Date: 2016-08-27
From: Damascus, VA

To: Abingdon Gap Shelter
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: scattered clouds

I was excited to FINALLY be headed back out on the AT solo. The abrasion on the top of my left knee was doing well. but the pain in my right knee was about the same, despite taking the days off, icing, elevating, and resting it. Before heading down to breakfast I realized I had a few other issues. My BG was very high and I had GI issues (both most likely over my stress about deciding whether to head out). I got my BG level down, and took something for the GI issues. As I was starting to put my pack together I heard on the TV that today was opening day for squirrel hunting in Tennessee, and today everyone could hunt squirrels, with or without a license. As my friend Boots knows, I have a special interest in squirrels. When I was taking classes to become a Florida Master Naturalist one of my projects involved studying squirrels native to Florida. Chipmunks, red squirrels, and fox squirrels are my favorites. I am not anti-hunting, but I was feeling a little bad for my squirrel buddies.I hobbled down to breakfast and thought about my options. I did not want to get myself into a situation where I needed to be rescued. But I confirmed that the hotel was already completely booked for tonight, so I would have to find another place to stay. And I would need to throw in the towel and have my husband come get me yet again.After breakfast I finished loading my pack, turned in my room key, and headed to the edge of town. The pain in my right knee was ridiculous. I looked like I should be hobbling INTO town for some R&R, NOT hiking out of town!! Then there was the pack. This was the first time since November I have carried a full pack. Before I left Florida I really had to work to get rid of things to make sure that everything fit in the new ultra light Z-Pack. Weight was no longer the problem, it was volume. The new pack just was not as big and did not have the same pockets as the Blue Beast. The new pack was also not as well padded and, therefore, not as comfortable. But that was the trade off, much less weight, but not as much comfort. I considered stopping by the post office as I headed out of town to have the new pack weighed, but decided I was better off not knowing the exact number. I did, however, know it weighed less than the Blue Beast. The AT cut up into the woods between two houses. The whole time I was thinking I should be turning around. This is NUTS! You are going to get yourself into a situation you cannot get yourself out of, and you are going to need to be rescued. (At about the 2 mile mark I almost turned around.)The AT began the long but fairly easy climb out of the valley. The sun was shining and, although hot, it was a perfect day for hiking. I just needed the pain to stop.I ran into a section hiking NOBO who I think was really looking forward to hitting Damascus. He told me that he saw 2 juvenile bears this morning. Both were up in trees, but scrambled down and ran away as he came down the trail.About 2 hours into the hike I finally realized that the pain was just about gone and I had a normal gait. Then I really started to enjoy the day. I have to admit, even after the knee pain got better, I struggled a bit. I was missing my full pack trail legs. I was sweating profusely, I stopped frequently for pack off breaks, I did not like the way the new pack fit, and I drank a lot of water. But I REALLY wanted to be on the AT again. And I was here. Alone. Solo. Totally dependent upon myself, and totally, completely, loving every moment. The AT followed an old dirt road for a while, then went up on the ridge. Eventually the AT followed the side of the mountain just below the ridge. Fortunately the trail was extremely easy - good tread, and gentle ups and downs. Despite feeling like a pack mule, I was enjoying the hike.I reached the Tennessee/Virginia border. There is a very nice sign and a rock line laid across the trail. I thought about the squirrels. I was now in Tennessee, where they are hunting squirrels today! I discovered that my CGM was not working. I was hoping the sensor needle had not become dislodged because I would not have another one for 50 miles, when I picked up my resupply box. I stopped and finally got the CGM working again.   I was glad when I reached the Abingdon Gap Shelter. I was very tired, hot, and sweaty, and ready to call it a day. I thought I would have the place to myself, but a few minutes after I arrived, a NOBO called "No Trail Name (Bob)" arrived. (I changed his real name here to protect him from his wife.) He had a huge pack! And he was extremely proud of the fact that he passed a shelter today and kept hiking. (He had been just hiking from shelter to shelter.) In fact, he was so pleased with his mileage today he was taking a zero at the shelter tomorrow to just relax and read a book. "Bob" told me he attempted a thru hike a few years back, but had to get off the AT soon after he started due to foot pain. He also told me his wife would not let him have a trail name because she did not want him to become "one of those trail people." He had been back to the AT a few times since for just short sections. He repeatedly told me he is MUCH happier just being a section hiker, because he could take his time, read his books, and just relax. (Perhaps he can talk with school children about his great AT adventure.)I found Bob to be very entertaining. He complained about everything. He was worried about the paper wasp nest high in a tree several yards from the shelter. He worked in a lab analyzing human bodily fluids for things such as aids and hep-C, but he was worried about catching something from the spores of wild mushrooms. He did not like when the AT was gently rolling. He did not like steps on the trail in steep areas. And he did not like ridge walking because there were no views - according to Bob, when the AT is up on a ridge, the trees should be cut to provide a view. He carried 2 entire AWOL guides, 2009 and 20015, but apparently did not fully understand how to read all the info on the pages. He repeatedly said he wanted to be home watching football games. And he really did not like going down the hill behind the shelter to get water. (I think he might be happier with a white blaze painted on a tree in his yard, that he can see looking out a window while he watches football.)I was so exhausted I decided to skip dinner, get my water in the morning, and get ready for bed. But when Bob said he was going down the steep hill to get water, and it was getting close to dark, I decided to go with him. I was also afraid my knee would be too stiff and painful in the morning to do the steep climb down and back up. I went first. Bob complained all the way to the piped spring, which was barely a dribble. I filled my 2 water bladders and headed back up. Since it was just the 2 of us, Bob suggested one of us tent in the shelter and one tent on a flat spot in front of the shelter. (Bob claimed he snored terribly, so both tenting or both sheltering was probably not a good idea.) Since I arrived first, he gave me first choice. With my bad knee, I thought it was be easier for me in the shelter. With no tent poles (the new lighter Z-tent uses hiking sticks), I had to creatively rig the tent by tying the guy lines to the shelter rafters. It did not look pretty - sort of like a homeless person sleeping in a giant plastic garbage bag under a bridge - but it worked.I got into my tent, but did not go to sleep until I heard Bob come up from getting his water. It was almost dark and I did not think he took a headlamp with him down to the piped spring. Once he was in his tent I heard a terrible commotion and lots of loud banging. (In the morning he told me there was a yellow jacket in his tent.)The bugs were buzzing like crazy. It was almost deafening. It took me a while, but I finally fell asleep.The AT is calling. I am here. I do not know for how long. But I am here, and very glad to be here.