So last night was town time. I downed 5 double stacks, 25 nuggs, and one frosty from Wendy's. Chris ate a comparable amount. We met our buddy, Lemonhead, just south of here and decided to split a hotel room with him. Also got a resupply from the local Kroger. this place is weird, kind of a interstate highway stop (I81). But the opportunity to share stories with a fellow hiker and clean up are valued extremely highly on the trail. Perhaps the most fun is remarking on how fast and gaudy our society has become. Whitewashed with huge corporate stamped parking lots and o so standard brand name images. We become accustomed to these things and forget that they are simply human creations imposed upon this natural landscape Earth. I think the corporate stuff has greatly dampened our creativity and freespritedness. At times people in their cotton tees and jeans seem like predictable like worker bees pushing their pedals from destination to destination riding out their lives at the speed limits imposed by local law enforcement. The trail operates at your pace: shelters, towns, water, its all just waiting for you without schedule. I feel so much more in touch with nature and feel I have a glimpse into the world God created before we started getting caught up in modern "conveniences". but I will get to the update.
Day1 out of Damascus: Met the dean of Financial affairs for South Carolina University.
Day2 went into the absolutely gorgeous Grayson highlands of So Virginia. Little ponies dot the land and the rhodedendrons were in full bloom. Came near Mt. Rogers: Va's highest point. But its a side trail, and they dont get you any closer to Baxter St Park in Maine. Also met Landrover and Frenchie. an odd match of guys from Birmingham,AL and Drummondville, QC (mom mentioned)
Day 3 first 30 miler into the Pizza Shelter, where they delivered us two large pizza that we finished. next morning got 2 quick hitches to/from Marion VA Food City. Sweet grocers. Ate sushi for breakfast.
Day 4 crossed the .25 mark with our friend Rufio and got some ice cream from gas station in rural retreat,VA. ended at knot maul branch shelter. i wont talk about the endless rain thruout this strecth because its finally sunny.
day 5 33 miler into this really buggy, marshy Dismal Creek,VA section. really was dismal at the time. those mountain laurel drip the biggest drops after rain storms.
day 5 then it was pearisburg, where we went into the town festival, ate a 5 buck chinese buffet, and stayed the night at the hostel the local catholic church runs. We also were so happy to celebrate the Mass on Saturday with Fr. Prinelli, who received us with open arms for which we are very grateful. hopefully will be back there. also met up with the Polish and French hikers and met a recovering White Supremeicist and two miami ohio gards out thru-ing.
day 6 camped out i think, kinda uneventful. met a couple from Israel. and Flash and Fletch.
day 7 went down into our first empty shelter night and were accosted by a curious deer in the midnight hour. .
day 8 ended the day the with chili dogs and ice cream at a close convenience store. then camped out by a stream. got 2 trail magics now, beer in a stream by a shelter and rednecks with beer at a road crossing.
yesterday and the day before have been ridge walking past epic sights of Dragon Tooth and Mcafee Knob (a perrenial picture spot for thruhikers and a great view). Met LemonHead and here we are. he tells us we are just behind the pack of thru-hikers. Example of how this trail works: last night we were tryin to get a second round of wendys, but drivethru was only way. well, a car with plates GA-ME 02 pulls up and takes us thru. turns out the man had thru'd in 02 with his kids and wife. This is the guy you read about online who brought an 8 year old thru. Apparently the lil guy did really well.
mom is coming down soon to do a full support so updates will be by me over day 12 or so days. For all of those who wish to come out, we are shooting to be in Shenandoah in a week or so, the great state of MD in about 10-14 days. Woohooo! halfway is at Pine Grove furnace state park in PA. We have been talking about doing a BBQ at Pen Mar Park on the Mason Dixon Line. Please send all comments and inquiries in voice mail form to 443-603-2585. pics are coming soon. Peace to all.
-Corporate (Jack)
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Sunday, June 21, 2009
June 21, 2009
Jack and Chris reported a 30+ day into Pearisburg on Friday. They stayed at Holy Family hostel, a well-known hostel built by a local Pearisburg church. They mentioned that while they have caught up to the main flow of thru-hikers they have met several other people. One was Landrover, while another was "Frenchie" from the Montreal metro area. It was enjoyable to discuss the local Montreal haunts both jack and "Frenchie" had frequented. Jack and Chris also caught up with two thru-hikers they had bumped into before their water purification mishap a few weeks ago. They have leap-frogged with Odysius a few times and spent more time on the trail shooting the breeze with Ruthio.
Jack and Chris also confirmed they passed the official 25% mark of the Trail a few days ago.
Jack and Chris also confirmed they passed the official 25% mark of the Trail a few days ago.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
June 17, 2009
Hi blog readers!
Jack called to report that they left Wise Shelter in Grayson Highlands State Park a few days ago and hiked 30.6 miles (a marathon day!) to Partnership Shelter near Sugar Grove, Va, aka "Pizza Shelter" with a hefty chow-down of one large pizza a piece. The hills are smaller now, still up and down, but less arduous. Rolling countryside in view.
The following day they finished 25.6 miles, with a stop along the way into the town of Marion.
They are now at least 89 miles from Damascus, Virginia and a total of 550.3 miles from their starting point of Springer Mountain, Georgia, 25% of the total AT trail distance of 2176.2 miles. They have averaged about 20.38 miles per day. They are now on day 28 of the hike. They had planned to average about 24 miles per day. This is taking into account that the end and beginning of the trail will have lower daily averages due to slower mountain pacing. They now have 76 days left to August 31, 1625.9 miles left to hike.
This will require a daily average of 21.39 miles....just about their current average daily rate. With an increasing daily mileage rate through Virginia, Maryland, and Pennyslvania, and barring any difficulties, they are well on their way to accomplishing their goal, with perhaps a few days to spare at the end of the hike.
Signing off for now!
Jack called to report that they left Wise Shelter in Grayson Highlands State Park a few days ago and hiked 30.6 miles (a marathon day!) to Partnership Shelter near Sugar Grove, Va, aka "Pizza Shelter" with a hefty chow-down of one large pizza a piece. The hills are smaller now, still up and down, but less arduous. Rolling countryside in view.
The following day they finished 25.6 miles, with a stop along the way into the town of Marion.
They are now at least 89 miles from Damascus, Virginia and a total of 550.3 miles from their starting point of Springer Mountain, Georgia, 25% of the total AT trail distance of 2176.2 miles. They have averaged about 20.38 miles per day. They are now on day 28 of the hike. They had planned to average about 24 miles per day. This is taking into account that the end and beginning of the trail will have lower daily averages due to slower mountain pacing. They now have 76 days left to August 31, 1625.9 miles left to hike.
This will require a daily average of 21.39 miles....just about their current average daily rate. With an increasing daily mileage rate through Virginia, Maryland, and Pennyslvania, and barring any difficulties, they are well on their way to accomplishing their goal, with perhaps a few days to spare at the end of the hike.
Signing off for now!
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