Kevin's AT Thru Hike

Day 50, Thursday, 5/5 – I packed up my items before breakfast this morning and made some gear changes. I swapped my 22degF quilt for a 30degF quilt, I sent home my rain pants, and I swapped rain jackets with Dad because his was lighter. I also went through my ditty bag and got rid of miscellaneous items that I hadn’t been using.

I was at the Collins House B&B this morning with the folks and Martin. Rod and Carol prepared breakfast for us at 8:30am. They are very great cooks, and great hosts. It’s hard to believe that they have only been in the hospitality industry for a year.

I talked to Rod and Carol about the Appalachian Trail thru hike culture. They really haven’t been exposed to the Appalachian Trail. The previous owners must have advertised the B&B in the app that hikers use to plan accommodations.

After breakfast, Mom, Dad, and Martin dropped me back off at the road and I started hiking North. We said our good byes. It wasn’t as emotional as the first round of goodbyes in Georgia. I’m so glad they came to visit and got to meet everyone that I’ve been hiking with all this time!

Martin wanted the AT experience and I think he got it. He hiked about 34 miles, slept in a shelter, signed a log book, provided Trail Magic, slack packed, and stayed in a hostel.

I’ve noticed that my bladder capacity is diminishing. It might be because I relieve myself whenever there’s an urge. This includes at night when I’m in the hammock. If I have to go in the middle of the night, I realized I don’t even have to get up. I can just roll over to my side and go. But now I’m starting to intentionally hold it in so I build back up some capacity.

When I started my hike in March, I heard other hikers warn about the “Virginia Blues”. Virginia Blues describes the melancholy feeling that thru hikers get in Virginia. Supposedly, thru hikers get overwhelmed by Virginia because it is 500ish miles long. Well, I’m 100 miles into Virginia, and I don’t yet understand this sentiment. Virginia has been absolutely beautiful with its rolling hills, farms, and flowers. I don’t want it to end.

What I also like about the AT in Virginia is that the trail is built through rural America. The trail runs through private property, passes by farms, and overlooks small towns. I really like getting a window into the way of life in rural southern America. It feels authentic.

I ran into R-dot again on the hike today. We hiked together for a bit and a had a great chat. We talked about my family’s visit and his hometown.

Halfway through the hike, I caught up to Parkour and Jetpack. They had been taking a siesta at Knot Maul Branch Shelter. I hiked with Parkour and Jetpack for the rest of the day. At a water crossing, I met a friendly group of hikers. I met Hot Sauce, Blue Cheese, Bugs, and Tight Tights. Blue Cheese was using her homemade backpack that she crafted so she could carry her dog with her on her adventure.

I heard a lot of grouse on the hike today. It’s a difficult sound to describe. They use their feathers to make a sound that sort of resembles a helicopter way in the distance.

Twelve miles into my hike, Jetpack, Parkour, and I stopped to eat dinner. I made macaroni and cheese with salmon and fresh broccoli. I shared broccoli with the other hikers who were also resting. R-dot hiked up and chatted with us for a while. He noticed that I had a String Cheese sticker on my water bottle. It turns he’s also a fan of jam bands, live music, and festivals. I like when I get along with someone, and then realize that there’s common interest too.

Parkour, Jetpack and I were considering whether we should stop for the day or continue on another two miles to the next shelter. There was still daylight, and I had a lot of energy left. Parkour and Jetpack had a longer day of hiking both yesterday and today, so they preferred that we stop. I convinced them that we should hike on. Fortunately, it ended up being the right decision.

I hiked 14 miles to Chestnut Knob Shelter (Mile 570). The view from Chestnut Knob Shelter was unreal. There is a clearing in the trees that looks down on Burke’s Garden, a very fascinating geological formation. The valley, which looks like a giant, 8 mile by 4 mile crater from above, was formed by a limestone sinkhole.

Parkour, Jet Pack, R-dot, and I hung out with the view of Burke’s Garden in the background until it got dark. It was so relaxing and peaceful. Sometimes this adventure feels like one big vacation.