Pearisburg was my next resupply opportunity and I had cold weather gear waiting for pickup at the post office. My plan was to arrive there on October 28. On the trail very early again my progress was good and the weather was fine. If I reached the Rice Shelter by 4pm it would be feasible to hike 8 more miles to a hotel in town. From the high ridge at 3350′ I began a pleasant descent as the sun sank lower toward the western horizon. By 6pm I retrieve the headlamp from my backpack and switched on the bright beam to light up the trail and Main Street to the Plaza Motel.
The extra effort earned me a zero day on the 28th which allowed plenty of time to buy food, try out the Alpaca hoody and Neo-Air X-therm sleeping pad, and get a haircut. The motel was conveniently located to every place I needed to go including a Mexican restaurant!
Day 127, 27-Oct. Milepost: 1556.1 miles. Daily: 23.6, Ascent: 3865′, Descent: 5805′, Highest: 3860′. Town: Pearisburg, VA. Decided to hike all the way to Pearisburg. Long, nearly flat ridgetop and long descents helped. After 23.6 miles I arrived in darkness.
Day 128, 28-Oct. Zero day in Pearisburg, VA to resupply and receive cold weather gear.
Wow! A long hike, gorgeous photos and a real motel!!