The Virginia Blues

I certainly don't have them.  But other hikers are certainly feeling the affects of the Virginia Blues.  I know of several hikers that are calling it quits.  In fact, one hiker put their whole pack, contents and all (including a Kindle) in the hiker box and bought a bus ticket back to NYC.
By now, hikers have been in this state for almost a month, the views have gotten hazy from the humidity, the summer heat is turning on full force, the bugs threaten your sanity, and the "green tunnel" seems like it will never end.  Plus, I've noticed that if a hiker is dependent on other hikers, they have a hard time continuing on the trail if their friends drop out or can't keep up.
All of that and more plays in to the Virginia Blues.  It's been said more than once that hiking the AT is more mental that physical.  Reason being?  It's easy to get frustrated and discouraged when ascending 3,000 feet up a mountain in 95 degree heat, only to have the view from the top shrouded in haze as you gasp for your breath while sweat just drips off your body.  Sounds fun, right?
That's not to say that I haven't had my fair share of "trying" days out here.  This past week it was over 90 degrees during the day with suffocating humidity.  And it's not really the dirty aspect.  Once you're dirty, you're dirty -- it's fine.  But the heat is another factor for a hiker's feet.  My feet are wet all day from sweat and it's easy for them to develop "hot spots."  Therefore, it looks like someone has taken a cheese grater to my heels.  The adhesives on band-aids, mole skin, athletic tape, etc. don't stand a chance from my sweat.  I was in some horrible pain for a few days until I ran into a friend by the name of Hollywood.  She gave me an ACE bandage to wrap my ankle / heel area with to prevent the friction from making a raw gash again.
Hiking on with a smile!   I'm enjoying the new scenery Virginia is showing me and all that is to come.  :-)