Damascus Stories (con't)

Left to Right: Matt, Skuter, Kirk, and Justin out side of "The Place" in Damascus, VA.

Tyler got a visit from Matt, Kirk, and Justin in Damascus last weekend! I want to thank you guys again for going to meet "Skuter" on the trail, it means so much to him for you to travel all that way to see him...

Damascus...Tyler stayed at The Place in Damascus, which is a hostel ran by the Methodist church. You can make a donation and stay at The Place for two nights while you're traveling through. We frequented Dots Inn and met Lone Wolf while we watched the Masters and had a beer. Lone Wolf had some great jokes and stories from hiking the trail, he's thru-hiked 5 times. Tyler and him played golf on Tuesday. I think Tyler found a great friend we will definitely have to go back to see him during Trail Days in Damascus next year.

Jesse, Bill, Chief Daddy, Hammerdown, and Skuter OR more popularly known as the Asa-Dachi Mafia got official badges to put on their kilts (Yes they all have kilts now). Jesse's girlfriend Katy came to visit and had made them badges and they turned out awesome!!

Skuter got a chance to hang out with Damus (Nathan) and Chatterbox (Chad) last weekend. Unfortunately, a stroke of badluck hit Damus when his backpack got stolen in town. Its common to leave your pack outside of a restuarant before going in, but someone decided to take advantage of the honor system and run off with Damus' pack. This is NOT a common occurence and I don't think it has EVER happened at the restaurant he was in. It took a few days off the trail, but through a collective effort he was able to pull some things together for a new pack. Thanks to Snake, another AT hiker, he has another pack. The worst part about the whole thing... the journal is irreplaceable.

I talked to Tyler today, I am actually going out their (Mt. Rogers National Recreation Headquarters) this weekend (big surprise) and hiking with them until Sunday. The BIIIG news is they passed the 500 mile marker today!! They went through the Grayson Highlands this week and got to see the wild ponies that roam freely.

Damascus, VA

This is a picture of Free Hugs, Furniture, Skuter, Bill, Chief Daddy, and Hammerdown at Augusta's Appalachian Inn - www.augustasappalachianinn.com (they got their picture on the website too).

Skuter and Jesse went over Roane Mountain yesterday. Tyler said it was his favorite day yet because the weather was great and the views were even better. They walked right up on a controlled burn of one of the balds and were escorted by one of the rangers around the burn, about 2 miles. Tyler said they were burning about 1100 acres... its a routine thing to maintain the bald. I am meeting up with him in Damascus tomorrow and Kirk, Justin, and Matt are coming!!

Slideshow of Tyler's Favorite Photos & New Hiking Buddies - Chief Daddy, Hammerdown, Bill, and Jessie

Slideshow

350 Miles!

Tyler has hiked 350 miles as of today!

He has been hiking with a group of guys that all started by themselves. There is Bill from New Jersey, Jessie from Pennsylvania, Chief Daddy from Atlanta, and Hammerdown from Ohio. They were in Erwin, TN this weekend, and plan to make it to Damascus, VA on Saturday. Bill and Jessie both celebrated birthdays within the last week, so while in Johnson City we all went out to this great sushi restaurant called Cafe One 11.

I hiked in 4 miles and spent the night in one of the shelters. Good thing there was room because it poured rain all night. Then we hiked 4 more miles the next morning to the Indian Grave Gap. Uncle Johnny's Hostel in Erwin gives $15 shuttles back to the trailhead, so I got a ride back to my car.

Tyler has been doing very well and has enjoyed the group he has hiked with this week. He was dealing with some shin splints last week, but they seem to be doing better. (Going slower downhill helps to prevent getting them.) Damus and Chatterbox had written April 3rd or 2nd (can't remember), in the notebook at the shelter... so I know they are about 3 days ahead of Tyler. They are going faster than usual, especially because they are pressed for time... school starts back in August.

I will post some pictures next...