Hey there from Trail Town USA, Damascus, Virginia! It's a beautiful little town that is synonymous with the AT because of Trail Days, a giant AT party that is thrown here every year for hikers. However, Damascus is even more special to me for 2 reasons: we are done with the state of Virginia, all 535 miles of it, and we are now only 463 miles from Springer Mountain! It's funny how perspectives change while on the trail. 3 months ago 460 miles seemed HUGE to me, and would have been an accomplishment to walk. Now I hear 460 and realize I'll only be on the trail for another 3 weeks (provided I don't have a trip ender in the next 3 weeks).
Virginia has been wonderful. We have been snowed on, sweated out hot days, and we even got to walk with some ponies! From here we go into Tennessee, where we will be at elevation for quite some time, around 5,000 to 6,000 feet for days at a time. It's going to get cold again, but it's still very exciting.
As usual, I recommend checking Addison's blog, which I'm sure will be updated later today, because he is just better at this whole thing than I am. That's www.addisonshockontheat.blogspot.com.
Only 9 days and I'll be getting picked up for Thanksgiving with the family and I CAN'T wait!
Love you all,
Tail End
