5.0 - Rockfish Gap

Rain and Fog

I was up and out early again as I had a 2700 foot challenge early on and I wanted to get it done before the day heated up.  I could also feel that there was some weather approaching and I would see some interesting stuff before I arrived in camp.

The climb was well switchbacked and I was up and over it before too long.  The top of Cole Mountain opened up into meadows and fields.  It was completely socked in and I moved along as if I was in a dream.  It was eerie and pretty cool.  I could hear hikers approaching from the north, but didn't see them until they were about 20 feet away.  Visibility was pretty much zero up there.  

Fog starting to clear

I came down to Hog Pen Gap and decided to eat an early lunch and get some water down the easy .3 trail.  I saw Freight Train in his tent there.  He was zeroing in his tent as the day was looking like it was going to turn nasty and his knee was bothering him.  

I ate lunch with another guy who had stopped.  I decided to try making a cup of cold coffee at lunch to see if it would help with my afternoon tiredness that I had been feeling the last couple of days.  It seemed to help and I would continue this practice for the rest of the hike.  When I went down to get water, I saw a guy camping at a nice site that wasn't far from the spring.  He asked about the weather forecast and I just said I didn't know for sure, but it looked like rain.  

As I rolled along the day, I was moving up a fairly easy climb when I heard a hello from behind.  It was eWolf, who I though had moved well ahead of me by now, but him and Handstand had gone into Buena Vista for the night, so I had moved ahead again.  

He mentioned that he had walked through some nettles and had taken some hits on his legs.  He also mentioned that he had heard of a plant that he thought was called Forget Me Not that would help.  I told him about Jewelweed, aka Touch Me Not and looked down to see a plant at my feet.  I picked one and showed home how to crush the stalk and apply the juice.  He did so and moved on.  It felt good to pass on some woods lore.  

The rain started a little after noon and lasted the rest of the day.  I walked for a couple of miles without my rain gear.  It feels good at first, especially on a hot day, but after an hour or so of steady downpour, my core starts to get cold.  So eventually, I stopped and put on my rain gear over my soaked shirt, just to keep warm.

I arrived into camp and stopped at the shelter for a second.  Everyone who had come in already was snug in their down, trying to get warm again.  They all had that thousand yard stare.  After a short rest, I went behind the shelter and found two good trees.  I had to put up my tarp first so my hammock wouldn't get too wet, then I just slowly got out of my wet clothes, into dry stuff and made my dinner under the tarp.  The warm meal helped and I was snug in my down early and happy to be there.  

I fell asleep early as tomorrow was another 20 mile day.  I needed my rest for that. 

Last Long Day

The rain continued off and on all night and the morning dawned cold.  It was hard getting out of the down, but I had a long day planned and I needed to get moving to warm up.  I ate a quick breakfast and packed up fast and was out before 0700.

The first climb wasn't too bad at all.  The Trail made its way up to the Priest Shelter, where I took a break.  After reading the other hikers confessions in the log, I added my own private confession.  

Forgive me Father, for I have sinned...

During the next climb, I used a new tactic to keep my mind off the effort.  I made a story up in my mind, slowly adding to it as I made my way up the mountain.  It diverted my attention and just as the story ended in my head, I was at the top of the mountain.  I no longer remember exactly what that story was, but it was interesting to me at the time.  

For the last few days I have been seeing the little puffs of fluff pass me and then disappear.   They remind me of the small puffy seed pods I remember chasing as a kid that we called Santa Clauses.  These though, appeared to be self locomoting.  The funny thing is I would see them for about a half of a second and then they would disappear.  It was weird.  I started calling them Forest Fairies.  Eventually I was able to follow one until it landed and saw that it was an insect with long legs and small wings.  They were another cool distraction.

