Date: 2007-05-22
From: Front Royal, VA

To: Front Royal, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Total miles hiked equals a bit fat zero during seven days off the trail, first to attend a hiker event in Damascus, Virginia, then on to do some trail work in Tennessee, time to rest my feet and ankle, renew my spirit, gather with other thru-hikers, and give back to the trail. Yet again, the trail has given back to me, even when I'm not on it. So much to tell, I will never be able to put into words what this week has meant to me, part of the trail experience which I am glad I didn't miss out on. Trail Days, held in Damascus each May as hordes of thru-hikers are passing through, is a celebration of all things AT, with hikers arriving from far and wide to join in the festivities, including gear demonstrations and give-aways, films heralding the sights and experiences of this magnificent trail, parties all night long in the tent city located on the outskirts of town, time to reconnect with past and previous hikers. The town is overrun with hikers and those who support us, with a parade down main street in our honor, although the highlight is water battles between the class of 2007 thru-hikers and on-lookers whose only goal is to get us as wet as possible, a surprisingly good time for all involved, as long as you don¢t take yourself too seriously.It¢s a weekend of dichotomy ¢ renewed spirits and bodies even without enough sleep for the bonfires and drum circles that last until the wee morning hours; reconnection with friends you haven¢t seen for weeks and may never see again, although the bonds of kinship remain; hikers serious about the trail and pushing our bodies to the limits while not treating our bodies too well, filling them with greasy food, empty calories, and other not-good-for-us substances; a police force that overlooks our craziness alongside the Baptist church with a sign out front ¢First Baptist loves hikers,¢ evident through their caring outreach.I knew before setting out for the trail that this would be a spiritual wandering of sorts for me, for God makes Himself most present in my life when I am in the mountains. There¢s something about being out in nature, surrounded by the beauty of His creation, that makes me re-discover the reality of a higher being in my life. I know there has to be a God when I witness spectacular vistas, climb up to the heavens, experience the best the world has to offer.I also began the trail with high expectations of the people I knew I would meet along the way, expectations which have exceeded my wildest dreams. I have been so fortunate to meet Christians filled with goodness, sharing God¢s love with hikers along the way in a unique form of ministry, cleaning the dirty, feeding the hungry, offering words of support and encouragement for us in our journeys, physical and spiritual. People I don¢t even know, have never even met, have been praying for me along the way, prayers that have certainly helped me through difficult times. It¢s a powerful testament to their beliefs and concern for the welfare of others. God speaks to me through these individuals, using the trail to bring me closer to Him, in a spiritual odyssey for which I hope I am worthy and able to keep up my end of the bargain.Who knew the trail would bring me so much, not only a physical and mental journey but now a spiritual one as well, a stronger foundation of who I am and what I believe, all found in the hills of the AT?