Date: 2015-05-16
From: Campsite at Salt Log Trail 

To: Hog Gap
Miles today: 20.7
Weather: overcast clouds

We packed up later than usual because I didn't want to wake Semi Colon who was still asleep. I left him a note and we headed up Bluff Mountain pausing at the top. About a mile later, Andreas caught up with us bearing good news that the guy we tried to help had found his pack and had a fire. He told Andreas he appreciated our trying to help him. Relieved, we hiked on. We passed many nice creeks and a reservoir. We passed the 800 mile marker sometime around 12:30. Another mini milestone. After 12 miles later we stopped at the Creek next to Brown Fork Shelter and soaked our feet. I could see small fish with yellow green fins congregating around my pink crocs. We decided to hike another 8 miles to Hog Gap. After a short walk along the creek we started the longest and steepest climb I think we've had in VA so far. It kept going on forever up and over Hump Mountain which took about two hours of nonstop climbing because I kept playing mind games with myself so I wouldn't stop until I had passed the final summit. I passed Star Man. Andreas caught up to me after I stopped just before the descent to change water bottles. The bugs were bad and biting so I had to keep moving. Cove Mountain was like a bald with beautiful views and a nice white flower tree. Finally I made it to Hog Gap where a couple Allysa and Colby, scuba instructors from Key West were on day 1 of their hike. They plan to flip flop and hike to Maine then hike Springer Mountain to here. The bugs were bad!! I built a fire to help ward off the bugs so we could cook and eat dinner. Hiking Strategy - I do not have an itinerary or deadline to finish the AT. Every day I decide the mileage. Sometimes I have Plans A, B and C depending on the terrain and how I feel that day. I usually take the side trails to the views if the weather is good. Usually I take 10-15 minute breaks every 6-8 miles at a view or a shelter to sign the register so hikers I know behind me know how far I am in case there's a chance to rendezvous somewhere like the Mothers Day hiker feed. As I hike farther north, the terrain gets harder and harder so my daily mileage will drop. So I have been trying to offset the future drop with higher mileage days in VA. I prefer to hike 11-12 hours a day if possible because I get too bored if I stop before 6 pm. I haven't taken more Nero or zero days because I haven't had a reason to do so. Sometimes daily mileage is dictated by short term goals like meeting a friend, getting to a hiker gathering or making other plans. I have been hiking with Crafty for most of the past 2 weeks. We caught up to Andreas after he took a zero and have been hiking similar mileage even though Andreas hikes faster. Sometimes we hike together, sometimes we hike solo but usually plan where we stop. Andreas is taking a couple weeks off the trail to spend time with his 13 year old daughter in Germany. A couple days ago he suggested we all arrive in Harpers Ferry by May 27 so we can celebrate before he leaves since when he returns we will be ahead of him. So we now have a short term goal to average 20 mile days to get there and he even suggested if we arrive a day or two earlier, we go to DC for the day. Who knows if I will make it but I will try! But that's how Is end up hiking the miles I do.