Date: 2010-05-18
From: Wytheville, VA (VA 611)

To: Dismal Falls
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: light rain

Whoa, where to begin?! I'll give you a quick recap of trail days, hard core, and my first day back on the trail.So trail days was a great time! It is a hiker festival that takes over the small town of Damascus for a few days each May. There are lots of gear vendors, shops, services geared towards hikers and a general carnival atmosphere. We stayed over in tent city which was just like it sounds - hundreds (thousands?) of tents set up in the woods. Got to meet up with many hikers in front of and behind me, as well as former thru hikers. Was great to meet up with Wags and Gangsta from last year whose journals I followed (fellow bad ass hiker chics!) and to see Shepard ('01) again as well as Nature and Bronco. At night there was a big drum circle (which is basically like a bonfire people play drum music at and everyone dances around) which I thought was a little strange at first but the more I hung around the more I became transfixed by the whole thing and really enjoyed it! I also went to a movie premiere about trail angels (which was fab) as well as doing lots of good ole-fashioned loitering. Highlight of the weekend was the parade which all the hikers (current and past) march in and it is basically just one big waterfight between the hikers and the people of Damascus watching - was hilarious! Didn't get as wet as we were expecting though so afterwards the Goochies jumped in the creek for a while. Also important to mention the Crusher was in the talent show at the Gazebo. Sadly, he didn't win but he sure got the crowd going with 'O Canada!' And as for the corndog, not as scary as I imagined...Then on Sunday morning I went and participated in 'Hard Core' which is two days of trail maintenance organized by Bob Peoples (an amazing man!) each year. Unfortunately, I was starting to feel sick SUnday morning when I woke up but tried to put that aside and carry on. It was backbreaking labor (literally we were making trail and moving rocks and roots with polanskis (sp?) and sledgehammers!) but it was very interesting to see how trail is actually made and it gives you a whole new respect for the trail we are walking along and all of the volunteers who make it possible. Was also an incredible feeling to paint the white blazes on the trees and to see the first thru hikers use the trail we made. The whole thing was so well organized and I met many wonderful people including One Pint, Hopeful, Mountain Squid, Baggins, Bear Paw and too many others to name! There were also a couple great meals put on - one at the pavilion and then a spaghetti dinner put on by Baltimore Jack at Kincora. Only downside to the whole thing was that working in the rain the whole time probably didn't help out with my being sick, but it was definitely worth it! On to todays hike. Got dropped off at the trail head by Faw-Mah and his with Mary (or Ma Faw-Mah)- a lovely couple and fellow Massachusetts-ites! Walk was good today and went by Trent's Gorcery in the eve so was able to pick up dinner there - less than 1/2 mile away from the trail. Well worth the walk! Camped tonight next to Dismal Falls with Patch, South Paw and LowRod. South Paw and myself enjoyed a beer on top of the falls. Even though it was raining, was still a great moment!