Damascus, VA

Leaving Erwin was fairly easy because I knew Tailgate was visiting in a couple of days. The weather was supposed to get stormy but that first day I stayed at Cherry Gap Shelter and the thunder didn't start until 2:30am. It did kick in toward the end of my hike, on the following day, while on a semi-exposed, rocky ridgeline. We must deal with these moments.

Tailgate was waiting at Hughes Gap with homeade brownies, soda, and beer. When I arrived with my buddies Nero and Shoefly, she sweetly offered to have them join us at the cabin. We dined on fish tacos, avocado salad (with Cilantro!) and wine. Nice.

The following day, I had the genius idea for a slackpack over Roan Mountain. Tailgate drove to the other side and we didn't have to carry our packs over a mountain that I was not looking forward to summiting a third time. It proved much more enjoyable without the pack and the first mile of the ascent has been rerouted, so it is much easier now. After more trail magic with more thru-hiker buddies, including Easy Does It (GAME '08), Tailgate and I headed back to the cabin.

We spent my next zero day watching not one but two movies at the local cinema in Johnson City! It was a beautiful day spent in doors. Though, I was happy to be spoiled by the comforts of home, I was not looking forward to the following day's forecast.

Which brings me to my ascent of the many balds after Roan Mountain. This section is gorgeous and one that many former thru-hikers often come back to and hike again. On this day, they were a chore. Any long-distance hiker knows the feeling of total trepidation when hiking exposed land on a stormy day. It was a very Eastern European looking day. However, there was no thunder and lightning. I spent the day frightened that there would be but it held off, thankfully. The highlight of the day was running into my friend Raspberry that I met on day one. I was afraid I wouldn't see too many familiar faces.

That evening, I made it to Mountain Harbour Hostel. I planned to hike to 19E and was not going to camp by that road, so I trekked to the hostel. It really lived up to its reputation. Mary does indeed make the best breakfast I have ever had on the AT. I can't believe I never stopped there before. The hostel sits above a barn that houses goats and horses. Love it there!

I thought about hostel hopping and hiking the full 24 miles to Kincora but I had a pleasant day hiking with Raspberry and we both sheltered at Moreland Gap just 6 miles from Dennis Cove Rd. That night, I heard serious animal sounds and tried to wake Raspberry but he just snored through them while I clutched my pepper spray and stared straight ahead. Eventually, I passed out and woke up in the morning with the spray still in my hand.

Hiking into Kinora is always a pleasure and when I saw Bob Peoples he remembered exactly the last time he saw me. He still calls me Diane rather than Cayenne but I don't care 'casue I loves me some Bob Peoples. For everyone that knows and loves Bob: He is doing great! He looks great and seems as happy as ever. Apparently, after Pat passed, he decided that you have to go out and do it all NOW while you can. He's thru-hiked the Camino Trail in Spain and plans to work on the IAT this year.

I was the last to leave the next day, but caught up with Raspberry by the time we got to the lake. By the way, I don't like Pond Flats. Never did really. Where is the top of that thing? Razz and I made it to Vandeventer Shelter before the wind got too bad and spent a very chilly night stuffed in a shelter with a ton of people who reeked of cigarette smoke. So happy that I kicked that habit.

The next day, we hiked 22.4 miles to Abingdon Gap Shelter and the day after it took 10 lightly dusted in snow covered miles to get into Damascus. Ah...I love the descent into this town. You float.

That's all for now except I'm sorry to report that I will not be doing the creeper trail this year as I am shooting for my 2,000 milers status and this means that I have to do the less fun section right out of town as I have never done it before.  Oh well. Techinically, I have hiked well over 2,000 miles on the AT, but you get 2,000 miler status when you hike the entire white-blazed sections of the trail. This does not include the gloriously flat Virginia Creeper Trail which is beautiful. No it does not.