Because I had left the group and started hiking on my own I knew that for me to get to Trail Days I was going to have to find another group to join up with. The problem with finding others to hike with was that just about everyone stopped in Daleville and didn't hike on. As a result I had only saw two hikers for a couple days, Gumby and Jerico. Neither one of them had any intention of going to trail days....I had my work cut out for me. I worked on trying to convince both of them to join me and hitchhike the 200miles from Glasgow back to Damascus. Jerico wouldn't budge. He had plans to meet his family in Harpers Ferry and nothing would sway him from this plan. Luck was on my side and Gumby caved. I now had someone to hitchhike with!!!!
To be honest I was a little nervous as now it was up to me to get the both of us to Trail Days and I really had no plan. On the 16th we woke up and hiked the last 12miles out to the road. Once we got there we started thumbing trying to get a ride into town (6miles away). An older gentleman picked us up and drove us past town to a gas station on I-81. From there all we had to do was catch a ride south. Simple right??? I think this exit was the quietest exit on the entire interstate. After sitting for thirty minutes and only having two cars pass us we decided to go down on the interstate and stand in the grassy V between the on ramp and the main road. Success! We stood there for about fifteen minutes, luckily no cops drove by, and a guy, who was also going to trail days, stopped. We had a ride the whole way!!!! Amazing!!! We got off the trail at 11:30 and we were in Damascus by 4, perfect! We actually made it to Damascus before other hikers who had arranged a ride in advance.
To house all of the hikers the town of Damascus set aside an area called tent city. Basically tent city was a giant field that you were able to pitch your tent in. The surrounding woods were also game and most people pitched their tents in there. I foolishly tried to find a "quiet" area and set up the furthest from the woods I good get. I would soon find out that there was no such thing as quiet.
The atmosphere in tent city was full of energy and chaos. The best way that I can describe it is...picture the craziest Halloween party that you can imagine. Everyone's true identity was safely hidden behind their hiker persona and as a result they were quite comfortable with throwing all normal social confines to the wind. The epicentre of everything was located within the woods. At one point there was a twelve foot high bonfire with about thirty people dancing around it to the rhythm of six drums and about a hundred people surrounding them. You could find almost anything in the woods; a social circle for just about everyone. There were gatiars, fiddles, Irish flutes, bag pipes, a rave section (including strobe lights), hillbillies, hippies, drum circles, people giving out free beer, people giving out free food, etc. It was the most unique collection of people I've ever seen.
True to the southern states the biggest supporter of the weekend was the local missionary. They provided free laundry and showers in a disaster relief trailer they had set up in tent city. They were also constantly giving away free food. Volunteers also provided free foot massages, skin cancer checks, and medical help. Through the entire weekend I only spent thirteen dollars and I ate like a king!
One of my concerns about going to trail days was that I would get bored with being off the trail for four days. Gladly, that was never the case. There was always some kind of an event going on. They had presentations from past hikers (the second person to hike the AT was there), presentations on other hikes including the Annapurna circuit, live music, and about one hundred different booths set up with various vendors. The biggest event of the weekend is the parade. For the parade the hikers all gather and walk down the streets of Damascus. Basically, it is a giant water fight between the locals and the hikers. This year there was about five thousand hikers that were present (less than past years). Sadly, this year the parade ended in tragedy. At the start of the parade an individual had a heart attack and drove their vehicle through the throngs of hikers. It ended up being complete chaos as the ambulances that were in the parade were now trying to get turned around and make their way back through the packed street while the hikers and locals were ambushing one another with water guns and garden hoses. Needless to say, it was not a fun sight and it quickly put a heavy tone over the rest of the days events. Two helicopters and about six ambulances rapidly carried away the injured hikers. One of the hikers I knew. She was extremely lucky; ending up underneath the car she came away with only a broken foot. Sadly, her hike is over, but in eight weeks her foot should be healed. I never did hear who was in the helicopters or the extent of their injuries. I wish them all the good luck I can muster!
On a happier note Gumby and I had to find a way back to the trail. Again, I had nothing planned. Sunday morning came around and one of the vendors offered to drive us; however, there was a catch. He was leaving in ten minutes and I had no idea where Gumby was. Unfortunately, I was unable to find Gumby and we lost our ride. We decide we'd go for breakfast and then figure something out. After breakfast we stood at the main intersection in town with our cardboard sign and hoped. Within five minutes a truck stopped and offered us a ride to I-81, sixteen miles away, but we had to sit on the back on the truck. Only in rural places can you get away with riding on the back of a truck for that distance. Once at the interstate we stood on the on ramp next to ten signs stating "no stopping", "no standing", "no hitch hiking". I've never seen that many signs on a single onramp before! Two guys, who were going to Ohio, stopped. They planned only on going to hwy 77 and dropping us off there. Again, luck was on our side and with the offer of gas money we were able to convince them to drive three hours out of their way and take us directly to the trail head. It was pretty amazing! Gumby and I were back on the trail by two o'clock, giving us enough time to put in eleven miles!
Overall it was a great time. I'm very glad I went and I am amazed how everything worked out. It was great to meet up with people that I hadn't seen on the trail in quite a while. It was a great reunion. I'm also amazed at how easy it was to hitchhike on the interstate...
Pictures: part of tent city; Nova cutting my bangs; my resupply box that I picked up in Damascus - customs opened it and did a poor job at closing it; Momma goose and I ,with goggles in hand, getting ready for the parade.
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