Date: 2015-04-29
From: David Lesser Memorial Shelter (1014.1)

To: Crampton Gap Shelter (1033.8)
Miles today: 19.7
Weather: light rain

Day 74 - Wednesday, April 28, 2015 I made an unbelievable, potentially fatal, mistake today. But more about that in a minute.Today I arrived in Harpers Ferry after an easy 9.3 mile hike from the shelter where I slept last night.I went to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy headquarters., Got my picture taken, and signed the register. I was the 31st northbound thru-hiker ¢ Georgia to Maine ¢ to reach Harpers Ferry, the emotional halfway point for thru-hikers. (The actual halfway point is 71.2 miles north of Harpers Ferry, a gravel road called Dead Woman hollow.)And I made the second cut. The ATC estimates that one fourth of NoBos quit before they get to North Carolina. Another one fourth drop out before they get to Harpers Ferry. And of those who have made it this far, half will leave the trail before they get to Mount Katahdin, the end of the trail in Maine.I recognize some of the hikers in front of me and you may too, if you have been following my blog:StretchThe Hiking VikingsRamblerSycamoreLittle DebbieIcemanGator0311TadpoleThe rest of the hikers I mentioned are behind me or, in a few cases, have quit the trail.Why do some hanging up?- Injury or illness- Family crisis- Poor planning. They take too many zeros and running out of time. Or they run out of money.However, I think that most of those who do not do so because they realize this just isn't their cup of tea.I left West Virginia (five states done, nine to go!) shortly after noon and begin the almost 500 foot climb up Weverton Cliffs. I was climbing when I felt a pain in my gut. The"girdle" (that's what the surgeon I saw called it. It's actually an elastic piece of material about 8 inches wide and 40 inches long with a piece of Velcro attached to one end. You pull it tight around your waist and abdomen, stick the Velcro and that's that) I wear to keep my insides inside must have come undone, or slipped. I stopped to fix it.I unbuckled my belt, dropped my trousers to my knees, pulled up my shirt and stared at my stomach.I was not wearing the girdle! I had taken it off when I went to the bathroom at the ATC headquarters in Harpers Ferry and left it there.Do I turn around and go get it? I should have, but I didn't. I cannot bear the thought of hiking south, of giving up ground hard won. Instead, I jerry-rigged a girdle with my belt and my one extra shirt.I hiked on to the Crampton Gap Shelter, a 19.7 mile day, growing more concerned about my hernia - and my temporary "fix" - with almost every step.I pitched my tent near a ridge runner, We got to talking and she gave me a 4-inch Ace bandage. I call my friend, John Sullivan, who lives in the D.C. area. He promised to go looking for a girdle and to bring it to me on Saturday.I had received several messages over the past few days from a Trail Angel who had offered to feed me and whatever hiker was with me, but I had not accepted because I have not seen her last message in time. Could she, would she fix my problem? At 11:22 PM I messaged her: "I just saw your message. I need some help. When may I call you. Lucky."