06/09 - 06/15 Abridged
We started the week coming off a rainless night that left my tent soaked. Condensations a bitch. It was our first time ditching the bear cans for bags and in doing so, shed two pounds. Doesn’t sound like a lot but it made the world of a difference. PCT hang for life as the cool kids say.
Still no package in Bland. The gear swaps I’d planned on, most importantly my new shoes, were lost and redirected to the USPS in Chicago... My current pair of shoes has held up for over 550 miles. Once cushy cloud hoppers have been reduced to cardboard flip flops. Fortunately, my parents were already en route to visit. My lovely mother went out of her way to make sure I’d have replacements.
The trail to Doc’s Knob Shelter reminded us that whoever said “Virginia is flat” was full of shit. Equipped with a newly built deck/sitting area, we had the shelter to ourselves. That is except for the tiniest bird nesting atop a strung up Gatorade bottle. Our very own coo coo clock, sounded off with the whippoorwills every hour through the night.
The next day, we hiked out to “Angel’s Rest”, A hostel just beneath the mountain of the same name. The trailer park hippies paradise was centrally located to all the highlights of Pearisburg VA. An all you can eat Chinese buffet was our first stop. After putting away 3-4 plates, we resupplied at Krogers before making our way back to camp. Reunited with our new friend Puma, positively amused, she was wearing a loaner shirt with Toby Keith’s face plastered to the front. Before going to bed I heard whimpering from the bush behind me, at first I thought it was a dog but I quickly realized it was some poor woman sobbing in a hammock… she seemed to be pretty distraught, saying some less than savory things under her breath. Concerned, but not wanting to make a scene, I texted the hostel owners to check in on the pour soul. Then put my earplugs in and went to bed.
June 11th was a big one. Fourteen miles across a meadow ridge line with grass up to my shoulders. Before lunch, I found seven tics on me, saw a bear and two grouse. Oh my. Tonight, a full moon In Sagittarius. We danced around a fire in the moonlight, manifesting winning lottery numbers and of course, world peace.
The next day, we booked it over the next mountain to meet my parents at the nearest service road. They drove up from Florida, armed with a pub subs and my favorite cream cheese walnut brownies. Seeing familiar faces, family, in the middle of the remote wilderness felt like a dream. I was smiling ear to ear. We headed into Blacksburg, a near by college town, and planned to zero/slack pack the next few miles. We made a pit stop at the happiest place on earth to resupply. Greeted by fluorescent lights and half the town’s population crowded into a 5 lane parking lot, Walmart, reminded me just how much I miss our consumer centric society. My brain hadn’t processed that much stimulation in months. Upon leaving, I couldn’t help but feel as if I’d been assaulted.
Our zero in Blacksburg was spent reorganizing, soaking our sore feet, and enjoying an early Father’s Day dinner. I found dad a gift at the local art store, and got myself a vintage postcard “Our Hats Are Off To You! The Amish of Dutch Country PA.”
Slack packed the 14th with a swollen eye thanks to a persistent stye. I swear I can’t catch a break. Saw more ticks, pet some cows, and broke in the new shoes. My parents came with us for a short walk on the AT, a flat .2 miles, up to “Wind Rock”. Not much, but I’m glad they got to share in the experience. We made camp later that night by a cow pasture creek, and were sung to sleep by a howling dog over the hill.
Woke up the 15th and came to the conclusion that my new pack sucked. Pressed to my back, the foam acted as insulation and had me cooking like a lobster within the first 20 minutes of our hike. Luckily, we met my parents up trail just before a storm unleashed copious amounts of rain. Taking advantage of their hospitality, we opted for another night in the hotel over a flooded tent. We’ve gone soft I know. Now on our way now to Salem VA, we gave some stinky hitch hiker a lift before settling in at the LaQuinta.