Heat

Daleville, VA
Mile 712

It's going over 90 degrees today here in Daleville, somewhat cooler in the woods. My pack straps and shirt are white with salt, and I am filling my reserve water bottles as well as the 3 liter Camelback. The heat beats you up worse than any uphill, and it beats you no matter how many miles you are doing that day.

Some of the folks I've been hiking with are making dropping-out sort of noises. The "Virginia Blues" are in effect. It's that time when thru-hikers realize that they are not just on a very long vacation, that they are actually on an expedition to walk across the country. And there's the heat. Virginia Blues.

I will walk through them.