Date: 2016-08-22
From: Luther Hassinger Memorial Bridge

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: broken clouds

It was so nice to see the sun this morning. As previously arranged, my shuttle driver, Randy, was right on time to pick me up at 9:00. I always like to talk with locals in an effort to learn about the area. Shuttling is a great opportunity to do this.Randy confirmed what I had suspected, that the AT and the Virginia Creeper Trail, along with hunting and fishing - ecotourism - were the major employers in Damascus. I asked him about Trail Days and about bears. He confirmed that Trail Days is basically a big party that takes over the entire town, and just about anything goes. Randy told me there were plenty of bears in the area, but he assured me they wanted nothing to do with people. I told him I had a healthy respect for, but was not afraid of bears. In fact, I was disappointed that we did not see any bears last week after seeing so many further north while hiking in July.Randy had me at the base of the Luther Hassinger Memorial Bridge by 9:30. I was looking forward to using my new ultra light Z-Pack. I have to admit, all the straps, cords, and clips made me think of 50 Shades of Gray. It will definitely take me a while to learn how to make adjustments to make the pack more comfortable. I packed only what I needed for the day, leaving the rest of my gear in my room back at The Old Mill.I quickly climbed back up the steep embankment.   It was much easier climbing UP the embankment than it was climbing down, and I was very glad it was dry. The AT continued on the Virginia Creeper Trail for about 1/2 mile, then veered off into the woods, beginning a steady but easy climb. I took a break at the pond campsite. I also picked up some trash to pack out. I saw one NOBO short distance section hiker who started in Damascus yesterday, in the terrible rain.I skipped the Saunders Shelter because it was 1/4 mile off the AT. After the shelter, the AT began an easy descent, with only occassional rocky patches. I ran into a trail maintainer who was out placing flags indicating where work needed to be done for a crew of college students coming out tomorrow.I also saw where the AT was re-routed, or detoured, because of a bridge being out. I suspect that was the bridge Rod had been told about on Saturday by another trail maintainer.I took a brief break at US 58, where there was a parking area and an outhouse/privy, along with bear proof garbage cans, where I got rid of the trash I collected. Due to the detour, the AT shared the VA Creeper Trail for a short distance but they parted ways here.The AT went back into the trees and began to climb again, up and out of the gap. As before, it was a steady but easy climb - the last climb of the day. I knew I had about 4.5 miles left to Damascus. I also knew there was an ice cream shop along the AT at the north edge of Damascus. I carefully watched and controlled my BG so that I could enjoy at least a single scoop of ice cream when I reached town.About 2.5 miles from town I ran into 3 middle-aged people all hiking together, a thin couple and a not so thin woman who was very red in the face and looked to be struggling. None of them looked like hikers, and none of them were carrying any water or anything else. I was concerned about them, particularly the heavy red faced woman. I did not want to ask, but I suspected she may be diabetic. As I personally know, dehydration can cause BG to spike, which would make her current situation even worse. I asked if they had any water, of course they said no. According to them, they were not going very far so they did not think they needed to carry any water. (It was late in the afternoon and well over 80 degrees with high humidity.) Then I asked how far they were going. Their plan was to hike the AT to US 58, and then hike the VA Creeper Trail back. They seemed very surprised when I told them, after confirming with Guthook, that they had 2 more miles to go on the AT to reach US 58. (They claimed "someone" told them it was only 2 miles on the AT to US 58. I later discovered that a large sign at the trailhead clearly states it is 4.5 miles to US 58.) I pointed out that IF they continued 2 more miles to US 58 and made it, they still had at least a few miles to walk back on the VA Creeper Trail - without any food or water. I also pointed out that they already appeared pooped having only hiked 2.5 miles, and they did not strike me as experienced hikers.The thin woman immediately claimed that although they were not hikers, they would be just fine because her husband was a marathon runner! I was not sure how that was supposed to be helpful, especially to the heavy red faced woman. Apparently even her husband did not see the point because he volunteered that he had not run a marathon for at least 30 years!The thin woman then said they could have a car brought out to them once they reached US 58. I told her she may not have cell coverage to make the call. She did not agree with me because she had cell coverage about a mile or so back - when they were close to Damascus! She also claimed she was told there was a restaurant at the road crossing! I told her I was just there and saw nothing but a parking area and an outhouse - no restaurant.When we first met I told them I started several miles north and was headed to Damascus for the night. Yet the man asked me if the trail was easier going north or going south from the point where we met - honestly! It was hard for me to explain to the man, with a straight face that, since I had not yet hiked the last 2.5 miles they just covered, I really could not compare the two.During the course of the conversation I realized I had extra bottles of water in my pack. I explained that I only had 2.5 miles left to hike and offered them a couple of bottles of water. Fortunately the heavy red faced woman quickly accepted one of the bottles and began drinking, but the thin woman refused to take a bottle, and she refused on behalf of her husband too. Instead she said they would share the one bottle with the heavy red faced woman - who probably needed the entire bottle all to herselfSeveral times during the conversation I gently suggested that they turn back, and I had pointed out the many reasons behind my suggestion. Yet, despite my efforts, the thin woman claimed that I thought they should continue hiking towards US 58.At that point the phrase "you cannot fix stupid" came to mind. I have always tried to help other hikers, especially inexperienced day hikers, but this time I realized I was wasting my time trying to help these people. I needed to move on to make sure I reached the ice cream shop before it closed.I made it clear, one more time, that under the circumstances I felt they should turn around and go back the way they came. Then I headed up the trail. I hope they made it safely back to where ever they were staying before it got dark.Near a large campsite I found a car camping tent and poles laying beside the trail. It was too bulky and too much weight for me to carry out. A little further I found some trash along the trail that I did stop and pack out.The AT popped out of the woods and descended down a long set of stairs to US 58. I followed the white blazes across the road and along the Virginia Creeper Trail into Damascus.   Fortunately the ice cream shop was still open. My BG was still very good, so I had just 1 scoop of ice cream in a cup before continuing on the AT through Damascus. I knew the restaurant at The Old Mill was closed on Mondays, so I stopped at Bobo McFarlands for dinner. Mindful of my BG and the ice cream I just ate, I only had a chef salad.The AT is calling. Although I missed my husband, it was a good (dry) day on the AT and I was glad to be back.