Date: 2015-04-24
From: Iron Mountian Shelter

To: Damascus VA
Miles today: 26.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Oh boy what a day! It got pretty cold last night, in the 30s. I was hoping to get rid of my cold weather clothes when I got to Damascus but I don't think that's happening. We broke camp and moseyed on out by 730. It was a pretty decent hike. Rolling ups and downs. Took a very very long time to warm up. About 9 we came down to a gap and there was some trail magic! I haven't had trail magic in almost 2 weeks. I church group left a metal box filled with soda, snacks, and various odds and ends that we could resupply with. It was awesome. Weedeater and Stormcloak came up a few minutes behind us. I took a picture of all of us around the box and posted it on the church's Facebook page. We moved on and walked through a lovely pasture. The gates were pretty cool and the view was amazing. We made the first shelter at about 11. We decided not to take a break for lunch just yet. There was another road crossing in about 3 miles and I had a feeling we'd get lucky with some more trail magic. We got ton the gap about 1230ish. And look and behold there was some awesome trail magic there. There was a group of guys that hiked the trail last year! There from all over and they decided to get together down here and do some trail magic. They had a grill and the made burgers to order. Fresh burgers! From meat off one of the guy's family farm. They had candy, chips, homemade cookies, beer and homemade peach wine. These guys were great! It was lovely sitting and talking with them. They asked if we wanted to slack pack to Damascus. It was only another 15 miles and they gave us the name of the place they were staying at. And they told us they were getting everyone pizza for dinner at the hostel. Oh boy so tempting. I'm not really into slack packing, I feel like it's cheating. But this time I decided to go for it!! I knew some people already in Damascus and I wanted to catch up. So after 30 minutes of knowing these guys Sunny and I left all our worldly possessions with them and headed up the trail with a few snacks and a water bottle. Oh man! It was so amazing walking without a pack. We flew up the mountian and down the mountian. It was such a freeing experience. I can see why people do this all the time. It's so addicting. We hustled through those 15 miles in a little under 5 hours. With our packs it would have taken us 7-8 hours to get there. And we probably would have dIed. We ended up hiking 26.1 miles. It was intense but awesome. If we hadn't slack packed we wouldn't have been able to do it. We reserved beds at Woodchuck Hostel! Amazing place!! I totally recommend staying here. The beds are great and the people are awesome. The showers actually have real shampoo, conditioner and body wash. Its awesome. He has a little store that you use on the honor system. And they give you breakfast with your stay. All you can eat waffles and cereal. Looking forward to that.We hung out at the hostel for a bit. We saw Moment, Hip and Salmon and chatted for a bit. Black and Blue was here as well. Weedeater and Stormcloak came in behind us. Great big happy family, lol. It was great to catch up. They're zeroing tomorrow as well. I'm am ready for a zero. The trail magic people bought 3 HUGE pizzas for dinner. It was so good. I ate 4 pieces. Amazing. Such an amazing day!!!