Date: 2015-11-27
From: Stealth Camping south of US 58

To: Stealth Camping Near Laurel Creek 
Miles today: 9.0

The full moon is highly energetic and can be used to harness positive energy or can stir up mental stress and chaos in some people. It can be healing and restorative or create conflict. This usually depends on your emotional state at the time as it heightens brain activity. The full moon has always been very powerful to me and can cause me to be extra hyper and energized with thoughts going in all different directions. I feel rejuvenated, creative and full of gratitude but my mind doesn't stop. Sleeping in the woods during this lunar phase seems to amplify this reflective and spiritual process and I really draw strength from the illumination of a full moon. Last night was one of the most powerful ever for me. I am in a really good place in my life right now and the balance and harmony I feel is just right. Despite the cold I was drawn by the strong shades of moonlight to get outside of my tent at midnight and position myself in an open space for some rounds of moon salutations. These are yoga asanas that balance energy and quiets the mind. The sanskrit name for moon salutation is Chandra Namaskar. I moved into a cross legged position and drew my attention inward for a round of meditation with moon beams surrounding me. My mind, body and spirit are in tune and harmony with nature and I am so blessed. Last night will be a night I will always remember. I allowed myself to sleep in this morning and move about slowly and felt such calmness and contentment.  I no longer felt the urge to rush to Damascus today and decided to break it into two days. The sun was out and I was feeling such gratitude it felt only right to do some rounds of sun salutations to start my day. Surya Namaskar is the sanskrit name for sun salutation and literally means to bow to the sun. My meditation afterwards centered around sending out healing thoughts to everyone suffering from hardships and sadness. Needless to say I got off to a very late start but felt boundless energy and spiritually renewed. The trail crossed the Luther Hassinger Memorial Bridge and joined the Virginia Creeper Trail for almost a mile. It is a popular 35 mile rails to trails bike path that meanders alongside a wide stream.  The sounds of the water was soothing and I waved to several cyclists. I thought about renting a bike myself in Damascus but decided not to tempt fate with my sore knee. I'm feeling twinges of discomfort more frequently when going downhill. Late in the day I passed Saunders Shelter which is the last shelter in Damascus, but I continued on as I knew I wanted to take advantage of the warmer weather and stealth camp in solitude again. I could see the town of Damascus below and it looked like you could walk straight down to it, but the trail turned left and the town disappeared out of sight. It was one switchback after another through thick layers of leaves. Talk about a tease. I hiked in the dark over rocks along Laurel Creek until I found a suitable campsite right next to the cascading water. My flashlight is completely useless by now so I set my tent up by moonlight as fast as I could because I felt a few raindrops only to find that I couldn't get inside because I put the fly on backwards. I can't remember the last time I did this.I enjoyed a meal of noodles with dehydrated chicken and veggies again. The weather is fantastic right now and I am comfortable in just one layer as I settle down for the night. Hopefully the sounds of the stream will lull me into a restful slumber soon. I couldn't have scripted a more perfect last few days, and all of it after bitterly cold weather that I worried might pull me off the trail. Something to keep in mind when the weather turns again.