May 15th to July 28th - This was the hardest most beautiful thing I’ve ever done. Early on I was feeling great and cruising, but Norovirus got me in Southern Virginia. I did a 4.4 mile day out of Pearisburg, intermittently collapsing along the way to a stealth camp at Clendinin and Pocahontas Rd. I waited out the sickness that day and night. This was June 4th, and I would hear John Kelly and his crew come in that night to stay at the road crossing. I never revealed myself obviously, not wanting to expose anyone to the virus. The next day my fever broke, I rehydrated, and remarkably was able to do a little over 30 miles! However, the norovirus took some of my precious fat reserves and I would be in a deficit the rest of the hike. I just wouldn’t give up on myself though, and that’s the most beautiful part. I allowed God to take control and he walked with me all the way to Katahdin. There were times I felt completely void of the ability to go on, but somehow I did, albeit very slow at the end.
I carried all my gear, food, and water. I walked extra miles to resupply boxes that I had sent prior to the start of my journey. The hardest thing was how long I went between showers, the bugs, and the record breaking heat wave I encountered in PA. I really slowed down after the White Mountains because I had no fat left. My food could not sustain me. I would get weak and dizzy on climbs but I settled into a very slow hike that didn’t burn many calories and was able to keep going. I had to beg for food in the 100 mile wilderness because I had almost eaten everything I sent myself. I was actually Starving. Thankfully some very nice section hikers had extra food they were tired of carrying and that Gorp got me out of the 100 mile wilderness and up Katahdin. I’m so GRATEFUL! ❤️🙏🙌🏻