Date: 2015-04-27
From: Iron Mountain Shelter

To: Damascas,VA - Laurel & Shady St mile 469.3
Miles today: 26.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Since I was planning to hike only 15.9 miles today, I took my time packing up. Randomly I decided to eat 3 packages of oatmeal instead of my usual 2. I wasn't overly full so it seemed like a good idea. Right before I took off, I checked my phone messages and saw Warren Doyle had responded to my message I would be in Damascas on Tues. He replied I could hike 26 miles and he would pick me up Monday. It was already 8:30 am and I usually leave before then for a 16-20 mile day. So 26 seemed unlikely since I figured I would not arrive until after 9 pm. But figured I would see how I felt (and my little toe blister) when I had hiked the 15.9 and what time of day it was. So I started going. At 10 am I came upon a sign posted on a tree that snacks were ahead and to help yourself. That makes a hiker walk a little faster and sure enough, an orange metal box housed a cooler with cold Coca cola bottles, Mountain Dew, Pepsi cans, and Little Debbie NuttyBars and cakes along with some first aid stuff. Remembering yesterday's junk food dilemma I laughed. I sat down and enjoyed my first soda since GA and my third Nutty Bar on the AT so far. (Nerdy that I am even counting I know!). Bean Counter showed up a few minutes later. He had been one of the tented occupants at the shelter. We chatted and then I decided to get moving. Buoyed by an extra oatmeal packet, Coke and Nutty Bar I decided it was fate and I should go for the 26 and see what happens. The trail went through a beautiful field populated by yellow dandelions. I came across Right Foot speaking with Warm and Toasty who was slack packing sections southbound as she was worried about her ankle. I hiked with Right Foot for a mile before he stopped to shed a layer. The trail went up and down but at a less steeper grade and the climbs weren't as long. So I was hiking faster than normal and passed my landmarks faster than expected. I passed Warm and Toasty going southbound on another section as she had decided to try to hike more. After I passed my destination shelter at 2:45, I knew I would finish the last 10 miles well before 8:00 pm so I kept going.   I started singing loudly. Up to this point all sorts of songs go through your head including many from childhood that just pop into my head randomly. A few days ago I made it all the way through 99 Bottles Of Beer on the Wall and was dismayed it took only 20 minutes. Hiking solo it helps pass the time but I usually mumble the song since I can't carry a tune. But now I was singing full volume certain nobody was around me for at least a couple miles each way. After the VA-TN border, I was in the middle of a song from Mary Poppins when all of a sudden Warm and Toasty came around the bend, hiking yet another section southbound. Finally I made it to the streets of Damascas and to the main drag at 6:30 pm. My longest and fastest AT day so far! Since I left Hot Springs 9 days ago, I have hiked 178.6 miles. I didn't plan to go so far, so fast. Weather drove a lot of it but today Warren's suggestion of hiking all the way was a good challenge. I was happy to run into Carlos and KBar whom I had not seen since Friday in Hot Springs. They are fast sonI never expected to see them again.Warren and Iva picked me up and I was happy to recognize the hiker in the back seat he is slack packing for a couple days. It was Vulture with whom I had climbed Hump Mountain out of Overmountain Shelter. So it feels nice to know some of the hikers around me again!