Wednesday, June 15th

Double Spring Shelter (452.2 mi) to Damascus, VA (470.7 mi)

Hiking Miles: 18.5

Total Ascent: 2,597.1 ft

Total Descent: 4,752.0 ft

Total Grade: 398.9 ft/mi

Steps: 44,562

Today, we crossed into Virginia! I got up early and hiked 15 miles to the state line by 10:46 am. It was a swift hike and the terrain and sights were pleasant. I felt incredibly good (strong), probably knowing we were staying in a new, relaxing and highly recommended hostel. However, the day was brutally hot, reaching 90 degrees outside of shade, perhaps in the 80’s under cover in the woods, and humid. But we were so looking forward to eating some good food and perhaps an ice cream.

While I waited for Stevie at the border sign, 3 hikers who were walking together approached and I took their group picture at the sign for them. They were making noises by banging their trekking poles and talking loudly (moments before getting there) because there was evidence that a bear was in the area. Just about a half mile back before reaching the border, I passed a giant bear poop that was steeping right in the middle of the trail path, and it was fresh!

The hikers were likewise headed to Damascus to chill in town; Stevie and I eventually ran into them (along with visiting family) in both a diner and a resupply store. When they moved on, I called Teresa. She was crushing it – a dump run, pool cleaning, yard work, etc. (it was also a nice warm day in New Hampshire) and she was proud that we were entering back into Virginia.

Stevie arrived shortly after 11 am. We took a selfie together, ate a snack, then finished hiking another 3.5 miles into Damascus. We walked through town along grassy paths, as well as the sidewalks, which had zero shade cover; needless to say it was blistering hot. We passed a number of decorative homes, stores, and various signs, and we noted the places we would return to once we settled into Lady Di’s Hostel.

We checked into the hostel with Lady Di, and she gave us a wonderful tour of her home that she had purchased last year. She was a Class of 2019 AT Thru-Hiker from Minnesota (small world), and she loved Virginia (and hostels) so much while on trail that she decided to open a hostel.

The hostel was gorgeous and completely renovated (it felt brand new), and we picked a 3-bed room called the Turret Room to stay in on the second floor. It had a shared outdoor (2nd-Floor) balcony with a table and chairs. We shared the room with a guy named Andy who was staying there for his second night. Andy used to be a bar owner in Los Angeles, and he graduated from Boston College.

We then went back into town and ate at the Damascus Diner – I had a Country Ham sandwich and washed it down with two Sam Adams. We then went to the Outfitters and bought two new Katadynes and a new Smart Water bottle, then subsequently hit a Dollar General for resupply.

When we arrived back at the hostel, we took showers, prepared our laundry (Lady Di was extremely gracious and took our laundry baskets), and we both took relaxing naps. Stevie was talking to Lady Di about Grandma’s Marathon that was held each year in Minnesota and told her he knew about that race and hoped to run it someday since he was from that part of the country. They had a good conversation and she laughed because she noticed Stevie wore some loaner clothes from the closet but he didn’t take the Minnesota Wild shirt that was there.

Later that evening, we walked four blocks to the Wicked Wing Restaurant for dinner where I ordered Chicken Pot Pie and Stevie ordered Chicken & Waffles (Of course he did!). We ate outside on the porch deck as it was a pleasant evening.