When I was about seven miles from the shelter, I came to a sign at a blue blaze trail that showed that it was only three miles to the shelter if I went that way.  I stood and thought about not climbing Three Ridges, but even though I have taken bypasses before for various reasons, I don't take short cuts just to walk less miles.  I continued on, following the white blazes and I climbed that mountain.  I was doing this 20.

I arrived in camp tired but feeling accomplished.  I had finished my last long day of this Phase.  I found some nice trees and set up and then went and talked to a hiker who was in the shelter.  She was Begonia and was heading south, trying to get to Tennessee.  She had been forced to take a long break in Waynesboro at Stanimals because of a tooth problem.  The same thing that had plagued Snoboat.  Having an injured shoulder sucked, but I think a tooth problem would be worse.  

There was a bear pole here, so for the first time in quite a while I didn't sleep with my food.  I know some people have a fit when they hear you are doing that, but my theory is if I surround my food smell with my rank human smell, the bear knows I'm there and will leave me and my food alone and will go look for something easier, like a poorly hung food bag.  Judge if you must, but that is how I roll.  

It had been a long day and dusk was settling on the camp as I finished dinner and headed to my hammock.  Two other hikers came in who I had been behind for several days and had passed earlier in the day during one of the climbs.  They were Buddha and BuddhaPest.  The pest was Buddha's sister.  They were an older couple who liked to take their time, hence my catching them after several days of seeing their entries on the log books. 

Tomorrow was going to be a normal day of around 15 miles.  The hard, long days were done.

A Happy Surprise

There were a few sprinkles off and on again overnight, but the morning was cloudy and calm.  I packed up and headed out.  Over the last few days, as my schedule firmed up, I had made plans with LoGear for her to meet me in Waynesboro in two days to pick me up.  Luckily, it had fallen on her days off.  I spent the day thinking about seeing my bride again in just two day's time.   Each of my texts to her as I  checked in was counting the sleeps I had until I saw her.  I was really missing my bride. 

The Trail today had a lot of rocks and the humidity and previous rain made them sweaty and slick.  I had to be extra careful as I moved through them to make sure I didn't fall again and compound the injury to my shoulder.  I just took my time and made it through no problem. I was in no hurry.

I ate lunch at a nice view that looked across the valley to a large ski resort named Wintergreen.  It was a good view.  Afterwards as me and a few other groups leapfrogged each other coming down Humpback Mountain we all needed water at the only spring on the way down.  We all gathered around and helped each other find the best flow to fill our bottles.  

Wintergreen

One of the hikers I met today was Dog Whisperer.  On the way down the last descent of the day, I saw him talking on his phone, so I decided to check for signal and texts from LoGear.  The last text I had sent here was to let me know what time she left the next day so I could figure the time she would arrive.  I had good signal and a weird text from LoGear.  She said that she would arrive around 6, with hoagies, so don't eat.  

I was confused, so I called her.  The smart girl had decided to drive out a day early and hike into the last shelter, where I was just 1.5 miles away from.  And she was bringing FOOD! She had just arrived in Waynesboro and was trying to figure out where the visitor center was next to the trail at the bottom of Shenandoah.  No more sleeps until I would see her!  There were tears of joy.  

I practically ran to camp and set up.  Now that we were a couple again, I had to find four trees that would work for our hammocks.  I found some spots and put my tarp at one spot and my hammock at the other.  Saving spots.  I was excited and happy and talked with the other hikers who had come in later in the day. Fantasizing about the Hoagie I would be eating for dinner. Probably pissing them off a little as they prepared their boring backpacker fare.  

LoGear had told me not to eat, but everyone knows a hiker can eat multiple meals a day.  As it was, my food bag was almost empty, just as I wanted it to be at the end of a Push.  As I waited for her I ate the last of my salami (which had lasted all eight days) with some mayo and cheese.  It was a tasty snack.  

Emptying my food bag

Before too long, I saw her coming down the Trail and went to meet her.  I was so happy to see her and really enjoyed this surprise.  It made perfect sense.  Splitting up the multiple hours of driving over two days was always better than doing it all at once.

