Month: May 2024

Day 59: Hike Done for Now

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Unfortunately, after a discussion with my doctor, I’ve decided to end it and return home.  What I struggled with yesterday was complications between my blood pressure medication and the high dosages of Vitamin-I I need to take to fight through the pain.  It is preventing my kidneys from processing the electrolytes I also need to take to keep from getting muscle cramps.

Basically, I cannot take all three at the same time at the dosages I’m taking.  With that, I’ll just have to wait until I heal up.

Day 58: Heat Induced Crash

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Starting Point: Campsite (547.7)
Ending Point: Bear Garden Hiker Hostel (558.8)
Total miles: 11.1
Steps: 30,502
Injuries: Intercostal Strain, Illness
Achievements:
I woke up and started packing.  Kea came by to tell me that he was sick and would be returning to Atkins, VA, a small town ten miles back.  He has the hiker ick, a combination of vomiting and diarrhea.  It may be Norovirus.
Captain Blogger and I hiked on and reached the 25% Complete sign.  Sadly, due to Kea’s illness, we didn’t even fist bump.

Day 57: Unforced Error

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Starting Point: Mount Rogers National HQ (534.6)

Ending Point: Campsite (547.7)

Total miles: 13.1 trail.  1.5 Double Bonus
Steps: 35,515
Injuries: Intercostal Strain
Achievements:

Kea and I stopped off for a good breakfast before leaving for the trail.  We were going to take the 11:00 bus from Marion.  However, we had an opportunity to take a ride from a trail angel.  I grabbed my pack, but left my outer shell behind.
That was a real dumb mistake.  It is supposed to storm all next week.  An outer shell it a necessity.
Fortunately, the Sweeper found it and gave it to a hiker by the name of Singing to the Pines.

I didn’t realize this until I was six miles in.  While I waited, a ranger came by and I got a chance to paint a new blaze.

After waiting for two hours, I started hiking backwards. He got to the trail an hour later, but bought doughnuts and decided to have breakfast before starting.
Unfortunately, there were some neat things to see, but I had to skip it all.  I’m good now, as I have all my gear.  Lesson learned.

Day 56: The Shortest Nero Ever / The Backstop Boys Officially Disband

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Starting Point: Partnership Shelter (534.4)
Ending Point: Mount Rogers National HQ (534.6)
Total miles: 0.2 Trail Miles, 3.3 Bonus Miles
Steps: 8,562
Injuries: Intercostal Strain
Achievements: Do You Even Hike?
I’m smiling in this picture, I swear…

After a lovely evening at the shelter, we were picked up by the shuttle at the National HQ and taken into town.  There we did the standard resupply, shower, and laundry that we do every three to five days. I also had a badly needed haircut.  My beard was untouched.
By definition, the difference between a Zero and a Nero is whether we hike trail miles.  Technically, walking from the shelter to the parking lot was trail miles, so this was a Nero and not a Zero, but I can assure you that the absolute minimum as amount of hiking was done.  I didn’t clip a buckle.
Tonight, we celebrated the Sweeper, who is leaving the trail today.  The Dunkeroo hiked 19 miles to be here.  We celebrated with some beers and played a song trivia game at a local restaurant.
That is really a testament to the Dunker.  He hauled to be here just for the Sweeper.
I’ll miss the Sweeper.  I’ll miss the Dunker.  We texted Blaze.  His surgery was today and it was a success.  He hopes to start at Harpers Ferry in four to six weeks.  Alas, this is the end of the Backstop Boys.  We are all solo acts now.
Tomorrow, Captain Blogger and I hike on as a duo.  Kea is hiking to the end of May.
I stepped on the scale at the hostel.  I didn’t loose any weight.  That is good.  My calorie intake is matching my mileage.  Now I feel confident to increase my miles.
A day of rest is necessary. Tomorrow, I’m off to Bland.  Looking to the future, I have some epic weather coming up. Seven days straight of thunderstorms.  At least it will be warm rain.