The Sisyphus Comments

Finally – Just Doing It! – Day 2

I wish I could say that I woke up refreshed and ready to tackle those mountains I mentioned yesterday. Unfortunately, I would be lying through my teeth if I said I had slept well. The temperature dipped way down and I hadn’t put the rain fly on my tent so I froze half the night and didn’t sleep much at all. I was up at 0600 hours and I hit the trail after a quick breakfast of oatmeal, coffee and a liter of water.

I started up the trail at 0750 hours and when I say “up the trail” I mean “UP”. I climbed for over two hours from the James River basin to the top of High Cock Knob which finally levels out at 3,073 feet. I think I remember what the purpose of the hip flexor muscles is. This is where you really feel the effect of packing those unnecessary items that add weight to your pack. It never ceases to amaze me how much I can sweat just humping a pack up the side of a mountain. There is really no way to prepare for the physical demands of backpacking except to strap on the pack and start walking. I talked to one thru hiker along the trail who told me about a jock-type guy who had started the same day that he had. The guy said he was set to knock out the AT since he had been running, biking and lifting weights to get ready. He lasted four days. I have almost concluded that endurance activities have more to do with mental toughness than physical conditioning. The mind tends to quit long before the body. Unfortunately, by the time I crested that mountain top I wasn’t doing well in either department. That’s when I had my first experience with “trail magic”.

Trail magic is a widely known phenomenon within the backpacking ranks where wonderful things seem to happen for no apparent reason – except magic. I was working my way down the mountain to Petites Gap where the trail crosses the Blue Ridge Parkway when I noticed a white SUV parked in the roadside lot. I could see a guy sitting on a lawn chair feeding sticks into a small fire and his wife appeared to be organizing some equipment in the back of the truck. I reach the parking lot at the same time as a north bound thru hiker and the gentleman called us both over for some ice cold cranberry juice. The couple they were the Washington’s and they hailed from Lexington, VA. They were both in their 70’s but they had thru hiked the AT together in 1987.

Mrs. Washington prepared a picnic lunch for the thru hiker and, as a section hiker, I qualified for a large wedge of apple pie. I rarely take a break during the day but when Mr. Washington pulled out a five gallon paint bucket, flipped it over and refilled my cup with cranberry juice, how could I refuse. The Washington’s spend their time hiking throughout the Shenandoah National Park, checking on the shelters and being “trail angels” to the hikers. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end so I signed their book, took a couple of pictures, hoisted my pack and headed on my way. After crossing over the Blue Ridge Parkway twice and humping five more miles, I reached my home for the night.

I located a fairly nice tent site and erected my home away from home behind the Thunder Hill shelter. Of course the next most important task is always fetching water and cooking the evening meal. As I walked back toward the shelter, I saw some familiar folks. The Washingtons had almost beat me to the shelter. Before you laugh yourself out of your chair, they had driven ahead to the next cross over point and hiked the .3 of a mile back to the shelter. It was a pleasant surprise but they didn’t bring any apple pie along this time – dang! They didn’t stay long but as soon as they disappeared around the bend, Thumper, a northbound thru hiker came in for the night. He was a retired correctional officer from Florida and we spent a few minutes swapping lies.

My mountain cuisine for tonight consisted of Mexican Rice with a tortilla. Dessert was a small pack of Oreos rinsed down with a cup of coffee. Although the company was good, I had to make up for my lack of sleep last night so I was in the tent by 1830 hours. One would think that freezing your ass off the night before would have helped me remember to put the rain fly on the tent! I suppose I could blame it on my aching back or my constant state of dehydration but really I just never gave it a thought. I still can’t figure out how I can drink over six liters of water and still be dehydrated – but I am. Backpacking is definitely one way to totally flush your system. Check back tomorrow for an overview of “Finally – Just Doing It! – Day 3” and don’t forget to click on the “Comments” link below to leave a comment.