We ate and caught up and I shared my chips with the other hikers.  Afterward, we finished setting up and retired to our hammocks.  I fell asleep with a satisfied smile on my face.

Tomorrow we finish.

The Final Day

I slept well and rolled out as usual, heading to the privy for my morning evolution.  I wanted LoGear to sleep as long as she wanted, so I headed up to the shelter for some coffee and breakfast.  I talked to the other hikers there, Squirrel, Molasses and Smiley as I waited for LoGear to roll out.

We were all packed and ready before 0730 and started out on our last hike of the Phase.  It was an easy five miles with no hard climbs.  LoGear had made a good 3+ mph pace on the way in and we were able to duplicate that on the way out.   

LoGear, back on Trail

We were done in a little over two hours and at the road where we had entered Shenandoah the year before.  I climbed over the guard rail and went to reach the exact spot we had started at to connect the dots.

As I approached the parking lot I saw Kaleidoscope and Big Tuna getting out of a vehicle to start their day.  I went over to wish them luck and say farewell.  They asked a couple questions about what was ahead and I gave the best advice I could recall as they entered the Park.  

I went back down the road and we headed to the car.  My emotions were at a great height.  Once again, there were tears.  I had finished Phase III.  With an injured shoulder to boot.  I had now hiked 1,593.3 miles. Everything from Springer Mountain in GA to Williamstown, MA.  I only had about 600 miles to go.  

Our first priority was a shower and to put on clothes that I hadn't been wearing for weeks straight and had actually been recently laundered.  Conveniently, the YMCA offers free showers in town, so that is where we went.  

After the refreshing shower, we headed over to Mings AYCE restaurant.  Google has said it opened at 1000 and we arrived at 1030.  The doors were open and we went inside and were seated. The workers did look a little flustered tho and we saw that the only thing ready to go was the salad bar.  They actually sat us in the regular area, not the walled off hiker area.  We must not have smelled bad at all after our shower.  

I checked their website and saw that they didn't actually open until 1100, but we had some nice salads and just hung out until the other food was ready.  I had plenty of room in my belly.

Squirrel came in and at first they seated him in the hiker area, but we invited him to join us in the Other World area and he did just that.
  

Squirrel

We had a great lunch of many foods.  I can't even remember what I ate, but I went back for more several times.  

We left the restaurant full and headed home.  Three hours later, I was unpacking my pack in the basement.  I weighted it before doing so and it was only 22.6 lbs.  I wish it was that light all the time.  I was home...

Phase III Complete

Phase III was complete.  Only 597 miles left to complete my first traverse of the Trail.  My original plan was to take a couple weeks off and then head up to MA in early July and complete the last 50 days or so.  With my shoulder in the shape it was in, I was hesitant to go back out before I had it checked and if need be, fixed.  It was different hiking injured in "flat" VA, but doing VT, NH and ME with torn tendons was just asking for more pain and most likely more injury.

Before the last Push had ended, I knew Phase IV would be put on hold.  Not only did I need to get my shoulder fixed, but I freely admit I had had enough for now.  My mental fatigue was straining my senses.  I needed a longer break than the planned two or three weeks.  I had scratched my hiking itch.  

But like all itches, I know it will come back.  I was just happy to spend the rest of the summer going to the beach, seeing Ozzy, walking Ginger in the woods, going to RV shows, hanging out around the house and driving my Uber.  

Ozzy in concert

Ginger and I enjoying a fire in "our" woods

I have to admit, the itch didn't start to come back for several weeks.  I kind of put it all away for awhile.  I did check in on some of the hikers as they continued their trek up the trail, but my obsession had calmed for a bit.  

I went to the Doctor, confirming the tears in my shoulder and scheduled the surgery.  I was given a rehab estimate of six to twelve months.  I had the surgery and am on my way to a fully functioning left arm.  It has been 10 and a half weeks since the surgery and I still have a ways to go.  If I wanted to, I could put a pack on and get back out there and the itch has started to return.  But I'll wait.

