Date: 2018-06-15
From: Pearisburg, Va

To: Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 233.4

I have logged plenty of miles since the last update, and I apologize for not having updated sooner. I have not taken a day off the trail since May 29th (360 miles ago). I made it into Waynesboro today after a 16 mile morning hike and plan on staying here the rest of the day, taking a zero (finally) tomorrow to recover, then hitting it again on Sunday. I am beat. Yet enlightened.Upon leaving Pearisburg, I had a very interesting and unexpected encounter. As I approached the trail, I noticed a law enforcement vehicle sitting directly at the trail head. When I got closer, the law enforcement officer climbed out of her vehicle and approached me inquiring as to where I was planning on going to/staying for the night. She was very friendly, but it was still a little unsettling. I told her I wasn't going far, as I had just left town and just wanted to do a nearo (a day with fewer miles than usual). She told me I would pass an area of construction and they were looking to keep everyone safe, and that I would see the police tape marking the area to steer away from. I walked on, only then beginning to question to myself why police tape would be needed at a construction site. The next morning I got my answer. I got to the area as I hiked along the top of the ridge and saw about 30 yards below the trail/ridge were massive tents I imagine were used by the construction workers, as we were miles from any civilization. The workers were installing a 42" natural gas pipeline right across the mountain, just yards from the trail. The trail followed the construction site for about half a mile. I started to question other hikers and locals about the situation, and was told that there have been lots of protests, people forcibly removed from trees of the surrounding areas, locals protesting on the bottom side of the ridge, etc due to the pipeline going through that area. In some places, the pipeline was going as close as 50 feet to people's homes. I then realized the law enforcement officer was feeling me out to make sure I was not going up there to cause any problems, as the AT is a great access point to the construction site. All of this was VERY interesting. Even more interesting is how localized the information of this situation has remained, which explains why I had no idea what I was walking into. Wild stuff.Since that day, Virginia has decided to not be as flat as it had been before. I have climbed multiple 2000-3000ft summits ranging from a distance of 3 to 6 miles. Then of course what goes up must come down which is very difficult on the knees. It has been brutal. When my pictures are viewed, it is often forgotten the climb it must have took to get to those view points. Although brutal, I have been witness to some awesome trail features. Keffer's Oak is the second largest/oldest tree on the entire AT, estimated to be 350 years old (see pics). The Dragon's Tooth Monolith, although an intense rock feature, contained the hardest mile and a half stretch I have come across yet, and it was going down the mountain! The ascent was dominated by rock faces and sheer drops. The same day I climbed McAfee's Knob, the most photographed feature of the AT (see pics). After McAfee's Knob was Tinker Cliffs, a half mile stretch of the AT that is literally on the side of a cliff. I also hiked along the Blue Ridge Parkway on and off for about 100 miles until the entrance was reached.  I stopped in Daleville, VA to resupply and get some calories at the end of last week. It was a nice escape from the heat. When I returned to the trail, within the first hour I was greeted with torrential downpours. However, that evening, with the moisture in the atmosphere, I got some of the best views and nicest sunsets I have gotten thus far. That night, I was on the BRP watching the sunset, and what turned out to be a very nice lady approached me and we started talking. She then asked if I would want to come home and stay with her and her husband for the night. So I did. They cooked me dinner, washed my clothes, let me shower, gave me a bed to sleep in, and cooked me breakfast in the morning. And her husband, to my excitement, had worked for NASA for 42 years, so I found it fascinating to talk with him/them. After breakfast, they dropped me off where they had picked me up. The nicest thing anyone has done for me on the trail so far. I borderline got emotional when I hit the trail again thinking about how nice of a thing that ordeal was. Not sure I have ever been treated so well by ''strangers'' before. Two of the sweetest people I have met, and definitely my favorite trail angels. Thank you Lynda and Larry. I feel the greatest gift this trail is and will continue to give is the gift of appreciation, as I feel appreciation is a precursor to happiness. Going down to nothing makes anything extra feel exceptionally special.And the owls continue!! I was hiking one night and was losing day light. I was several miles in (28) and was keeping my fingers crossed I would find a campsite soon as I was toast. On my way to the location I was hoping to find a site I said to myself in my own mind that I had not heard an owl in a few days. Literally like 2-3 minutes later a barred owl started its call ironically when I approached the area I was hoping to find a site. At first I was devastated as I only found waist high sting weed for as far as I could see. I started to press on and the owl kept on and on and on. I decided to have a second look, as the owls have not deceived me yet, and sure enough, about 30 yards off trail I found a spot to pitch my tent!! Awesome stuff.I have reached Waynesboro after my last 3000 ft climb until somewhere in CT I believe. I await the arrival of my good friend from Currituck. He is coming up to spend a few days in town with me. I am going to rest for the weekend before I continue into the Shenandoah National Park, the flattest of the trail so far!! Next stop will be D.C. There is a train in Harper's Ferry that will take you to D.C. for $13! I am going to go check out the museums, meet another friend, then continue my trek north. I am excited to get out of the state of Virginia. I have 145 miles left in this state of the 547, then I will be right around halfway finished! Hope all is well and I love you all.