Date: 2015-04-08
From: Vandeventer Shelter

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 32.9

My cell phone alarm went off at 4:30, but I was already laying awake in my bag in silent anticipation of the day ahead. Oatmeal and a Cliff Bar were enough to keep my stomach from growling as I packed up and prepared for the day ahead. As I expected, my boots were still heavy with water. My clean, dry spare socks were soaked a few minutes after my boots were laced. Damn.Preparation also seemed bleak: Looking at the map, there are only a few places to get water along the trail. Adding up the calories I had left in my food bag, I totaled around 2,200cal. Looks like I'll be arriving in Damascus rather hungry and a little thirsty.I was the first to leave the shelter at 5:15, but I stopped for a few and appreciated the great nighttime view from the ridgeline. The clouds and fog seemed to rest like cotton in the bottom of the valley. Breathtaking.Owing to the limited power of my 1-led, 4.5g headlamp (which I'm especially proud of) and the limited range of motion in my right knee (tendonitis is almost certainly the culprit), I was quickly caught and passed by everyone. Only Hot Pants slowed his pace enough for me to hike with him. After about an hour of hiking, we were both startled to hear a voice come from out of the darkness. We stopped and heard it again, "Are you guys night-hiking?" It seems we had stumbled across Nazi Surfer Snow Zombie - one of the more interesting trail names I've seen so far. After a quick 10min, he was packed up and fell in line as we hiked toward Virginia in the twilight.With less than a mile to go before the first shelter, 5mi from Vandeventer, my knee gave out. It seemed that my physical stress level was previously perched upon a knife-edge as I was having pain in both knees and my right Achilles tendon by the time I reached the shelter. Fortunately, I was able to rest for a few minutes and, with a(n) (un)healthy dose of ibuprofen, continued onward in my ultralight camp shoes. The going was slow, but it was my only option. I reached the first of two potential bail-out points, TN91, but was feeling a bit more strength in my legs & joints and decided to continue. A local sunday school class had left a bit of trail magic near the gap and I enjoyed a Pepsi and a few granola bars. More calories!I began to feel better and better as the miles continued and hiked past my last two bail-out points, intent on making it to Damascus. As dusk was beginning to set in, I passed the TN-VA state line. 3.5mi left to go. At a few minutes after 9pm, I emerged from the woods into a city park. I had arrived! I refilled my bottles with a spicket in the park and continued down the trail, which runs right through the heart of the city. Unfortunately like most small towns, it seems that Damascus rolls up the streets pretty early - there was nowhere to eat and only a few minutes left before 'lights out' when I arrived at The Place. I'm thankful for my fellow hikers, as they fed me dinner out of their own food since everything had closed.I probably looked like crap, but I felt like a champion. I had walked 33mi in one calendar day and reached a new state. The "Damascathon" was a success!