Date: 2019-05-13
From: Front Royal

To: Mount Katahdin, Maine 
Miles today: 33.2

Got up at 5:00 this morning, brought my pack to the lobby, then headed across the street to the Dunkin Donuts and got 4 donuts, a pint of chocolate milk and a cup of coffee. I then went back to the hotel lobby and ate. When I finished, I ¢cameled up¢ by drinking an additional 20 ounces of water. I knew the weather would be bad today and wanted to reduce the need to stop. Remaining in town was not an option. I had earned and enjoyed the zero, but it was time to move on and I was focused. The shuttle driver arrived at 6:00 as discussed and Ruggs and I were off back to the trail. I noticed that Ruggs still had his breakfast on his lap, and when we pulled up to his drop off point, he said ¢man I haven¢t eaten my breakfast.¢ Ruggs then got out of the car and the driver continued another 3 tenths of a mile to my drop off point. The trail runs parallel to VA 522 and I had stopped further down the day before. I got out, grabbed my gear, stretched and headed up the trail. Soon after starting, the rain started. I chuckled as I envisioned Ruggs standing there in the rain eating breakfast and drinking coffee. I thought to myself, not my circus, not my monkey. I shared this philosophy with him last night when he was talking about something that didn¢t concern me. Simply put, if it¢s not my business, I unplug mentally and physically from a particular situation. Life is simpler that way. Ruggs seems to be on his heels a lot and that¢s his business, unless we¢re going somewhere together. These are not disparaging comments about Ruggs, just an illustration of how different we all are and how difficult it can be to maintain a hiking partner.Despite the never ending rain, my hike was going well. It remained a constant 50 degrees and the best rain gear available would not defeat this driving rain. As the day wore on, my hands began to get cold. At about 11:45, I detoured 3 tenths into a shelter to eat lunch. I contemplated cooking something, but I lost dexterity in my fingers and settled for a pepperoni on tortilla sandwich. Even with this, I had issues opening the zip-loc bag. After lunch I trudged on and the rainfall remained heavy. The rain water was flowing steadily down the trail. The rocks that I would normally use to hop from rock to rock when crossing a stream were covered by raging water. As a result, I just walked through the streams. There were also several low spots on trail that my feet would sink to my ankles in the mud.At about 6:30pm, the rain stopped. Every tent site I found was either holding water or so sloppy I didn¢t care to deal with it. I made the decision to hike to the Bear¢s Den Hostel miles further up the trail. Shortly after, it began raining again and this reaffirmed my decision. When I arrived at the hostel at 8:30pm, I took my shoes off and did my best to wipe my legs down as they were covered in mud up to my knees. The one positive about my day long soaked feet is later that night I was able to pull off a couple of toenails that needed to go. My $30 dollar hostel stay included a bunk, shower, laundry, a large pizza, soft drink and a pint of ice cream. I showered, and started the laundry while my pizza was in the oven and eventually ate and called it a night.My day included 14 hours of hiking totaling 33.2 miles and I crossed the 1000 mile mark. Partly because when it¢s raining so much there¢s no place to stop and take a break. The last several miles I entered what¢s referred to as the roller coaster. This is a series of strenuous mountain climbs and steep descends over about 10 miles. As tough as it was it was positive mileage towards my ultimate goal. Many have reached out to me regarding the senseless act of violence that took place on the trail last week and I thank you. Although brutal and very sad, it¢s a reminder that evil lurks in every corner of society. I believe that Tennessee did what they could on his initial arrest, but with a trail name of Sovereign and carrying a machete it¢s pretty indicative of his mental state.