Mile 589. Virginia is not flat!

When a NOBO (north-bound through-hiker) meets a SOBO (south-bound through-hiker) along the Trail, normal greetings go something like:

“What a beautiful day today, right?!   I can’t get enough of this view.”    - or -

“Water sources are dry for the next 7 miles.   How’s your water supply?   You okay?”  - or -

“I heard that Badger had to go off Trail because he twisted his ankle.   Do you know if he’s doing okay - have you heard anything?”

In Virginia, though, greetings have been going more like:

“Who the fuck ever said that Virginia is flat?   Flat, my ass!  What a liar!”

The common wisdom is that Virginia is flat and cruisy.   It’s the reward after the constant climbing and descending in Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee.   This is where through-hikers can pick up big miles.   

It’s all a vicious, vicious lie.

The reality is that Virginia lulls you into a happy cruisy bliss, then suddenly gut-punches you with a 4 mile climb at 14% grade.   If that’s not enough, she tosses in some loose river bed rocks, endless boulder fields, and tangly tree roots - just to see you squirm.

She’s evil, Virginia is.   Sinister.  Deceitful.

Connecting the dots, I remind myself that I often sought out Virginia hills when training for IRONMAN competitions.   Friends and I  practiced hill climbing and descending on Skyline Drive where hills are endlessly served, sucker-punch after sucker-punch.   We tell tales of suffering at the Culpepper Triathlon, known for slower times due to the insanely hilly mcourse.   And we seditiously signed up every year for the Gran Fondo named Mountains of Misery - just for the bragging rights.   

Why didn’t I see it coming?? 

Hikers can - and do - pick up big miles in Virginia, this part is true.   

The reason for the big miles, though, is not because Virginia is easy.   Rather, it’s because days are longer, allowing more hours in the day to hike.   Winter gear also has been mailed home, resulting in lighter packs.   And hikers now have their “Trail legs”, whereby they, have improved technique, and are more agile.  

This Trail is just hard.   Period.   It’s what I signed up for.   I whole-heartedly embrace the suck and all of its glory.