May 1 - Goodbye Damascus

Post date: May 2, 2012 12:43:27 AM

"Austin" and "Five Pair" headed out of Damascus carrying a full load of Miss Ginny's cooking with "Austin" asserting that a weighing immediately following the breakfast gluttony showed Miss Ginny responsible for 3 pounds of extra weight and "Five Pair" telephonically indicating that given the upcoming ascent, an involuntary purging might be in the future.

"Five Pair" bid Ground Control adieu and the two hikers began their day long ascent. The terrain today was essentially uphill the entire day with two gradual descents in the middle portion of the hike.

The hikers are not within Verizon service area so enter the Spot, which indicates that "Austin" and "Five Pair" called it a day on the southern slope of Whitetop Mountain at an elevation of 5100 feet.

Impressive mileage total of 21.4 miles and a new high mileage mark.

Tomorrow the hikers will enter the Grayson Highlands State Park, have a likely encounter with one of the unique sightings along the AT and surpass the 500 mile hiked mark.

Update: Verizon comes through and a call was had. "Bucket", "Kindle Ninja", "Parmesan", "Opie" and others are all camping at the Whitetop Mountain location. Two of the hikers camping nearby tonight are "Balls" and "Sunshine". "Sunshine" is a young lady of just 11 years who has already thru-hiked the 2,664 miles of Pacific Coast Trail, is doing her thru-hike of the AT this year and plans on the Continental Divide Trail (over 3,100 miles) next summer, those accomplishing that feat earning the title of "Triple Crown Hiker".

488.3 miles complete/1,696.1 miles to go