Date: 2013-05-19
From: Stealth campsite beyond Helveys Mill Shelter

To: Next road crossing - VA ?
Miles today: 6.0
Weather: light rain

After putting on shoes Sunday & breaking camp hiking was very painful with worsening feet.Decided that rest was only cure & I wasn't going to get it anywhere near the A T.   Got lucky at the road crossing @ 8:30 because the areas shuttle driver (Bubba) was there waiting for a party to show up so he could shuttle them south. They never showed so Bubba took me to Fort Criswell interchange of I 77 & 81 where I waited for my wife to pick me up..As I mentioned previously, I only had 1 pint water saturday night.   There was NO water on the 6 mile stretch to the road crossing.   While not feeling all that poorly, I still wasn't quite right and figured just needed some H 2 O.   Bubba only had an unfinished soda which he gave me.   We stopped first town where I bought some sandwiches and 2 gatorades which disappeared rather quickly. After showering at the Truckstop and changing clothes, I drank 2 - 23 oz ice teas and later another 32 oz Gatorade.   All included, over 9 pints of liquid WITHOUT going once!.Just finished scanning the latest Backpacker magazine (came today) which has am article on hydration and electrolyte imbalance. I would now say there was definitely something out of wack. Even without high temperatures I seemed to sweat a lot, especially my head. Don't get me wrong here, I understand how hard my body is working and heat is going to be generated, but it Just doesn't seem to be an excessive amount requiring drinking 9 pints in about 6 hours while doing NOTHING but waiting around.   Hell, I didn't drink that much at Gramd Canyon on the Rim River Rim 16 Miler in 100 degree heat.   Can't figure it out..Anyway, leaving camp Sunday morning and just moving was quite painful and after hiking 60 miles on bad feet that were not improving was enough. It's one thing to block out pain for a day or 2 hoping for improvent, but I believe with the miles I was hiking they were only going to get worse and perhaps get infected which ain't good.Plus, the hike down from Chestnut Knob was altra boring with terribly rocky sucky trail.Over the last 40-50 miles the boring portion was 7/1 over anything pleasurable.   Quite frankly, don't think I will return even after my feet are ok. I just don't get the needed rewards for the effort employed.   Perhaps I got spoiled hiking out west where every hike had almost assuredly HUGE rewards.   I simply don't know..Anyway, am home and believe feet will be fine in a week.   Blisters both feet with bruising on the pad right behind the 2 middle toes.   I don't really know how I did the 23 + 25 on consecutive days other than they kinda went numb after a few miles.   .Perhaps I am a section hiker, because committing 4-5 months was a problem from the start & I knew it.   I build our log home in 1991-92 & have been steadily improving things for 20 years. Neglecting that for 4-5 months was going to be a problem - not so much the house, but the surrounding 7 acres which takes a lot of work at this time of year. Maybe later in summer I do a section in Vermont of New Hampshire.   Whites seem interesting..Anyway, that's where my mind is!!   All over the place. Perhaps a hiking partner is IT because the 2 days with Ynot2K & Rammy were excellent.   Also the day with Pressure D was good even though it pushed him to the limit.Going back to mile 596 and continuing solo doesn't look it the cards.   Of course feet as sore as mine may effect thought process more than I fathom right now.   Just don't know.T W T.   .Hike summary:33 days, (2 stages)3 zero days596 milesWill upload pictures probably tomorrow.Oh forgot, saw a Bear Saturday morning right on the trail from about 60 yards.   To bad I had my phone off cause it (small, maybe 150#) stopped for a good picture; however, tol phone cycled the bear took off. In a matter of 45 minutes a heard Turkey, saw a large deer at 20 yards,   & saw the bear.