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Doing a section hike on the AT is always nerve-racking, no matter how experienced one can be. That is because you feel like you start from scratch all over again every single time you step on the trail. It takes time to build confidence, feeling safe and immersing yourself in the woods, and most importantly get your trail legs. For me, it has been 2 years since my last section and I forgot what life on the trail was like. I was nervous when I arrived at Mountain Harbor Bed & Breakfast, TN but also excited to be there. I was about to resume my journey to Maine.
I had planned to do slack-packing (light pack) for the first two days. However, looking at the map on the Farout app, I realized that I could potentially do it on Day 3 as well, but it would be a huge 42 miles hike to Damascus, VA. I decided to wait until the end of Day 1 to see how I felt. I had a 10am late start but despite 32 miles with big climbs, I was able to finish under 10hrs. Day 1 gave me the confidence I needed and I committed to do the “Damascus dash”. Day 2 was a little bit easier but still with 33 miles to go to Boots Off hostel. I arrived there almost at dark and after a quick shower, and my first Peak Refuel Chicken Pesto Pasta dried food (yummy!), I went to bed for a short night. Day 3 started at 5am and I found myself hiking along the Watauga Lake before sunrise. I always felt great hiking in the dark and it was no exception. Apart from a big 2,000 feet climb at the beginning, the rest of the day was relatively easy, and after some 14+ hours of hiking, I entered Damascus, VA. I immediately went to dinner at the Damascus dinner restaurant before they close. My legs were trashed but I was happy to have hiked more than 100 miles in 3 days. Day 4 would be the worst day of the week. It started by missing the entry of the trail just outside of Damascus. Then, a few miles later, I lost my GPS tracker. I did not realize it until later in the afternoon. Unfortunately, at that point, I was deep into the wood with no cell signal and no way to tell Anne-Cecile I was fine. I kept hiking while checking my phone regularly, without much luck. Upon arriving at Lost Mountain Shelter around 6pm, it started to rain lightly and thunder were rolling. In normal circumstances, I would have stopped there, but I knew that if I kept going up the hill toward Buzzard Rock, I would eventually get a signal and be able to call home. That is what I did. After leaving the shelter, rain got stronger and the wood got darker and more sinister by the minute. Stress level went several notches up, but luckily, I was still okay physically. Finally, around 7:30pm, I got a signal and called Anne. After the call, the last item on my shitty day was to find a tent site because the next shelter was obviously too far away. I was drenched by the rain and getting cold and hungry. It took me another hour to find a suitable space on the side of the trail. Finally, after setting up my tent and eating a soup and a dried food dinner, I was able to relax after a long stressful day but with still 24 miles covered with my full pack on. Day 5 was very muddy and slow going, with still lots of rain in the morning. I saw the wild ponies in the Grayson Highlands, but the weather was cold and windy and I could not enjoy the view. I stopped at a hostel in Troutdale, VA and tried to clean/dry everything and get a good night sleep. By then, my left leg was really bothering me. I put some ice and take ibuprofen to manage the pain, hoping that it will not get worse. Day 6 was sunny and I hiked 22 miles to the Mt Rogers Nat. Rec. HQ where I got the shuttle to downtown Marion, VA for the Merry Hiker Hostel. Around 15 thru-hikers were there and it was very cool to talk with them about their own AT experience. The best part however, was that restaurants were literally next door, no need to walk. The two highlights of Day 7 were the crossing of ¼ of the way from GA to ME around mile 550, and the stay at the most beautiful hiker hostel I have been so far, the Quarter Way Inn. However, by Day 8, despite my best effort, the pain on my leg would not go away and I hobbled my way to the Burke’s Garden Hostel where I had decided during the day that it would be the end of this year’s section hike. I was a bit disappointed but the AT, whether you thru-hike or just section it, is challenging and you have to know when to stop to avoid bigger problems. On my way to the airport, my shuttle driver told me that the best time to hike in South Virginia is during the fall foliage season, around mid-October. That is probably when I will go back to the AT in 2025 to continue my journey north. Frogman
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