Date: 2009-12-21
To: Dennis Cove to Damascus
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I hike this 51 mile section in four days. For me, Damascus is a major milestone, and my plan is to take a zero day when I get there. The plan involves overnights at:Watauga Lake Shelter (10.7 miles)Iron Mountain Shelter (13.6 miles)Abington Gap Shelter (15.9 miles), and Damascus (10.2 miles)The first day out of Dennis Cove is really a beautiful hike. You begin by going past Laurel Forks Falls ¢ one of the most beautiful falls along the AT in the south. You then follow the Laurel river for a couple of miles as it winds its way through the gap. As you climb the next mountain, you are rewarded with views of Lake Watauga, an emerald green gem that makes you wish it was May or June and you had your bathing suit with you. Day two is less spectacular, and not a hard hike, but day three is really cool. Day three you enter what¢s referred to as the ¢Tennessee Turnpike¢. It¢s a 26 miles stretch of ridge-line walking on a trail that is simply sweet! Flat and level, no rocks or roots, and you can just sail along. It¢s one of the longest sections of the whole trail where you can get into a rhythm and just let your mind and your thoughts wander. Some folks, usually the youngsters with all of their knee cartilage still intact, will take advantage of this section to do a ¢marathon¢ all the way into Damascus. While I qualify in terms of age (ahem¢¦), my replacement knee suggests the advisability of stopping after 16 miles at Abington Gap, allowing a relatively easy 10 miles day into Damascus on Day Four. A couple of miles before you reach town, you¢ll pass the Tennessee/Virginia boarder. Congratulations ¢ you¢ve now completed the first three states! You¢ve also completed over 400 miles. In Damascus, there are a number of places to stay ¢ starting with ¢The Place¢. This is a two story home converted to a hostel which is maintained as part of its ministry by a local church. It¢s relatively cheap, and convenient, but do be cautious about leaving valuables laying around, as it is very much ¢open to the public¢. There is also the Hike Inn, with a small bunk room, and a variety of B&Bs. For those of you planning to come back later in May for Trail Days, you should know that the Inn and the B&Bs are mostly already fully booked, and the ¢The Place¢ will be an absolute zoo. Fortunately, they set up a campsite about a mile out of town, and that¢s pretty much where all the hard-core hikers will be hanging out. Trail Days, by the way, is a not-to-be-missed event. It is an incredible good time, a three-four day party that gives you the chance to catch up with all of your trail friends, have your gear repaired/replaced by a full range of vendors, eat free food at various hiker feeds, participate in live entertainment, including a talent show, and star in your very own parade on Saturday afternoon ¢ which is a totally crazy good time involving, mainly, outlandish costumes and ¢¦ water. I haven¢t missed one since my first hike in ¢05. (In deference to the tender sensibilities of my corn-field-bound editor, however, we shall be ensconced at the Hike Inn during Trail Days, but plan to visit the campgrounds at night to participate in the drum circle and related debaucheries). When you first arrive at Trail Days, head for the main Vender area where the ATC maintains a tent. There you will find Bob Peoples and his ¢Hard Core¢ sign-up sheet. He can only take the first 100 volunteers, so get there on Friday if you want to go. The repair venders will be at the campsite, and they will basically repair or replace any of their gear, and sometimes other venders as well. There will also be various presentations ¢ videos/slide shows, etc. involving the AT, the PTC, the CDT, and probably the ADT ¢ American Discovery Trail, which was recently through-hiked for the first time by my good friend Mike Daniels ¢ otherwise known as Lion King. Lots of memories of Damascus. Lots. Good and Bad. In ¢05, after being off the trail with injuries for six weeks, I went to Damascus for Trail Days and then returned to Fontana Dam to resume my hike. In ¢09, I made it to Kincora before falling off with injuries. Bob Peoples shuttled me up to the medical clinic in Damascus where they told me I had to get off the trail for at least three weeks. I went back for Trail Days, and was originally hoping to resume my hike again from there, but it was not to be. Lots of memories. I have to wonder what fate holds in store for me in 2010. I¢m going to be optimistic about that. I have to be.