In other news, I'm adding a trip to DC for Jon Stewart's Rally to restore Sanity in October. I think it's probably a much bigger deal than people realize. Sure, it's based on humor, but I think that's just how my generation approaches these topics. Just look at the damage Tina Fey's Palin impressions did last election for evidence of satire's effectiveness. It should be a lot of fun.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Cruise
Tomorrow I set out on the second half of my Vacation: A week long cruise in the Caribbean. Very well earned after the 57 miles on the AT.
AT Day 6
The final day. At slightly more than a wobble pace, we decide to skip the last section of the AT and come into Damascus on the Virginia Creeper trail. The Creeper Trail is an old converted train bed. Very slight downhill grade the entire way with flat smooth gravel.
It's 10 miles into Damascus from where we started. My max speed in my current condition is about one mile an hour. Taking breaks at the benches, I slowly work my way into town and stop at the first store. Milkshakes. Allan and My stomaches are both upset, but the ice cream seems to settle them a bit.
It seems I've become mortal. I can't simply rely on my youth to get me through these adventures. Planning and conditioning are necessary. I don't think I could have made it another step.
Lauren picked us up in Damascus and brought us back to eat and lounge for the remainder of the day. My couch has never felt so comfortable. And I never thought I'd be so happy to have fresh filtered water dispensed at the click of a button from my fridge. Not to mention the shower...
I weight in 27 pounds lighter than the weekend before I left. Most of the weight is probably skin from my feet and brain matter. Definitely an extreme experience.
Summary:
10 miles. Slow, but steady. Last day of suffering.
It's 10 miles into Damascus from where we started. My max speed in my current condition is about one mile an hour. Taking breaks at the benches, I slowly work my way into town and stop at the first store. Milkshakes. Allan and My stomaches are both upset, but the ice cream seems to settle them a bit.
It seems I've become mortal. I can't simply rely on my youth to get me through these adventures. Planning and conditioning are necessary. I don't think I could have made it another step.
Lauren picked us up in Damascus and brought us back to eat and lounge for the remainder of the day. My couch has never felt so comfortable. And I never thought I'd be so happy to have fresh filtered water dispensed at the click of a button from my fridge. Not to mention the shower...
I weight in 27 pounds lighter than the weekend before I left. Most of the weight is probably skin from my feet and brain matter. Definitely an extreme experience.
Summary:
10 miles. Slow, but steady. Last day of suffering.
AT Day 5
Elk Garden didn't have any water. Once again Allan and I started off without any water, three miles away from the next source at the top of Whitetop Mountain. Midway up the mountain we find a three inch puddle and fill up a water bottle. One would think we would be better prepared for the water shortages along the trail, but as you'll see we seemed to be a little slow to learn this lesson.
We walked throughout the entire day. We had 14 miles to complete in order to be within a one day range of Damascus. My feet were starting to really hurt after spending another day walking on blisters. I'm also really out of shape and the mountains were taking their toll. Heck, I barely handled the 9 and 12 mile days.
Once again we ran out of water. With streams and ponds littered across our path every 500 feet for the majority of the day, we failed to realize that the last 4 miles involved climbing a ridge of a mountain with absolutely no water.
The sun was starting to set. With no clear idea of how far away the shelter was, no water, and limited day light, we continued to climb the mountain's ridge praying we'd make it in time. At this point I was slowed to what I can only describe as a wobble. Wobbling along, dizzy, dehydrated, Allan says stuff about digging deep and mind over matter. I'm in another world. We arrive at the shelter just as the sun disappears from the horizon. Allan goes for water, I lay down. We didn't eat, the idea of any more ramen or tuna is nauseating.
In the night I wake up long enough to vomit. Unsure of whether it's the pain, exhaustion, or some parasite in our water, I head back to bed and hope I feel better in the morning.
Summary:
14+ miles. Extreme suffering.
We walked throughout the entire day. We had 14 miles to complete in order to be within a one day range of Damascus. My feet were starting to really hurt after spending another day walking on blisters. I'm also really out of shape and the mountains were taking their toll. Heck, I barely handled the 9 and 12 mile days.
Once again we ran out of water. With streams and ponds littered across our path every 500 feet for the majority of the day, we failed to realize that the last 4 miles involved climbing a ridge of a mountain with absolutely no water.
The sun was starting to set. With no clear idea of how far away the shelter was, no water, and limited day light, we continued to climb the mountain's ridge praying we'd make it in time. At this point I was slowed to what I can only describe as a wobble. Wobbling along, dizzy, dehydrated, Allan says stuff about digging deep and mind over matter. I'm in another world. We arrive at the shelter just as the sun disappears from the horizon. Allan goes for water, I lay down. We didn't eat, the idea of any more ramen or tuna is nauseating.
In the night I wake up long enough to vomit. Unsure of whether it's the pain, exhaustion, or some parasite in our water, I head back to bed and hope I feel better in the morning.
Summary:
14+ miles. Extreme suffering.
AT Day 4
At this point Allan and I were a little worried we wouldn't make it to Damascus. After studying the map in our ample free time the day before, we found a shortcut on "Pine Mountain Trail" which would cut off about 5 miles of the trail and get us back on schedule after our short day yesterday.
We climbed Pine Mountain and found what should have been the trail, but it was completely unmarked. Rather than take an unmarked trail, we forgo our shortcut in favor of not getting lost. We continue 1.5 miles to Scales, where we find a map and a horse trail which takes us back to the top of Pine mountain and intersects with Pine Mount trail. a 3 mile detour, but the shortcut saved us around 2 miles in the end. The clouds and fog lifted around noon, and revealed beautiful scenic views on top of Mount Rogers.
After walking in the rain yesterday and today with broken shoes, massive blisters were starting to form. At lunch atop Thomas Knob Allan gave me a pair of Smart Wool socks as all I brought were cheap ankle socks. These blisters plagues me for the remainder of the trip and changed my feet into what resembled bloody chunks of raw meat.
We continued on after lunch in hopes of reaching the next shelter 12 miles away. After 5 miles I was slowed to a mere crawl. Hungry for anything but ramen and packaged tuna, tired, in extreme pain from my blisters. We stopped at Elk Garden and camped.
Summary:
12+ miles, the true suffering began.
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