Date: 5/14/04
Starting Location: Maupin Field Shelter
Destination: Paul C. Wolfe Shelter
Miles: 16.1
Total Miles: 851.4
She made it! Mom's last long/tough day today before getting off the trail tomorrow, and she finished it out strong to a round of applause from Burning Boots and J-Bird, who were waiting to greet us at the shelter. Only an easy 5 miles remains on Mom's trek, and even despite her blisters she made it through all of it with flying colors. When it's all done tomorrow, she will have come 77.0 miles, an incredible feat for someone who's never hiked such a continuous stretch. To put it into perspective, she will have come more than 2.5 times as far as 20% of all thru-hikers—that's how many will have dropped out by Neels Gap, GA after just 30.8 miles on the trail. All that over the biggest climbs I've seen in Virginia in several weeks. It's really been a lot of fun to have her with me and to show her a piece of what I love to do everyday. One last night in this beautiful open shelter above a nice cool creek that'll be rocking me to sleep momentarily after another day with the sweet fragrance of blooming azalea in the air. Greasy town food awaits when Dad arrives tomorrow!