May 20 – Five Pair Return

Post date: May 21, 2012 5:05:31 AM

After a quick breakfast and short drive to US220 in Daleville, Ground Control said his good-byes to "Five Pair," who 27 years and 2 days ago provided the best two word answer to a question that Ground Control to this day has heard, and watched her hike away.

Returning to the trail well fed and after two zero days, "Five Pair" was re-energized, wondering what hikers she had met previously might cross her path and expecting a lot of hikers to be finding their way back to the AT on Sunday and Monday as Trail Days, the annual celebration of the Appalachian Trail and reunion party for hikers had been over the weekend in Damascus. The first five miles was an uphill hike with the miles thereafter being up and downs.

To her surprise, the AT was almost void of hikers today with "Five Pair" only see a couple day hikers.

"Five Pair" met up with "Gypsy Soul" and "Muck" around 5pm and while very tempting to sit and enjoy their company as well as the roaring fire upon which "Muck" had been bringing to bear his considerable skills in fire-making, "Five Pair" determined to hike on. Her hike continued into the evening with "Five Pair" doing her first (and likely last if enjoyment is a consideration) evening hike. The inability to clearly see her footing was an additional unwelcomed stress during hiking. At around 9pm, "Five Pair" came upon Cove Mountain Shelter, and while many hikers were tenting around the shelter "Five Pair" opted for the shelter given the time and the darkness. A big hiking day for "Five Pair" establishing a new daily miles hiked high of 25.0 miles.

Tomorrow "Five Pair" will meander along the Blue Ridge Parkway and for the next 100+ miles and thereafter will enter Shenandoah National Park.

747.5 miles complete/1,438.9 miles to go