Date: 2014-05-22
From: Iron Mountain Shelter

To: Damascus,VA
Miles today: 27.2
Weather: clear sky

We had some pretty wicked weather last night, a combination of rain,wind and a dash of thunder and lightning. This potent combination led to a few of us getting a bit wet in our tents and a full retreat to the shelter in the middle night by Delaware as her hammock got soaked. We planned on waking up at 6 but we didn't wake up until 6:20, Delaware was the timekeeper and made her rounds to all the tents knocking on each of them. I was up when she knocked on mine, I woke up every two hours or so during night and when she came by I was wide awake and ready to go. Luckily the rain decided to take a break when we were breaking down camp and we all got packed up and ate breakfast within a hour of waking up.      Delaware was out first and Atlas and I soon followed, I was feeling real good and had a good pace. It was windy and branches were falling all around, I had one fall a few feet away from me showing you always have to be on your toes out here. With music in ears and legs pumping away, I caught up to Delaware who informed me about a tombstone that was on the trail from the mid 1800's and the man's tombstone said 'Lived Alone,Suffered Alone,Died Alone', this stuck with me for a good portion of my hike,it made me realize how much I should cherish my friends and family and make amends with those I've wronged over the years, I never want those words to be the summation of my life.   I took the lead from Delaware and before I knew it I came across some trail magic from a church that had a bear box filled with a cooler of soda and a Tupperware of Little Debbie snacks. I gorged on these for a bit and took an extra soda for the road. Somehow the combination of Mountain Dew and Ho Ho's gave me the extra boost to tear up some miles. Once I started hiking after the trail magic, I knew I was going to hike the 27 miles to Damascus instead of the 20 miles we planned. For the rest of the day, I did 4 miles an hour and my motivation was to get into town before my phone died and I lost my music which is a huge motivator while I'm hiking. I got into town with 1% battery, everyone says things tend to work themselves out on the trail and so far that has been the case. I got into town,ate a hearty meal and found a place to stay.   I felt amazing today, best I've ever felt. I may have pushed it a bit as my heels are a bit beat up but this all occurred due to certain events that happened yesterday. For the most part I've hiked behind people for a multitude of reasons but the with a reoccurring theme is I thought I would go past the predetermined campsite of shelter and I would be myself for a night or two,juvenile I know but I'm being honest here. Then Delaware said something yesterday that stuck with me. She told me to go ahead as my pace is faster and I made claim that I was worried I would miss the campsite we decided to go to and she said 'You're in the lead,you decide the campsite we stay at'.    The lightbulb went off, in the literal and metaphorical sense. I as always afraid to take the drivers seat and would always be the passenger even though I knew I had the talent. So yesterday, I took lead and after awhile the hunger kicked in hardcore and I just focused and kept walking and this one particular Mumford & Sons song came on and the combination of the two brought up emotions to the surface. I'm hiking with tears in my eyes knowing that despite what is thrown at me, I'll overcome it and do whatever I have to do to get to accomplish my goal. It seems so simple and obvious but sometimes you have to be put into a situation to make it click and that's what happened to me yesterday, I was finally proud of myself and knew why I was out here and it all felt right.   So today, this newfound attitude and energy carried over and I flew across the mountains trudging uphill and flying downhills. I couldn't stop, I was in this 7 hour meditation where I felt a part of my environment instead of an outsider, everything was connected. The last few days have been profound for this journey and the journey afterward and I'm looking forward to it all.