Day 123: Jenny Knob Shelter to Bland, VA (12 mi) We started walking on the early side because our goal was to walk 23 miles. There was a long stretch with no water source on the ridge so our plan was to take our lunch break at a small grocer at the 12 mile marker and the road to Bland, VA. The morning was cold, but as the sun came out it started to warm up and I was able to hike in just my rain jacket (without my puffy jacket). We got to the grocery store (a small convenient

Day 116: Roanoke, VA to Pickle Branch Shelter (12.6 mi) We got a mid morning start, said bye to Yas and Serene as the dropped us off at the trailhead and got readjusted to our packs. I had a few moments in the first few hours where my back had some serious spasms and was killing me. I stopped, took my pack off and stretched and the spasm calmed down. I also got a random cramp in my right calf for a good half an hour. My body was definitely starting to get used To the comforts

Day 108: Glasgow, VA to Cornelius Creek Shelter (20 mi) We got a bit of a later start than we would have liked because we needed to go to the post office to mail back our old tent and my old rain jacket to get warranties. Moonbeam (a section hiker doing “work-for-stay” at the hostel) dropped us off at the trail head at about 8:40 am. We started the day crossing the James River footbridge and the valley was absolutely gorgeous! There were neat spider webs on the bridge and the

Day 103: Waynesboro, VA to Paul Wolfe Shelter (5 mi) Near-o Day I slept in quite a bit today and we changed our plans of hiking 20+ to taking an on trail near-o because I was experiencing some pretty painful cramps. Lars and Veto didn’t leave bright and early either and Lars planned to leave with us whenever we did. I finally packed up and went across the street to CVS to get some toiletries and aleve. We were waiting and waiting for our hostel owner/shuttle driver and I fina

Day 97: Mountain Home Cabbin in Front Royal, VA to Gravel Springs Hut (13.7 mi) We woke up to our host, Scott, preparing us a nice breakfast at the B&B. He made us vegan blueberry pancakes and we had fresh fruit, fresh apple chutney, homemade grape juice and homemade apple cider. So yummy! We started out our day with such heavy packs (6 day resupply) and a lot of gradual uphill. This terrain should be my jam! But I was so slow and hurting a lot. I kept having so much pain in