Number of Days Afoot: 35 days, Day 40 AT - Day 75 AT

Distance in 1978: 484.4 miles

#7. Mount Rogers, 5728 feet, summited 10 May 1978

#9. Whitetop Mountain, 5520 feet, summited 10 May 197

4. 12 May 1978, Atkins, VA              Day 44 AT   Total Miles Afoot: 501.3

5. 24 May 1978, Catawba, VA          Day 54 AT   Total Miles Afoot: 642.1

6. 05 June 1978, Waynesboro, VA   Day 66 AT   Total Miles Afoot: 783.9

7. 21 June 1978, Linden, VA            Day 74 AT   Total Miles Afoot: 893.8

Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, Jefferson National Forest, Blue Ridge Parkway, Shenandoah National Park

Arriving in Virginia means three important things for me with reference to the accomplishments on this journey.

First: the portion of the trail that has been hiked thus far is about one forth of the total distance of the AT.

Second: when the hike through this next state, Virginia has been completed, then this journey on the At will be close to the half way point between Springer and Katahdin.

Third: the time struggling to acquire my hiking legs is fast approaching the end, as it is becoming apparent to me that mu hiking ability has been improving as well as has my endurance.

Also, there is now a new notch that has been carved into my shoe leather, a third notch to mark the completion of Tennessee and hopefully, there will soon be another notch carved for the state of Virgina.

Excerpts from page 91

UPON ARRIVING IN DAMASCUS, the AT goes right down main street and routes me directly to the hostel called The Place, check in and immediately take a hot shower. Then go out in search of the post office to mail my letters.

Moments after dropping off my stack of outgoing mail at the post office, in walks Edward B. Garvey and we speak for a bit. Later, he comes to the hostel and takes pictures of all the hikers.

Up at six this morning to ready for today′s hike and go first to the post office to mail a package of surplus gear to Waynesboro, VA. Upon arriving on the trail at nine, toss my change and begin ambling on the trail alone, Steve and Paul having left yesterday.

Methinks, Steve, it has been the best traveling with you my friend; you have indeed given much to me, adieu and Godspeed. Feeling much stronger and with more confidence now and it is a genuinely nice day to go for a hike upon this trail to Maine.