Date: 2015-04-29
From: Damascas 

To: Campsite at mile 486.3
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: light rain

Warren dropped me off at the Post Office and Vulture near Subway. While I waited for it to open, I chatted with a couple hikers one whom I knew from Flint Mountain Shelter and Bald Mountain shelter who confirmed my suspicions that I had not seen a couple hikers lately because they were trying to hook up with the Australian girls. The other hiker was barefoot from bad blisters because they along with Road Runner had hiked 29 miles into Damascas the day before (so much for my marathon!) but he said he didn't feel any pain hiking because he smoked weed. I picked up my first mail drop care package from the Cohens. Thank you for the goodies and supplies!! I then realized I left my Nalgene bottle in Warren's trunk which I need for my water filter. So I bought a new one at Mount Rogers Outfitters and then headed out ... Apparently walking by Warren's car and my bottle on the way out but I was paying attention to my phone. It is always fun climbing out of town with a resupplied pack at full weight again. Not! I passed by Hitch a couple miles later on the side of the trail resting from his pack dubious if he was going to make the full 15. A little while later I passed Mustafa who I learned later is Hitch's son. 8.5 miles later I reached the top of the mountain and stopped for a break when Vulture caught up to me. Apparently she had breakfast with Warren which is when I learned I had walked right past them and then ran into some other hiker friends. At the next summit she stopped for a break and I descended running into Rush who was sauntering today waiting for Vulture. We hiked for a couple miles passing a southbound Warm & Toasty and a German couple Mr and Mrs Fancy. Vulture finally caught us and we hiked on. When we got to the north end of VA Creeper Trail we stopped and soaked our feet in the frigid river. After awhile, the Mississippi Boys Remi, Arrow, Ghost and Snooze (whom I had passed early on the trail still asleep under his tarp so he is aptly named) joined us. Vulture and I then took off and made it to Lost Mountain Shelter at mile 15.6. Chet and another female hiker were there and the crew behind us as well as Crafty and Mustafa soon arrived. Rush, Vulture and I moved on another 1.4 miles to a less crowded and quieter campsite. It started to rain briefly as I was putting up my tent but stopped so we cooked dinner. Rush then taught us how to hang a PCT bear bag with a stick so that smart bears can't knock down your bag but cutting your rope tied around a tree. It started to rain again so we called it a night. Many of you have thoughtfully asked if you could send me goodies and supplies on the trail. It's a little tricky since pack weight is key and I try to keep my consumable food and supplies limited to 6-7 lbs. I will list out my typical consumables and if you want to try to coordinate a mail drop let me know. You definitely don't need to send everything on the list ... It's just to give you an idea of what I carry).   I am not always sure when and where I am going to resupply since my daily mileage frequently changes but when I do I will list the info on the mail drop section of this blog then let me know and I will try to coordinate. Thanks again for all the support!! It means everything and really does keep me going!! Staples: 8-10 Instant Oatmeal packets, 10-20 oz plain couscous in ziplock or anything you can rehydrate with boiling water, 10-12 bars (Pro Bar, Kind, granola, Larabars, Cliff protein, etc), Trail Mix (sweet and/or savory), travel toothpaste, travel pack of wipes (or 10 in a ziplock), individual packages of electrolytes, 3-4 quart size ziplock, 2-3 sandwich ziplock bags Surprise Treats - whatever you think I may not easily get or buy myself on the trail (baked goods, dried fruit, candy, etc) any excess will be shared with other hikers. "ATC" (Appalachian Tracie Confession). Monday night I ate some beans and tortillas at the folk school. I found a nice bowl in the dish drained in which my beans fit nicely. I put Saran Wrap over the leftovers and put them in the fridge. The next morning Iva was looking for the cats' food dish and couldn't find it in the dish drainer. I had a bad feeling and looked in the fridge. Sure enough I had eaten out of and stored my leftover beans in the cats food dish. Meow!