Huffhike

Day 69 (Mile 1105.9)

So it has been a while since my last blog entry. I feel like over the past month I have had various reasons for not catching up on my blog.

The first reason and probably the most irritating came around the 800 mile mark. After leaving Glasgow VA, I ran into Titanium. The last time I saw him was in Damascus VA at trail days. After catching up a bit, he mentioned he was going to hitch into town to camp at a $5 “campground”. Then get free ice-cream at a place that offered a scoop to thru-hikers. Not being able to say no to ice cream I decided to tag along.

After a half an hour of unsuccessfully hitching, we decided to just get a ride from a local shuttle service. We were then informed the ice cream place was closed on Sundays so we opted to get margaritas and Mexican food. The food was delicious and we made our way to the campground. After the mile walk we realized the playground was a baseball field, so we setup and went to bed. All went well until 4am when I awoke with a gurgling stomach and realized I was sick. After running back and forth from the bathroom to my tent for about 2 hours I passed the bug and was feeling better and was finally a true thruhiker.

Knowing I didnt have noro, but instead food poisoning I decided I would rent a room at a hostel to rehydrate and rest as it was a warm day. While resting and rehydrating, I was feeling hot, so I decided to cut my hair. After the inital shock, I felt immediately cooler.

After contuning to hike, I passed several of the harder climbs in Virginia including The Priest, and the Three Ridges, eventually I made my way to Waynesboro where I stayed at the church run hostel. I was eventually knighted and had a quicl run in with noro (thankfully one I avoided) and found myself hiking through the Shanendoah National Park.

While hiking through the park, I started to push the biggest amout of miles Ive done on trail. One day Chestnut, Yoohoo, and me did a 34 mile day. We ended up hiking the milage because my shoes where falling apart, and because we wanted to food blaze the Shanendoah. We ended up completing the food blaze by eating breakfast at the Big Meadows Wayside, lunch at Skyland, and ended the day at 11pm at Elkwallow Wayside. Unfortunately because of the timing, I totally missed the black raspberry ice cream.

After the Shanendoahs I continued to hike with Chestnut and Yoohoo until, we eventually split about 30 miles before Harper’s Ferry. After a few days, I reached Harper’s Ferry. I then took a zero day to allow two of the best friends Ive made on trail to catch up to me, Sophie and Alex. After reaching Harper’s Ferry we took the half way photo and then ran some trail errands.

After leaving Harper’s Ferry, we took a few days and eventually reached the offical halfway point. At the halfway point there is a tradition where thru hikers try to eat a half gallon of ice cream. Of course being a traditionalist, I decided to partake in this challenge. I purchased one quart of neopolrine ice cream and a pint of cookies and cream. After 22 minutes, I stomached both and then decided to take the rest of the day off. Id like to say that after that much dairy and food I called it a day, but the hiker hunger took over and I ate 3 burritos before calling it a day.

As Ive reflected about the first half of the trail. I realized that much of this trail, is a solo adventure. You focus on yourself, and at the end of the day, you are responsible for yourself. If you quit or complete the trai its because you decided to do it.

But, Ive also learned that the most beautiful part of the trail comes in the community aspect. The trail is maintained by people who want to help people. The main way hikers get too and from town is from people willing to help hikers and give them a ride. Then every hiker treats and cares for other hikers as if they are family.

I would like to think that being surrounded by the woods and the natural dopamine you get is the reason why. But I dont think that is it. I think that community comes from the commonality. Everyone at the shelter each night had to climb the hill or had to battle the weather. But in the “real” world its hard to find that commonality sometimes. But at the end of the day, we all have the same basic commonalities, and I think finding that commonality is what makes life beautiful.

Either way, Im extremely excited for the northern half of the trail. Im sure Im going to be incredibly anxious about miles (I already am), but the important part will be focusing on the present moment and not getting too far ahead of myself.