I spent the first day of the week in a motel in Daleville, VA. In addition to the usual zero day chores like doing laundry, getting resupplied, creating a blog post, I also ate lots of food and watched too much football. As I was packing the next morning, my bowels were reminding me that they were not used to my food selections. Maybe it was the junk food, pizza, potato chips, and coke or maybe it was healthy stuff, tossed salad, nectarines, and bananas. Whatever it was, they seem to be happier now that I’m back to my trail diet.
The following is a sampling of what I eat on the trail:
Breakfast– granola usually with water on it since I can’t buy a small quantity of dry milk. Hot oatmeal when it is cold outside. Morning snacks– breakfast bars, protein bars, or Kind bars Lunch– chicken or tuna salad packet on a tortilla or cheese and summer sausage in a wrap, dry fruit, nuts. Afternoon snacks– Snickers bar, Fig Newtons. Supper– Knorr Sides pasta or rice dish, occasionally mashed potatoes or Ramen.
The first day after my zero I felt kind of sluggish and didn’t have the energy I usually have after a zero. Day two was a longer day, 17 miles, but I had more energy. Maybe that’s because the temperatures were cooler and it rained all day.
I try to be more cognizant of where I place each footstep when hiking in the rain. Stepping on tree roots can be risky. My mind does some fast risk evaluations before my foot lands on a rock: How much is it sloped? Will my soles provide a high enough coefficient of friction to prevent me from slipping? How will I prevent a fall if I do slip? But the wet surface that gave me the most difficulty appeared after I emerged from the woods on a long descent and entered a hay field. As usual, a defined path devoid of gravel, rocks, grass, or roots led down the sloped field. This is where I learned how slippery wet Virginia clay is. I eventually abandoned trying to walk on the path and chose to trod on the wet grass next to it where it was far safer.
During the first two days of hiking this week, the trail took me by three of the most iconic spots on the entire AT: Tinker Cliffs, McAffee Knob, and Dragon’s Tooth. Unfortunately, because of the rain and fog, my visits there were a little rushed.
A few days later, I enjoyed the opportunity to pass through several more fields, pastures, and meadows. It happened to be a beautiful, sun drenched, cool autumn day. And once again I found that my mind was far away and I was no longer living in the moment. So I stopped where I was, in the middle of a field which overlooked a valley filled with farms, country roads, and grazing cattle on a distant hill, and lay down in the middle of the trail. I watched clouds float past, observed a couple of vehicles slowly navigate the winding, hilly road, enjoyed the sun on my face, absorbed the fragrance of the freshly washed countryside, and wondered why I have such a hard time keeping my mind in the present moment. Please Lord, teach me to be where You put me and to revel in the present.
This week’s hike ended with a stay in Blacksburg, VA, where I visited with the Schmitt family. Again I was refreshed; it was like water to my parched soul.
Some additional photos
Ken hikes the Appalachian Trail 