Day 56: The Shortest Nero Ever / The Backstop Boys Officially Disband

Starting Point: Partnership Shelter (534.4)

Ending Point: Mount Rogers National HQ (534.6)

Total miles: 0.2 Trail Miles, 3.3 Bonus Miles

Steps: 8,562

Injuries: Intercostal Strain

Achievements: Do You Even Hike?

I'm smiling in this picture, I swear...

After a lovely evening at the shelter, we were picked up by the shuttle at the National HQ and taken into town.  There we did the standard resupply, shower, and laundry that we do every three to five days. I also had a badly needed haircut.  My beard was untouched.

By definition, the difference between a Zero and a Nero is whether we hike trail miles.  Technically, walking from the shelter to the parking lot was trail miles, so this was a Nero and not a Zero, but I can assure you that the absolute minimum as amount of hiking was done.  I didn't clip a buckle.

Tonight, we celebrated the Sweeper, who is leaving the trail today.  The Dunkeroo hiked 19 miles to be here.  We celebrated with some beers and played a song trivia game at a local restaurant.

That is really a testament to the Dunker.  He hauled to be here just for the Sweeper.

I'll miss the Sweeper.  I'll miss the Dunker.  We texted Blaze.  His surgery was today and it was a success.  He hopes to start at Harpers Ferry in four to six weeks.  Alas, this is the end of the Backstop Boys.  We are all solo acts now.

Tomorrow, Captain Blogger and I hike on as a duo.  Kea is hiking to the end of May.

I stepped on the scale at the hostel.  I didn't loose any weight.  That is good.  My calorie intake is matching my mileage.  Now I feel confident to increase my miles.

A day of rest is necessary. Tomorrow, I'm off to Bland.  Looking to the future, I have some epic weather coming up. Seven days straight of thunderstorms.  At least it will be warm rain.