Day 120, 18.5 miles
VA Route 42/SOBO mile 1520.6 to VA Route 635/SOBO mile 1539.1
Slackpacking is the way to go. If had all the money in the world, I would slackpack the rest of the way to Springer. My knees and feet would love that.
That being said, today was a surprisingly tough day. About 4500 feet of total elevation gain and only one viewpoint. THAT being said, the viewpoint was gorgeous.
My feet hurt a lot. Realized I forgot to put my insoles into my new shoes. Will fix that tonight.
Rocks! There were a couple miles where VA thought it was PA.
Happy to be staying at Angel’s Rest Hiker Haven. I have a comfy private room in the lovely main house. Micah, the fellow who manages the place along with the owner Doc, is a lovely human being. He is also my shuttle driver for my slacks.
The morale boost one gets from staying indoors during a thruhike cannot be overstated. Getting a shower, having electricity, laying in a bed…one appreciates such things so very much when one does not have daily access to them.
Day 121, 22 miles
VA Route 635/SOBO mile 1539.1 to VA Route 100 (Pearisburg)/SOBO mile 1561.1
The good news: Greybeard and Nimblewill Nomad are staying here at Angel’s Rest tomorrow night, so I will get the chance to speak with them again. Though there will probably be a lot of star struck hikers also wanting to speak with them.
The bad news: Left foot and leg pain kept me awake all night. I cannot point my left foot. It might be a vein damage/circulation/swelling thing since I definitely need new compression stockings. Or it might be a sprain. Or both. I still managed to hike 22 miles today. I think tighter compression stockings, or even wearing one on top of the other on that foot/leg, will help. I will wear both on the leg tomorrow to see if that does anything, and I’ll buy some new ones in two days (on my zero).
The weather was perfect today! Cold in the morning, cool the rest of the day. I did not drip sweat all day, yay! Had one view on a mountaintop field with a shelter – gorgeous! Other than that, I was in the trees all day.
This 22 miles felt like a struggle because of sleep deprivation and my left foot/leg, even with the slackpacking. Hopefully the double-compression setup will help tomorrow.
Day 122. 11.7 miles
Sugar Road Road/SOBO mile 1572.8 to VA Route 100 (Pearisburg)/SOBO mile 1561.1
Did this bit NOBO today so I could walk mostly down instead of up. Coldest day so far, which I loved. I barely broke a sweat.
Mostly autumn walking through the trees. One nice view. I skipped the popular Angel’s Rest blueblaze viewpoint since I had just taken a break at the one viewpoint directly on trail.
Left ankle really ached in spite of me doubling the compression stockings. I really need new ones. Will buy them tomorrow when I go to Walgreens to pick up a prescription.
Had an acupuncture session with Doc, the owner of Angel’s Rest Hiker Haven and licensed acupuncturist, when I returned from my hike. I am now deeply relaxed.
Day 123, Zero day at Angel’s Rest.
Picked up new compression stockings in the morning.
My cousin Shawn came to visit! He drove five hours from Newport News, VA. We went to lunch, then we came back and hung out all afternoon and evening at Angel’s Rest, talking for hours. It was so good to see him.
Took a photo of him with Nimblewill Nomad. Will include a photo of me and NN as well as one of me and Greybeard. Took those when I met them at the hotel a few days back. They were so kind to let me get those selfies.
Day 124, 17.5 miles
Sugar Road Road/SOBO mile 1572.8 to campsite on ridge at SOBO mile 1590.3.
My ankle has been hurting a lot lately. I now wear new, tighter compression stockings doubled up, and that did help a lot today. However, at about mile 13 into my day, the ankle started hurting again. I have decided to get into town every two or three days instead of every three or four (less food weight), and to slackpack at least once or twice a week if I can. I feel the need to start preserving my joints and babying my knees and ankles. I am not yet close enough to the finish line to ignore everything that hurts and barge full steam ahead.
Today’s hike was in the trees all day. No views except for one through the trees in the morning that was socked in so I didn’t bother with a photo.
At 15.2 miles, I reached Kimberling Creek. That was the last water source for the rest of today plus all day tomorrow. Every spring and creek between there and US Route 52 (Bland, VA) is currently dry – that’s over 29 total miles of trail. I am heading into Bland tomorrow evening, so I just have to make it through tomorrow’s hiking day. I drank over a liter at the creek, filled all my bottles (2 1/2 liters), and will ration water all day tomorrow. Fun times. At least it’s not hot and humid anymore.
Reached a nice camp spot on a ridge around 4pm and set up my tent. Two other hikers came by later looking for a spot, so I am glad I got here on the early side. Apparently all the other tentsites heading south on this ridge are also already taken. This is indeed a really nice spot. One of my favorite parts of thruhiking is camping in little wooded areas on ridges, all by myself. So very peaceful.
Day 125, 16.1 miles
Campsite on ridge at SOBO mile 1590.3. to Brushy Mountain Outpost/ SOBO mile 1606.4
It rained last night. Woke up just enough to secure my tent’s rain flaps, then went back to sleep. Slept really well, I was nice and cozy. Temps were in the 40s.
The day’s hike was woods walking. Up and down and up and down and up and down, of course, but that’s the AT. Had to carry all my water from yesterday and ration it because all the creeks and springs are dry in this stretch – though I did score a liter of water from a surprise cache. Thank you, kind stranger!
Got to Route 612 and the AT turned into a long uphill road walk that passed over I-77. Ended my day at Brushy Mountain Outpost, where Pam the shuttle driver picked me up and took me to Big Walker Motel in Bland, VA.
The motel sits on a huge hill and has a spectacular view. It’s a family-run place that has been passed down through generations. Charming and comfy with antiques on display in the office. Swings and benches where one can admire the view. Nice place. I dried out my tent on a bench after taking my shower.
My left ankle continues to hurt. It’s a bit swollen, and I can neither turn it to either side nor fully point my foot. The double compression stocking does help in the beginning of the day, but by mile 10 or 12 the ankle feels heavy. It bears weight just fine though. I am very careful about foot placement as I think one wrong twist would be quite painful.
Both knees are getting better, though. So that’s good, anyway.
I know I keep writing about my ankle and knees, but hey, they are on my mind and I feel them with every step. I don’t think the ankle is getting worse. If I can keep it like this then I can manage each day as it comes.
Day 126, 20.7 miles. 21.4 if you include the walk to Burke’s Garden Hostel
Brushy Mountain Outpost/ SOBO mile 1606.4 to Burke’s Garden Hostel/SOBO mile 1627.1
Ate a large dinner right before bed which was a mistake. The food was good but I don’t sleep well when I eat too much before bedtime. Also, my leg hurt. Got about two hours of sleep.
Shuttle driver Pam came and picked me up at 7 and dropped me back on the trail. The first part was a steep uphill roadwalk overlooking the highway, then into the trees I went and stayed all day long. Up and down and up and down, with a couple miles-long ridge walks. Lots and lots and lots of ups and downs on the 4000-foot ridges themselves too. No scenic outlooks, but I did get some peekaboo views at times through the trees.
Reached the turn off for Burke’s Garden Hostel and walked 0.7 mile down first a dirt road, then a country paved road. Best views I had all day. Lovely country scenery.
This hostel is comfy and clean. There’s a young guy here named Alex who is a nomad and perpetual hiker. He is on the AT for now NOBO but isn’t planning on finishing it. When it gets too cold for him, he’ll go somewhere else and hike. He kind of bounces around.
Later…Ark, a SOBO I’ve run into here and there, just came in at 7:00. Good to see him again.
