Date: 2005-06-21
From: Dennis Cove (Kincora Hostel)

To: Abingdon Gap Shelter
Miles today: 40.0
Weather: light rain

Okay. So it's a bit after 7am, and we've been hiking straight through since 9pm the night before. We've gone nearly 20 miles, and it's starting to take it's toll. Pink ponies and little cheeseburgers with wings started to dance in front of my eyes as I walked. I wasn't feeling so well. At some point, I started to fall into a tree! My hands caught me before my face did (which is good!), and I held myself up against the tree for a bit. I remember then walking up the trail a bit more (maybe an eighth of a mile or so), and finding a place to sit down. That's the last thing that I remember. The next thing I remember is me, laying over my backpack, which was propped longways against a downed tree, arms completely limp and facing forward, Superman-style, with what was left of a Snickers bar, laying just close enough to where my left hand was that I assumed at some point I must have been working on eating it, before I zonked out, that is! I collected myself, figured out which way was north, and started walking again. I was not feeling as badly as before, but still NOT feeling well. To make matters worse, I had forgotten that it was National Naked Hiking Day! This wouldn't have been so bad, had I walked up on some college sorority on a "day out" or something, but nooo! I look up, sweat beading into my eyes, and see two buck-naked guys barreling down the trail towards me. Yiiiiikes!!! I swore I was hallucinating, then realized, sadly, that I wasn't. On I trudged, allbeit slowly, towards Iron Mountain Shelter, where, after 24 miles of hiking Cody and I were scheduled to take our first break. I got there, we chatted for a bit, cooked some tasty ramen, and both fell asleep. I woke up about an hour and a half later, to Ben standing over me! What a sight for sore eyes! We talked for a bit, then some church group kids came up and set up their tents.Remember the church kids part. So, Cody and I walked down the trail to where the water was; we're filtering our water, when, suddenly, I see two naked young ladies, marching down the trail with their backpacks. I turned away, knowing that Cody wasn't aware that they were coming! It was funny to watch his face when he looked up, and was trying NOT to stare!! They informed us that it was Naked Hiking Day, and we told them that we were aware, but preferred our nudity to be on display in the night hours. We probably should have warned them about the church group kids up the hill, but we sorta didn't. Okay, now I've gotta say, it was some funny stuff!! Turns out the girls are awesome, and have a great sense of humor, so no harm done!Cody, Ben, and I hiked out of the shelter a bit later. Ben was only going 8 miles to the next shelter, but Cody and I still had 26 more mile into Damascus! We walked through some beautiful fields, and reached the next shelter. We re-filled our water, said adios to Ben, then moved on, at near sundown, with only 17 miles remaining. At nearly 11:30pm, we hit Abingdon Gap Shelter, only ten miles short of Damascus. We cooked a late ramen dinner, woke everybody and their dogs up, and prepared for our last ten miles. Cody was ready to do it, but I was losing steam. We thought about getting to town at 3am, and then it was easier to rationalize stopping the madness. 40 miles would have to be good enough. So, with that, we congratulated each other on NOT dying during this process, and went to sleep...