This is Trevor’s Dad checking in. Trevor called today at about 2:00 pm. He is in Rural Retreat, Va, approximately 75 miles past Damascus, Va.
Trevor said he, Finn and two very experienced hikers named Stretch and Zippers hiked 18 miles out of Damascus, Va on Wednesday. Trev said Stretch and Zippers are very fast and hiked ahead of him and Finn each day. Trev said they tent camped near Beech Mountain Road about 2.5 miles past Lost Mountain shelter Wednesday night and grilled steaks they carried out of Damascus!
On Thursday, they hiked 21 miles to Old Orchard shelter. Along the way, they hiked over Mt. Rogers. At 5,729 feet, Mt. Rogers is the tallest peak in Virginia. Trevor said they stopped to eat on Mt. Rogers and were molested by wild ponies! Trevor said the ponies wanted their food and one tried to chew into his pack. Below is a picture Trev took with his cell phone.
Trev said that the hike off Mt. Rogers was extremely rocky and he had to watch every step on the way down. At Old Orchard shelter Trevor said he met a nice hiker named Super Dave.
On Friday, he and Finn left Old Orchard shelter and hiked 25 miles over what Trevor described as easier, flatter terrain, to Partnership shelter. Trev said there were a lot of hikers at Partnership shelter and they saw Stretch and Zippers again. Apparently Partnership shelter is close to a pizza delivery place because they ordered pizza’s for dinner. Trev said he would have eaten a whole pizza but fell a couple of slices short because he was snacking while he was waiting for the pizza to arrive J Trev said he cannot eat enough to keep up with the calories he is burning. He now takes candy and honey as well as protein bars on the trail in an attempt to take in more calories.
This morning, Trevor said he and Finn left Partnership shelter and hiked 11 miles into Rural Retreat, Va. Trev said that about half an hour into the hike the bottom fell out of the sky and they hit very heavy rain for the rest of the hike. Trev said they were hiking across fields that were completely flooded and looked more like lakes. Ironically, the rain stopped when they got to Rural Retreat.
Trevor and Finn will stay at the Relax Inn tonight in Rural Retreat, Va and start hiking toward Bland, Va (about 45 miles) tomorrow. Trev said they hope to be there in about in about two days to resupply.
The plan is for Karen and I to meet Trevor in Blacksburg, Va this weekend for the Virginia Tech spring football game. Trevor’s brother Daniel’s birthday is Thursday and we will probably be taking the boys out for sushi to celebrate on Friday after we pick Trevor up off the trail. Trevor intends to zero in Blacksburg, Saturday and visit with friends at Virginia Tech.
I know Trevor is excited to see you guys this weekend. Keep up the good hiking Trevor. Enjoy your time together this weekend.
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