May 10

May 10 AT 2024, Day 11: Nero into Pearisburg

Roo Giordano

long distance hiking, roulette, appalachian trail

Sunrise over Pearisburg, VA, or “why I wake early.”

Day 11, Wednesday, 5.10.2024

Start: M. 633.9, Stealth Site at Pearis Ledges

End: M. 637.3, Pearisburg, VA, Angel’s Rest Hostel

Miles Hiked: 3.4

Total Miles: 134.9

Elevation Gain: Nothing to gloat about

True Near-O

It’s funny how as you progress in your long distance hiking career, your definition of a near-o (a day when you hike nearly zero miles) adjusts with your ability to crush miles. Soon enough, a true near-o—2 or 3 or even 5 miles—stretches to nine, ten, twelve miles. Maybe it’s however far you hike before noon. Maybe it’s a fraction of how many total miles you consistently hike in a day. At any rate, it’s all relative and you get to decide how to define your near-o.

Today, I hiked what I call a True Near-O—less than five miles.

It would have been easy enough to hike into Pearisburg yesterday, but one thing I know about myself and my hiking style is that I still love to sleep out in the woods, especially if I’ve found a lovely campsite with a view.

Other people view hiking as a means to get to the next town and all the goodies town has to offer—showers, beer, hot food, company, soft beds and real pillows.

Some people are out there solely to crush miles, barely stopping either in town or along the trail, finding their joy in moving through the terrain.

It takes a while to figure out your own hiking style, the thing about hiking that makes your heart sing. And for some of us it takes another while to make peace with that style, especially if it doesn’t conform to common wisdom or competitive inclinations that prevail along the trail.

Noticing the small things

Me? I’m just trying not to get hurt and trying to notice things that normally go unnoticed. Also, I’m slightly feral, I have a high tolerance for dirt and discomfort, and I don’t care about beer anymore.

I’ve learned to enjoy life at 2MPH. I’m not into crushing miles. I don’t care if I get “there” (hence the shift to Long Ass Section Hikes over Thru-Hiking the 2,000+ mile long trails).

I’m not hiking to get somewhere. I’m hiking to be somewhere.

It took a while, and a cornucopia of injuries, to figure that out.

Back to my day in Pearisburg…

Doc from Angel’s Rest picked me up at the trail head, where I also met Tornado and Chicken, who are adorable and still super psyched to be out here.

I dropped my pack off at the hostel and hoofed it to Sugar & Flour, the only coffee shop in town. I resupplied afterwards at the Food Lion and ran into Badger again. After checking in to my bougie room with a private bath in a single wide trailer, all I had left to do was pick out some loaner clothes, take a shower, do my laundry and watch hikers roll in the rest of the day.

Pro Tip: A perk of getting in early is that there often is no line for the washing machine.

Before long, there was a tent city in the yard, the bunk room was full and I was lollygagging just enough to get twitchy and ready to get back out on trail.

For being a little feral and a smidge anti-social, I do love a Tent City.

Someone brought a watermelon and cut up slices for all the hikers.

There were some cute dogs roaming around and a cat riding around on a guy’s shoulders.

I went out to eat Mexican food with the Flock and it was way past Hiker Midnight before I got back to my room and turned in.

I haven’t had a drink in almost a year and was a little worried that I’d be tempted while out on the trail. There is nothing better than a beer after a long day of hiking Or a margarita with Mexican food. Or wine or bourbon any time, really, but especially with company.

Except maybe, now, there’s nothing better than a sparkling water with a twist of lemon.

Who knew staying sober on trail was totally doable?