Date: 2019-10-01
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Gordon¢s 2019 Journey: Bland, Va. (mm 591.7 to US 60 at Buena Vista, Va (mm 808.5)STATS:2019 Journey-217 miles on the AT (240+ total miles of walking)-52,020 ft elevation gain-580,000  steps-18 days on the Trail-12.1 miles/day-14.1 miles/day the last 6 days on the AT. Covered 98.6 miles in those 6 days.-20.0 miles on the AT on day 12. The longest single day I have had (my phone app recorded me walking 25 miles)2016-2019 Journey-663.5 miles on the AT-169,180 ft elevation gain-I have hiked in 5 states (GA, NC, TN, VA, and WV)-56 hiking days on the Trail (58 total days)-11.8 miles/dayPEOPLE ON THE TRAIL:-I have meet hundreds (300+) of people on the Trail the last 3 years, in campsites, at shelters and in Trail Towns.-The one thing all the long section and thru hikers have in common: they all have a story of why they are hiking the AT.-In the 300+ people I have meet, I still have not anyone who is older than me hiking more than a few days or a weekend. (I know there are people older than me who are doing long sections/thru hikes but I have not meet them. Based on this, I say there are very few of them).-The majority of the people on the Trail are in their 20s and early 30s.THINGS I LEARND DURING THIS TREK:-That I am a LASHer (Long Ass Section Hiker). And that Mike and I are O¢Lashers (Old Long Ass Section Hikers).-Water sources were very limited on the AT in Southern Virginia --- Always Plan for the Worst.-Daleville, Va is a great little Trail Town. It has lots of options for the LASHers and Thru Hikers.-I confirmed that I do not like long steep climbs on the AT (10 to 15% grade for 2+ miles)FAVORITE THINGS THAT TOOK PLACE ON THE TRAIL:-My afternoon and morning at Woods Hole Hostel was very peaceful and relaxing.-Phil, the person that gave me a ride to the Trail in Glasgow, Va., and his story about his encounter with the female Big Foot.-My 3 days on the Trail from Daleville, VA to the James River Crossing in Glasgow, VA. It was 43.4 miles and I crossed the Blue Ridge Parkway 8 to 9 times. The views were some of the best I have ever had on the Trail. These views are permanently burned into my memory and I am sorry I could not capture the beauty with my phone camera.THINGS I WISHED HAD NOT HAPPENED:-Mike getting sick during his hike and having to leave the Trail. I missed him not being there with me but he was a real trooper the days he hiked.-The fall I took with 3.5 miles to complete my 2019 trek. It was quite the face plant and it was a real shock to my body. It did scare me until I was able to gather myself together and realized I was going to be OK. However I was very glad Tyson was going to be picking me up in a few hours.-I was disappointed my hike over McAfee Knob (one of the most photographed location on the Trail) and Tinker Cliffs was in the clouds.WHEN I THINK ABOUT THIS TREK (and the other treks) WHAT I WILL REMEMBER YEARS FROM NOW:-The peacefulness of the morning walks-How my senses seemed to be heightened (sounds, smells, etc.)-The people I met and their stories.-The views that took place daily on the Trail.-The solitude and the time to reflect on what is important in life.THANKS FOR FOLLOWING MY 2019 TREK.We had close to 6000 views this year.FINAL THOUGHTS: Still the 3 words that come to me when I think about hiking the AT are: PEACEFUL - The opportunity to enjoy the views, the sounds of the forest, the surrounding wildlife and the solitude of the walk.PEOPLE - It is great to meet so many people and hear their stories. And ACCOMPLISHMENTS - Long hikes on the AT are HARD - setting goals and achieving them or doing the best you can to achieve them is very rewarding.This year¢s trek reminded me it so important that we have a Purpose in Life and we should wake up each day thinking about that purpose. Hopefully that Purpose has a positive impact on the people you love and the world around you. You will have days that things do not go as planned but how you respond to those down days will be what will allow you to achieve your Purpose in Life.And as I write my Final Thoughts about my 2019 Trek I do realize I am the ¢luckiest guy in the world¢. Thanks for following along this year. Luckiest Guy in the World,Gordon