True Grit

El Perro Noche phoned me yesterday. Since I dropped him back on the AT outside Damascus, VA, a week ago, it rained everyday (insert Forrest Gump quote about rain). Until finally, yesterday, the rain shut off. Brandon was talking on the phone while hiking, no you don't get a ticket for that. It felt like I was on the trail myself. He was in great spirits. Rain on the trail is like a free shower. So think about that next time you find yourself running to your car from the store in a summer thunderstorm. As the weather heats up, rain becomes welcome. And its not like you just throw a jacket on in the rain while you're hiking up and down mountains, not on the Appalachian Trail. The heat your body generates will just soak your jacket from the inside in a rain storm. So, you just keep it in your pack, and will have something dry to put on when you get to camp.

You might be thinking, how in the world do you just deal with it raining for a week straight? Everything is wet, dirty and uncomfortable. You have to "embrace the beautality". Attitude is everything out there. You can be in the best shape of your life and still not be able to do it. But you can also be in the worst shape of your life and be able to do it. There is a lot to think about out there, but the great part is, you don't have to think about anything. Other than where will I sleep, where will I get water next, there's not a lot of big decisions you have to make every day. Well, unless the choice between should I eat a Little Debbie Cosmic Brownie or a Payday is a big choice. Worst case scenario, eat both, and you can't go wrong.

Brandon is heading towards Pearisburg, VA for his next resupply. A decent town, it does have a tough decent and ascent in and out of town. Hopefully the weather will hold out for a while so he can enjoy some of the great views that Virginia is home to. On his fourth state of the trail, the overall trail maintenance, and physical difficulty of the trail in Virginia is right at average. There are some difficult parts, but the hard climbs are more rewarding than any of the other states he has been through, (weather pending of course). By the time he gets to Pearisburg, VA he will have travelled 627 miles. The specific stretch of trail he is on will his longest stretch between resupply points thus far. He told me on the phone that he wants to complete the trail "now more than ever". Its just like anything else. The more time and devotion you put towards one single thing, the more you want to see it through. There is little that can stop him now.

Warpzilla Out