Appalachian Trail 2021 - 2022

Hello friends and family,  I  am checking in from a small town in southern Virginia called Daleville. My first "carry" ended yesterday, lasting 8 days and covering 105 miles from Woods Hole Hostel in Pearisburg to the Howard Johnson Express in Daleville (far less homey than the beautiful grounds of Woods Hole).   Virginia is often discussed as a mentally challenging state for thru-hikers who complain of the "Virginia Blues." This idea confused me last year and after 105 new miles covered, I remain confused why Virginia's section of the trail would lead to melancholy.  The section I just completed was beautiful country that includes three of the state's most iconic backcountry sites--Dragon's Tooth, McAfee's Knob and Tinker Cliffs, the Triple Crown as they're known (more on that later). Suffice to say, this section was a warm welcome back to the trail. Here are some of the sites from my last week:   Photo #1: Incredible friend and former road-tri...

Hi friends and family, I will be getting back on the Appalachian Trail today, starting from where I left off at Woods Hole Hostel in Pearisburg, VA: Last May, I was sidelined 626 miles into my hike by what I thought was a hip injury, but what was actually an auto-immune disease that causes severe inflammation in the pelvis and spine. What I feared might be a torn labrum, was in fact my first flare up. Unfortunately, it prevented me from bearing weight on my left leg for over two months. Thanks to the help of friends and family, healthcare providers and a very effective immuno-suppressant medication, I am no longer experiencing flare ups. My pain is gone and I have been able to return to full activity. So I’m giving the hike a second try in the hopes of finishing the 1568 miles of the trail that I have left.  This time around I will not be posting unending recapitulations of my family history or deep dives into the political economy of early 20th-century West Virginia. Nor will I be...