Post-Op

About six weeks out

Recently, I find myself planning those last 50 days.  Going through the guide, figuring out possible daily mileages as I work my way through the Whites and into the final State of my Quest.  I will get back out there. The itch has fully returned.  Hopefully that will be July of 2019, but life has a way of taking your plans, laughing at them and then saying, "hold my beer".   

Until then, the Quest continues...


Peace,
EarthTone and LoGear

Pamola's Quest - Push 13 - The Push to Rockfish Gap- Part 1

The Push to Rockfish Gap, VA (Push 13) - Part 1

The last Push was going to be a nice challenge.  I headed out of Daleville, refreshed with a heavy pack. I technically had enough food to get me to Rockfish Gap, but I was ready to change the plan if I needed to.  This Push would be 133.8 miles and would take me nine days to complete.  It would be a mixture of long days and some not so long days, with a very short and easy day at the end.  This would complete Phase III of Pomala's Quest.

Day 407 - 18.5 miles - Bobblets Gap Shelter
Day 408 - 14.6 miles - Hilltop campsite
Day 409 - 12.3 miles - Harrison Spring Camp
Day 410 - 13.1 miles - John Hollow Shelter
Day 411 - 18.3 miles - Brown Mountain Creek Shelter
Day 412 - 15.8 miles - Seeley-Woodworth Shelter
Day 413 - 20.4 miles - Maupin Field Shelter
Day 414 - 15.8 miles - Paul C. Wolf Shelter
Day 415 - 5.0 - Rockfish Gap

Walking Along the Blue Ridge

Once again I confirmed that motel beds are not as comfy as my hammock as my shoulder pain made sleep a hard thing to find.  I was up early and headed out after another nice motel breakfast.  The climb out of town wasn't bad at all and I switchbacked my way up the ridge and crossed I-81 and some railroad tracks.  I made steady progress and took a break at Fullhardt Knob Shelter.  Frolic was there eating and eWolf and Handstand came in later.  I got to talk to them for a while, asking how their hike was going.  I would end up leapfrogging them all day long.  

Even though the day was going to be a long one, it wasn't too hard.  We crossed the Blue Ridge Parkway a few times and got to see some nice overlooks.  The great thing about these overlooks is they usually have a trash can.  We like to be able to dump our trash as we go.  I didn't have a lot, but I made sure I had none when I walked into camp.

View

At the last overlook there was some trail magic.  Freight Train's wife and sister were there handing out snacks and sodas.  I enjoyed some of each and took a banana with me for a camp snack.  It was an awesome end of the day.  As I talked to them, they said that Freight Train had mentioned me and the water I had left him.  This was some good Karma at its best. 

I came to the blue blaze for the shelter and it was a .3 walk down hill.  I wanted the convenience of the morning  privy, abundant water and use of the table, so I headed down as the others set up camp up top.  The pickings were slim for tents and hammocks, but I found a descent hang near the shelter over a bunch of rocks.  It wasn't ideal, but it would do.  

Later some girl scouts came in and the camp had a good amount of hikers in for the night.  They were pretty good at finding places to set up.  

A New Experience

After that long day, I now had three days of what I now call short days.  All around 13 miles or so.  It's funny how your definition of long, short and regular days changes as your body adjusts to the rigors of being on trail.  When we started this Quest, a 9 mile day was a good day for us.  Now, that is considered a nearo. 

The first part of the day was nice and easy as we rolled along the Blue Ridge, with no climb being too steep.  I had planned to eat lunch at Jennings Creek as I knew the climbs were going to start after that.  I got there as eWolf and Handstand were heading out. 

I had a nice lunch and thought about taking a dip in the creek, but decided not to for some reason.  Another opportunity missed or not taken advantage of.  Oh well, I had some mountains to climb so I just got to it.

