Narrows VA new article

  NNCC (Narrows Now Community Coalition) came out of hibernation on December 29, 2013 long enough to celebrate the successful completion of Cater "Rainbow Bright" Davis' nine-month thruhike on the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine. Narrows Now worked with MacArthur Inn for the reception similar to the one held for GET (Great Eastern Trail) thruhikers in spring, 2013, but they were simply passing through on their way.

    It was The Town of Narrows first official act as an A.T.Community, as designated by the A.T. Conservancy during Narrows Bridge Dedication & Celebration Day, November 23, 2013. 

    28-year-old Davis, from Forsyth GA, decided to do an A.T. thruhike after returning home from a Guatemalan service trip. Working three jobs to fund the hike, she started March 20 from Springer Mountain in Georgia and hiked to Pearisburg VA. Then, as hikers often do, she turned around and went back to Damascus VA for Trail Days. 

    While there around May 19, a driver experienced a medical emergency and the vehicle veered into the crowd, hitting Davis. The injuries were minor but there was a six-week healing process.

    Davis was determined to finish her thruhike and went to Maine to work her way South back to Pearisburg, completing the entire journey she now deemed "NOBO-Flip Flop" (north bound flip flop).

    Traveling alone, Rainbow Bright often encountered four or five days without seeing another person due to the lateness of the hiking season, and was often slowed down by icy weather. To keep on schedule she sometimes stopped only long enough to fix her evening meal, then continued hiking after dark before setting up her tent.

    She spent Christmas morning on MacAfee Knob, a feature of Catawba mountain located in Catawba, Roanoke County, VA. The overlook has a 270 degree panoramic view of the Catawba Valley and is one of the most photographed sites along the A.T.

    Sunday, December 29, 2013 was Davis' last day on the trail. It was rainy and cold, not ending until, again, after dark when she finally met up with her mother who had arrived from Georgia for the trip back home.

    They came to Narrows and MacArthur Inn for a celebrated ending to an intense, long, but still fun and incredibly worthwhile adventure. As Rainbow Bright states with her beaming smile, "Anything is within walking distance - if you have enough time."

2000 Miler Application

I think it's fair to say I didn't exactly have a "normal" thru-hike. Never having backpacked before, I wouldn't have predicted that 9 months and 9 days after I started at Amicalola Falls, I'd be climbing down into Pearisburg VA completing my thru-hike. Broken down, my hike looks like this:
Northbound:
Springer Mountain, GA - Pearisburg, VA
Harpers Ferry, WV - Pine Grove, PA
Delaware Water Gap, PA - Williamstown, MA
Hanover, NH - Katahdin, ME

Southbound:
Hanover, NH -  Williamstown, MA
Delaware Water Gap, PA - Pine Grove, PA
Harpers Ferry, WV - Pearisburg, VA

I feel I had an unusual opportunity, one that most hikers miss out on. I've experienced the complete spectrum of the Appalachian Trail. I started with thousands in March heading north, never alone for even one day, to the late solo Southbounder. I saw all the seasons, some a little more than I wanted. The Trail Days "Da-Massacre" is obviously the most famous of my trail experiences, but I'd have to say that the most memorable is the people...the community. I set out on this adventure with no idea what I was doing, but hoping it would help me to connect with a positive group of people. For me, the trail has been about creating relationships. I love my hiker (trash) family and the community that has surrounded us. They provided unconditional support, trail maintenance, kind gestures, open arms (and cars, homes, and food pantries). :) Our hikes would not have been as memorable or enjoyable without these most gracious "angels". (this includes the amazing ATC crew!) I am forever touched and the "trail magic" that we receive and it is life changing. We are better people because of "trail angels" like you. And even though I sometimes don't have a name (or a face); I'm so thankful to have you, even for a moment in my life. Thank you for your efforts (no matter how small), because you make a difference to someone somewhere.

Winter Hiking...a Whole New Beast

This final winter-southbound (SOBO) completion section has been challenging in a very different way than my NOBO (northbound), crowded spring start. I felt (and still feel) that because I had hiked 1600 miles; I could handle whatever I came across and if I couldn't I would know when to call it quits.

I am sitting in Front Royal Virginia, procrastinating a return to the mind numbing cold. Its two days before Thanksgiving and the current weather (in the city not on top of a mountain) is 15 F. While obsessively checking the weather these past few days, I'm continually reading phrases like "feels like 10 degrees", "high of 36, low of 16", "ice pellets", and "15-30 degrees below average" and the good news keeps coming.

I'm so late that people don't recognize me as a thru-hiker. I get stares that seem to say.."she looks like a thru-hiker...that pack is too big to belong to a day hiker.. but only an idiot would still be out there hiking." So I get the usual bombardment of questions with the additional jewel of wisdom..."Its cold out there...you're really late huh?" or "You're hiking by yourself!?!?". After a pause, and they have time to pick their words appropriately.."You're a tough/brave chic" but what they mean is "what the hell is wrong with you?. I have gotten scolded by overly protective parents saying they wouldn't ALLOW their daughter to do something like this and that they are certain my parents are terrified and I'm being selfish by putting them through this whole ordeal. I respond with well I'm 28 years old... That means nothing to these people.

I've had so much support through Vermont, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Lots of people have put me up or driven extended distances to shuttle me to/from the trail. Meghan is even going to drive 3 hours to come get me for Thanksgiving! YEA Trail Magic!