Virtual Appalachian Trail through-hike recap: Day 3 through 8, 19.9 miles
It is a beautiful, foggy Sunday morning here on the A.T. and I am getting ready for the day. I have a steaming hot cup of coffee, which is no easy feat on the trail. While I sip the strong java and drink in my surroundings I’m able to look back on the last week with a bit more clarity, as the fog dissipates.
Monday and Tuesday were 5K days. This may be short of my daily goals but it’s still a lot of distance compared to the more sedentary habits I’m trying to break. I passed by the Stover Creek Shelter on Monday and ended up camping very close to Three Forks at the trail’s 4.3-mile mark. Tuesday ended at the trail’s 7.6-mile mark, which was just shy of the Hawk Mountain Shelter.
Wednesday was a comedy of errors, but since this is no laughing matter I’ll tell you in a monotone voice that my FitBit registered 1,123 steps. For me, this is half of a mile. On a real hike, this day would have been the equivalent of a storm day. I made it about a quarter mile beyond the Hawk Mountain Shelter before pitching a tent and sleeping the day away.
Thursday was a 4.7-mile day. I hiked down through Hightower Gap and Cooper Gap before pitching a tent and passing out. Friday’s hike was less than my self-imposed minimum distance. It ended up being 3.7 miles. I got to see the Gooch Gap shelter and then a mile and a half farther down the trail I made camp near Gooch Gap itself.
Saturday was a busy 4.6-mile day. In real life, I was walking around an anime and gaming convention called Holiday Matsuri but in my mind I was hiking north through the scenic Woody Gap area. There are a ton of day-hikers that can drive to this section of the trail which made it more crowded than it had been. Honestly, it was a little odd seeing so many day-hikers dressed as Sailor Moon and Deadpool.
I walked almost 20 miles in 6 days. This is a pitiful distance when attempting to through-hike the trail. However, considering that most people quit in the first week I’m hopeful that my slow-and-steady method at the beginning of this journey will help build the foundation it takes to finish the whole trail. I am determined to make it to Maine.
I take my pretend adventures very seriously.
AT miles traveled: 21.1
AT miles remaining: 2,168.9