I made the one big climb of the day and headed down to Bryant Ridge Shelter, my original goal for the day.  I had read in the comments that there were not any good hanging spots and hardly any tent spaces, but that usually had not deterred me from finding a spot in the past.  

I arrived at the huge shelter and took a snack break.  I actually did set up my hammock in the shelter off to the side, just to see if I could as it had a large porch in front and to the side.  I was able to get it up, but the hang wasn't very good.  I could have moved it across the side porch to the other side for a better hang, but now I felt as if I would be intruding on other hikers use of the shelter.  Looking at the topo in Guthooks, I saw that as I climbed up the next mountain, there was a spot near the top that looked like it had a level area.  All I would have to do is find some trees.  

I decided to move on.  This was a new experience for me.  So far, during this Quest and all my hiking along the trails, I hadn't been forced to move on because I couldn't find a place to hang.  It was strange.  Even stranger, just the day before, Two Crows had asked me if I ever had trouble finding a spot to hang as planned and my answer then had been never.  That was no longer the case. 

I slowly made my way up the climb.  I was in no hurry, it was still early and I knew I wouldn't have to go too far to find a place.  Eventually, I came to the level spot and saw a perfect place to hang.  It had been used before, so I wasn't carving a place out of virgin forest.  I was just reusing a camp that had been used before.

I set up and rested in my hammock as the other hikers came by and said hello.  I had good signal up on the ridge, so I called LoGear to catch up. Later, as I was looking around I found an Deuce of Spades, an expensive cat hole digging trowel, that I had coveted, but didn't want to spend the money for.  A gift from the trail.  I packed it away and looked forward to trying it out in the morning.  

I would be alone again it the woods that night, but sometimes, there's no better place to be.  

Happy Birthday Mom

It was a peaceful night all alone in the woods and I heard Bigfoot screech early, before dawn, but I rolled out of the hammock thinking about my mother.  Today would have been her 86th birthday.  I sent a happy birthday wish out on the wind and started my day.  I would use thoughts of her to get me through the day, but it was going to be an even shorter one today, since I had to move on the day before.  I saw no reason to change the plan for today, even though I did look at my options.  

The Deuce didn't disappoint and I was on the trail early as usual.  First on the list of things to do was to find water as last night had been a dry camp.  I didn't have to go too far before I was able to follow a trail downhill to a spring.  It was a little bit of a walk, but a necessary thing to do.  

The big climb of the day was Apple Orchard Mountain.  It was fairly long and challenging, but at the top I stopped for lunch at an FAA Tower.  There were quite a few bugs around, but they didn't bother me too much.

Buggy mountain top

On the down hill I passed another feature of the Trail, the Guillotine.  It is an impressive rock feature. Not too long after passing that rock, I was rolling into camp.  It was a descent campsite with good water nearby.  It also had a lot of gnats that wanted to dive bomb your eyes, but I just retreated into my hammock to get away from them and relaxed.  The short day felt good.

The Guillotine

Looking at my food bag, I did have enough to get me to Rockfish Gap, but I was already feeling the calorie deficit.  I would feel a tiredness later in the day and my hunger was turn't up another notch.  I started thinking that a trip into Glasgow would be necessary to load up on some town calories and maybe add a few more to my food bag.  

Since tomorrow was my last short day, I would plan a Hero stop.  For me, that means getting into town, eat, resupply as needed and getting back on the trail all in the same day.  The letters h e r o didn't stand for anything, it was just something coined out here to go with Zero and Nero.  You become a Hero when you don't let the town suck you in.  

Glasgow Refuel

There was some heavy rain overnight, but it was all done in the morning with a drippy start.  My plan to get into town and get some food solidified as I moved along the Trail.  There was only one challenging climb before the long descent to the James River and the longest footbridge of the Trail.  

Along the way, I had a nice, close encounter with a deer that was using the trail, same as me.  She waited for me to turn on my phone and take a couple of photos before moving off and letting me pass.  

