Trail Notes – September 28 (VA Roller Coaster, Bear’s Den Hostel)

Yes, I pancaked this morning. I syruped and cantalouped as well. It was very tasty, even if the pancakes were a premade mix. There was coffee, too.

And two very kind trail angels, MaryAnn and Judy, who gave me a ride to the VA 50 parking lot, 13.5 miles away. I hit the trail about 10 am, and made very good time for the first 10 miles. The trail was stunningly and wonderfully easy for a very long time. Sometimes it was rocky, and I was doing 2 mph. Sometimes I was flying at 3 mph. During the 3 mph times though, my ribs would occasionally hurt, just to remind me if I really had been flying, I wouldn’t have gotten hurt!

The trail is a lot more lonely these days, but there were some I passed, it wasn’t empty. It was a beautiful day for hiking, as well.

Things changed, unfortunately, about 3:30-4pm; it got cloudy first, then foggy, then rainy. The trail got wet and slippery, just as I approached the hardest part of the Roller Coaster, and just as I was getting tired. I began stumbling more, and every jolt sent a shock of pain up my ribs. 3 miles of biting my lip and hiking on, because after all, what else could I do?

I reached Bear’s Den at 5:30, and advilled up, changed into dry clothes, and MaryAnn, Judy, and I went out for excellent hamburgers. And BEER. Things are much better now, but I need to think. 14 miles with a light pack was too much, but it was over the Roller Coaster, which has some of the toughest terrain in VA. And it’s done with. But still.

Seems like I will have the whole day tomorrow to think about it, too. The clouds are supposed to dump up to 2 inches of rain tonight and tomorrow night, and tomorrow, up to 3 inches. I’m not eager about hiking in a waterfall. I know I need to make mileage, but God keeps throwing all these obstacles in the path. Maybe I should listen. 

I pause and think.