Blue Ridge Parkway

Virginia - Waynesboro to Daleville

Oct 29, 2024

Let the night hiking continue! With the days growing shorter and winter on the horizon, we’ve picked up our pace, pushing hard to meet our mileage goals. Thanks to Virginia’s gentler terrain, we’re hiking over ten miles a day, a stark contrast to the more unforgiving mountains in the north. It’s still a tough grind, but we’re driven by the goal of finishing before winter grips the trail.

Our packs carry only the essentials now; rain jackets, rain pants, first aid kit, long sleeve layer, long pants layer, fleeces, puffy jackets, headlamps, water filter, food, and water. The pack weight of a slackpack for five people is comparable to a solo backpackers total pack weight, but it’s much lighter for us.

Staying at a campground for four nights at a time has its perks. The convenience of having our tent already set up and sleeping pads ready at the end of a long day feels like a luxury. With fewer things to carry, we’re able to cover more ground each day. After hiking, we can enjoy the warmth of the car on the drive back to camp, and when the kids inevitably fall asleep, transferring them to the tent is easy. Campgrounds typically offer the bonus of real bathrooms with toilet paper, sinks, soap dispensers, and hand dryers. We can store our food safely in the car overnight and easily buy firewood, making campfires—which Ice Cream Sandwich loves—much easier to enjoy.

Still, there’s a part of The Tramp and me that misses those quiet nights deep in the forest, surrounded by nothing but trees and stars. There’s a magic in the remote wilderness that we’re just not getting with our new routine. I liked how challenging it was before. I liked the intensity of the triumphs and the hardships, and when it felt like we were the only people in the world.

We can’t help that our gear was washed away in floodwaters, and that our trip has turned into an extended car camping trip. I’m sad about it, but it couldn’t be helped. I’m so grateful to be alive and to be able to finish what we started, but I’m struggling with things not going as I had planned. I have to be able to wrap my head around the fact that this is a different trip now. I need to pivot and embrace it for what it has become instead of dwelling in the past.

The trail has finally pushed me a little closer to my limits, and that’s ultimately what I’ve wanted it to do. Over the next few weeks, I will mourn the loss of what the trip was before the hurricane, and work towards accepting things the way they are now. Despite missing those wild backcountry nights, I’m thankful to be alive, grateful for our health, and happy to have this time together as a family.

I know I’ll deeply miss the magic of spending every gritty hour of the day with my family once this adventure ends. Soon, we’ll return to our routines—work for us, school for the boys—but for now, I’m savoring every precious moment we have together. This time is a gift, and I’m holding onto it with everything I have.

I keep coming back to the word "magic" to describe the beauty we’re surrounded by, but I can’t think of a better way to capture the wonder of it all. What we’re experiencing feels truly magical—there’s no other word that fits.

The season has shifted. The trail is transforming before our eyes. Though the trees still hold some of their vibrant leaves, the trail is carpeted with fallen gold, and a steady stream of leaves cascade to the ground. Soon, we’ll come full circle—starting our journey with bare branches and finishing in the same stark beauty.

The temperatures are all over the place, from crisp autumn days to bone-chilling nights that remind us of our first cold steps on the trail. We’ve had one night below freezing so far this fall, and though it left us tossing and turning from the chill, we were prepared for the next with extra socks, layers of pants, fleeces, and puffy coats.

We’ve been amazed by the number of scientists we’ve encountered on the trail—a geologist, biologist, radio astronomer, biophysicist, herpetologist, and engineer. Each taking time to talk with our boys about their fascinating fields of study.

Time and again, we’re struck by the remarkable caliber of people we’ve crossed paths with along the trail from all walks of life—each one willing to share their wisdom, stories, and kindness. Along the way we’ve seen the best of what people have to offer. The generosity, knowledge, and kindness of those we’ve crossed paths with have left a lasting impression on us. Whether it’s sharing stories, expertise, or just a helping hand, the community out here is a constant reminder of the goodness in humanity.

Liberty University Professor, Dr. Cory Goff, Peaks of Otter Salamander Field Study

The Tramp had an unexpected encounter at a grocery store in Roanoke, Virginia. As he wandered through the aisles with the boys, an employee approached with a grin and exclaimed, "The Tramps!" To his surprise, it was Beetleweed, a fellow thru-hiker we had met on the trail at Mohican Outdoor Center in New Jersey, again before entering the White Mountains in New Hampshire, and then once more at Shaw’s Hiker Hostel in Maine. She had completed her thru-hike a month earlier and was now back in the “real world.” The two shared a moment of nostalgia, swapping trail stories and reminiscing about the adventure that had bonded them on the Appalachian Trail.

It feels as though we’ve been on this journey for years, though it’s only been seven months. Our kids have grown so much, and it's been incredible to watch. They’ve become tougher—physically and mentally—pushing through tough days and unexpected challenges without giving up. They’ve learned to trust themselves more, handling the ups and downs of the trail with a sense of confidence that wasn’t there before. They notice things now they used to walk right past, like tiny insects or how the air feels different before it rains. They’ve figured out how to work together, even when they’re tired or frustrated, and they’ve developed a real sense of independence, realizing they can handle a lot more than they ever thought. It’s been amazing to see them grow into these little adventurers.