Deer on the Trail

I got to the River and crossed.  The road after the bridge was the one to town.  I headed to one of the parking lots and planned on putting my thumb out.  Just as I approached the lot, I saw a pickup with two guys in it and a canoe on top start up.  I asked the guy if I could get a ride into Glasgow and he waved me over.

James River Footbridge

I sat in the back, in a puddle of river water for the windy ride into town and hopped out when we got to the sleepy, small town.  I looked around a bit, then headed to Scotto's to refuel my body.  After a very nice, large meal, I headed out with a plan in mind.  

Dino in Glasgow

I decided that I could try to drop a  little more weight as this Phase was almost over and the lighter I could get my pack, the easier it would be.  I went by the post office and picked up a box then started heading to Stanimal's Hostel, that is just down the road.  On the way there a woman called me over to her car.  Luckily enough, she was the hostel innkeeper, named Donna and she agreed to mail the box for me on Monday (for a small fee, which I readily offered) and I also arranged a ride back to the Trail later, for another small fee.

She took me over to the town shelter, which is a nice free place to stay if that was your inclination.  I hung out with the other hikers as I got my box ready to go, took a nice shower and rinsed out some clothes.  There was even some tape I could use to seal up my box.  

Donna was a little early, but I was ready to go and I hopped into her car after throwing my pack in her trunk.  She took the box and promised to get it to the post office first thing Monday.  After another five mile twisty ride, we were back at the trail.  

I made my way just about a 1.7 miles up to the next shelter and set up camp.  Some rain rolled in at the end of the day, but I was all snuggled into my hammock and feeling good.  My stomach was full and the day had worked out perfectly.  

An Empty Trail

Usually, there are a group of other hikers, that I see for several days in a row.  Either during the day or in camp.  From time to time that group changes.  It it either from the faster hikers moving ahead or hikers taking a night in town or a zero here and there, so the people I hike with constantly change.  After passing a town like Glasgow, which is small, but offers lots of amenities, I found myself alone on the trail almost all day long.  No one passed me and I didn't come up on any resting hikers.  It was just me and the forest.    

Looking back at the James River

The several long climbs of the day were each negotiated in their turn and after a while, I found myself descending into down to the Pedlar River and a reservoir that I would hike around.  As I moved along, I saw that I wasn't alone anymore.  I was actually catching another hiker.  I caught Triple Rainbow at a bridge where I had planned a break and water refill.  She was nursing a sore knee, (hense my catching her) and I filled her water bottles for her.  We talked a bit and then moved out together.  

Top of Bluff Mountain, where they found little Ottie in 1891

I quickly moved ahead, not a common thing for me and the Trail was nice.  We moved along the reservoir along a contour line and it was easy going.  After a while I could hear the rumble of thunder as a storm approached.  Soon I was walking in a downpour.  The day had been warm enough that it felt very refreshing and it only lasted about 10 minutes.  

I finished the day walking through the dripping woods and arrived at the shelter area.  The pickings for a good hang were slim once again, but I found my trees and set up.  The area had an interesting history.  It seemed that a collection of freed slaves had homesteaded there back over 100 years ago and you could still see a remnant or two of their presence.  A rock wall here and there, but the forest had reclaimed most of everything else.  

A real lady bug checks out the Museum bandanna

Triple Rainbow came in and stayed in the shelter and a group of four also rolled in later in the day.  Today's long day of over 18 miles will be followed by a normal day of around 15 miles.  These mileages would rotate back and forth until I completed the Push and the Phase. 

Seeing The Light at the End of the Tunnel

Stay tuned as I continue to walk along, ready to finish this Phase and see my bride again.  I had had my fill of hiking and I was ready to return to the Other World and see what I had to do to fix my shoulder.  But before that could happen I still had miles to go, before I finished.  


Peace,
EarthTone and LoGear