Day 58: 5/28/12

Miles today: 10.2
Total miles: 764.7

Started with a massive 3000-ft climb this morning. The heat and humidity is starting to pick up, good training for when it gets really hot in a few months.
After ten miles it was looking like rain so we wimped out and stopped at the nearest shelter.
Saw some cool rock formations today. One called the "guillotine" is pictured below.

Staying at Thunder Hill shelter.

Day 57: 5/27/12

Miles today: 13.5
Total miles: 754.5

Had no desire to hike today. Just wasn't feeling it. But I did anyway and put in some decent miles. All around a boring day. I was very unenthusiastic today.

Staying at Bryant Ridge shelter.

Day 56: 5/26/12

Miles today: 18.5
Total miles: 741.0

There is a phenomenon on the AT known as "trail magic." It's a loosely defined term to describe acts of kindness or generosity to hikers, usually coming from locals who live near the trail. Common examples of trail magic are coolers of water or drinks left for hikers at road crossings or "hiker feeds," where someone will set up a grill and cook burgers, dogs, etc. to feed hikers who are passing through. Or it may be a ride into town on a cold, rainy day. At any rate, I experienced a timely bit of trail magic today courtesy of a couple named "South Park" and "Ma'am." Just as I emerged from the woods to a road crossing, they pulled up in their car and offered me a cold one and some delicious homemade zucchini bread. It was outta sight. Just what I needed just when I needed it. Thanks, Ma'am and South Park, you made my day!

A longer hike today but no problem with new shoes.

Staying at Bobblet's Gap shelter. Soon I'll need to use my tent exclusively, rain or shine; the mosquitoes are starting to bite.

Day 55: 5/25/12

Miles today: 9.4
Total miles: 722.5

Half-day today; stopped in Daleville to resupply and pick up my new shoes. Goodbye old shoes, you served me well.
Tomorrow I'll have a longer day and hopefully get an early start. It's getting hotter so I'm trying to take advantage of the cooler hours of the day, i.e. the early hours.

Today I reached the 1/3 mark on the AT.

Staying at the Howard Johnson in Daleville, VA.

Day 54: 5/24/12

Miles today: 16.3
Total miles: 713.1

Some great hiking today. Got an early start, courtesy of some roosters at the hostel. It was actually a nice way to wake up; beats an alarm clock any day. I was on the trail by 6:30 this morning.
Today I hiked to McAfee Knob and had the traditional photo taken sitting on the end of the ledge. All thru-hikers have this photo taken at McAfee. Sort of a rite of passage. Then onto Tinker Cliffs, some really nice rock formations with stunning views of the valley below. It was pretty foggy but the view was remarkable nonetheless.
Got into camp nice and early thanks to the early start. Perfect branches made for easy, textbook bear bag hanging. Today was a good day.
Tomorrow we'll have a short hike into Daleville for a long-term resupply (heavy backpack, here I come) and to an outfitter to pick up my new shoes - hooray!

Staying at Lambert's Meadow shelter.

Day 53: 5/23/12

Miles today: 6.7
Total miles: 696.8

Got up this morning and immediately stubbed my big toe as hard as one has ever stubbed a toe. Took a nice chunk out of my toenail. Made today's hike very difficult.
The trail today was mostly rock climbing. Had to stow my trekking poles on my pack to use my hands for climbing. The climax was a large rock formation called the "Dragon's Tooth." The climb down was even trickier and made even more difficult by the toe injury. The group I was hiking with stopped for the day at Four Pines hostel in Catawba. Normally six miles would be too short to call it a day but it was a grueling six and it was starting to rain so it was a good call.
I'm hoping my toe will feel better in the morning or it'll really slow me down.

Day 52: 5/22/12

Miles today: 10.1
Total miles: 690.1

More rain, thunder, and lightning this afternoon so I cut the hiking short at 10 miles today. I'm cold and wet but I can think of worse ways to spend the afternoon than hanging out in the woods drinking coffee and hot chocolate. Nawmsayin'?

On word-of-mouth communication: an interesting phenomenon for those of us who are otherwise technology-dependent, and heavily relied upon in the thru-hiker community. I've become very selective with what I listen to, however. For example, I definitely heed any advice I hear about resupply options, reviews of towns, restaurants, hostels, etc. But I do NOT listen to anything regarding weather, terrain, or elevation. It's either inaccurate or a bald-faced lie. "Virginia is flat.". Lies. All LIES. Virginia is hilly and rocky. Or how about "the next few miles are all downhill." LIES! ALL OF THEM! So yeah, word of mouth. Use at your own risk.

Staying at Pickle Branch shelter.