April 10th - 37 - Damascas, VA to Lost Mountain Shelter
No hurry to get out of town today. I am undecided on my plans. Live is hiking two more nights before his family meets him for a few days off. Dan has some alternate hiking routes planned, like southbound from 30 miles out. Ill keep hiking for now, everything hurts but that's become more of the constant state out here. I delay the town exit with a lunch at subway and a milkshake from the ice cream place.

It's about 1pm when I am finally on the trail. The hike up and out of town is not as bad as others. The At follows the Virginia Creeper Trail, sometimes on the wide old dirt railway other times on hilly single track above the Creeper.

At the shelter there are quite a few groups of sectioners, and two other thrus; Noodle and Biscuit. I share some PBRs I hike out of town with a young veteran from Florida. He talks about the war in Iraq and we share stories of the trail. Its a good mix of people here tonight.