Date: 2014-05-23
From: Woods Hole Hostel

To: Pearisburg
Miles today: 10.4

To all my concerned fans ( ha, ha ) --- apologies for the delay in updating the blog on a daily basis. It's been difficult to get a cellphone/internet connection and recharge opportunities in SW Virginia, plus with longer daily hikes, I've been pretty exhausted most nights. So in order to catch up, following are some highlights in no particular order from the past week or so:1. Met Bob and Rita, section hikers from Boston. Rita has 200-300 miles to complete in Virginia this year and next year, and then she will have hiked the entire AT over a 14 - YEAR PERIOD (!!!). Awesome example of sticking with it for the long haul. They are using 2 cars (their own and a rental) to leave at the beginning and end of their daily hike. They hike southbound daily but flip-flop their cars such that they are moving north section by section. As a result, we have met going opposite ways on the trail almost every day for 2 weeks. They are very nice and it is good to see someone every day who talks "nawmuhl" and knows what the Blue Hills are.2. Met Kevin and his 19-year old son (thru-hiker) Torch who are raising funds at "hikeforheroes2014.org". The fundraising is for returning US soldiers who are suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and can't get adequate services for themselves or their families through the VA. A private group is building a treatment/therapy/retreat center in Kentucky, and Kevin and Torch are raising funds for the center. Twenty-two veterans commit suicide daily, a great cause and need. Kevin started the hike with his son, but got injured early on, and has been driving a support van for Torch, and provides water, food, rides, etc. for other hikers as needed. We have been on the same hiking schedule as them for the past week, and Kevin's been generous in providing trail support tips for Sherri, including downloading an app from ....3. ....former AT thruhiker Guthook available at guthookhikes.com. It is a GPS-based app that provides very detailed info about the trail including where you're at, water sources, campsites, elevations, road crossings, etc. in more detail than otherwise available, and regularly updated. He also has done the same for other trails. And even cooler, we stayed at Woods Hole Hostel for 2 nights and met....4. ...Guthook himself (!!) who is section hiking this year to update some Virginia and other sections for his AT app. A nice and interesting guy, who we got to know a little better when we/Sherri gave him a ride to Daleville because he needed new hiking shoes. Hopefully, we'll run into him further up the trail...5. And speaking of Woods Hole Hostel, an incredibly cool hostel about a half mile off the AT. Run by a wife/husband team (Neville and Michael), WHH has been hosting hunters, hikers, and others in various incarnations since 1939. Neville's grandparents (Roy and Tillie) bought the property (approx 80 acres and a cabin built in 1880) then when it was just an abandoned cabin, lived in it initially and then occasionally, and rented it to outdoorsmen for 40 years. Upon their retirement in 1987, they converted it to a hiker hostel. Roy passed away shortly after, but Tillie ran it for 20-ish years until her passing. Neville took the property over and has converted into her (and Michael's ) personal vision, with inspiration from how her grandmother lived/ran WHH. The hostel consists of the main house with 3 rooms to rent, kitchen, common area, and Neville and Michael's living quarters. There is a bunkhouse for 10-12 hikers, and a camping/tenting area. The hostel is very community-based, with hikers asked to volunteer for various chores (meal prep, cleanup, etc). Breakfast and dinner are available and all join hands before each meal, and announce name, where they're from, and something they are thankful for. Additionally, M and N are fashioning the hostel as a retreat center (offering art lessons, massage therapy, and yoga - all taught/provided by themselves) and as a sustainable/organic/off-the-grid working farm. They grow much of WHH's produce on the property and raise chickens and pigs also. The property abuts the National Forest Service land that contains the AT, and M and N have secured a conservation easement to protect the property forever from development. All said, a very welcoming and restorative experience. We stayed an extra day and did a day AT hike into Pearisburg (with a shuttle ride back) and were able to connect with new and old AT friends Guthook, Wrong Way Jalapeno, Popeye, Bad Camel, Jolly Green Giant, GAC, Doolittle, Big Bear and others.6. Lunch at "The Barn" restaurant in Atkins VA near Interstate 81 on May 18. Popular among hikers since it is right on the trail, and features large and cheap food portions. Sherri opted for the Sunday buffet, but I thought it only right to order the 16-oz Hiker Burger (with Tater Tots and applesauce). Needless to say, my plate was empty quickly. Saw fellow thruhikers Jolly Green Giant, Landslide, Weatherman, Obsidian, Archer, Pilgrim, and others. Everyone's waitress (Daiquri - her real name) was having a birthday and a bad day. The hikers all made and signed a birthday card (and tipped her well) which hopefully cheered her up.7. Hiking conditions - there has been a slight (but noticeable and welcome) change in AT terrain since entering Virginia. More trail thru rolling farmland and less steep and less frequent climbs; and less distance between the high and low elevation point for the day (i.e. maybe only 1,000 - 1,500 feet vs. 3,000 - 3,500 in GA, NC, and TN). Footing has also been smoother (i.e. less rocky ) which often makes more of a difference in hiking speed/comfort than the climb (sometimes prefer a smooth uphill instead of a rocky downhill). Weather (knock on wood) has still been mostly dry and have by luck and design been able to avoid many rainy hiking days/tenting nights. Carrying only the 10-12 pound pack due to Sherri's trail support has been a godsend in being able to transitions to 18-20 mile days. And having her able to share short trail hikes with me has made the hike overall a totally different (better) experience.