Day 66 – War Spur shelter to VA 630

Clear day going up to low 80s. Very humid.

Up at 7:30. No hurry this morning as we have a short day with a nasty 3.5-mile climb to start things off. Yey! On trail at 9:00.

Walked through a nasty set of blowdowns. All massive trees uprooted. Tornado?

Summitted this bastard at 11:30. Mountain is very steep and it’s very humid with zero air movement today.

Stopped for a break at 11:30. Low on water and no more water sources for 4 miles.

Tripped over a rock and hurt a toe on my right foot. Very steep and rocky descent. I don’t think it’s broken but it has quickly turned a lovely purple and it hurts. Still have 2 more miles of descent.

Stopped at Laurel Creek Shelter for a break. Water just north of the shelter in theory. Pinged Eric to let him know we are on track to meet at 3:00.

Stopped for a 10-minute break and snack at 2:10. 2 miles to go.

Hiked through some nice pastures.

We reached the VA 630 parking lot st 3:15. Eric met us a few minutes later with ice-cold beverages and iced Snickers. I love my brother! Stopped at a market for resupply on the way to Eric’s house. Eric made us a great dinner. We showered and did laundry and planned out the next 4 days. We will slackpack 18 miles tomorrow and end up about 3 miles down the road from Eric’s house. Then we will impose on Eric for yet another night before heading off to McAfee Knob.

All my packages arrived at Eric’s house:

• New Hoka Speed Goats courtesy of Dana 
• A resupply box courtesy of Dana
• A new Sawyer water filter. 
• A new pump sack for my air mattress. 
• Insoles for my shoes.

Really looking forward to new shoes and new insoles. Will put them to the test tomorrow with 18 hot, humid miles. 

Today might have been short miles, but big climbs and very hot and humid. Just can’t wait for July and August heat and humidity in the mid-Atlantic!

Technical Notes:

• Donuts: 600
• Snickers: 250
• Trail mix: 170 
• Meat stick: 90
• Payday: 240
• Seltzers: 600
• Cheeseburger x3: 1200
• Corn on cob: 155
• Misc: 1000
• Water liters: 5
• Miles: 9.1
• Time: 6:15
• Elevation gain: 2369
• Calories consumed: 4500
• Calories burned: 5000