Entering this phase of the journey, I get the impression that those that remain on the trail have figured out the equipment, have the mental strength and the physical conditioning to make it at least this far. What seems to be happening now is even some of the strongest are having to step off due to physcial aligments or injuries.
Rocket Rick is probably the most surprising fatality. Rocket Rick is a nationally ranked marathoner that was in great shape and making huge mileage but ended up having to take two days of zeros because of a knee injury. It didn't get any better so he ended up heading home to Ohio only to discover it wasn't his knee, but rather a stress fracture in his upper tibia (sp).
I believe that Moonshine might be off the trail as well but I am not sure. She caught a really bad case of poison ivy and had to get on steroids...that seemed to take care of it for the moment, but she had to drop into town again and I haven't seen her since. She was young and mentally tough.
Mountaineer came off the trail a couple of days ago due to a very strange allergic reaction to duct tape. He had it wrapped around his feet for blisters only to find that he is allergic to latex and it started melting his skin around and between his toes. It was an ugly thing to see and he suffered through two long days before he could get off the trail. His wife was coming to pick him up at Standing Bear.
Ginger Snap is another young tough women who has been fighting a series of injuries, the latest a real bad case of shin splits. She thought she could nurse her way back to health by limiting her hiking from one shelter to the next - about 7 miles a day. It didn't work so she hitched a ride from Standing Bear to Hot Springs so her mom could pick her up. She hopes to get back on the trail within a week or so.
Lizard may be a success story. She had knee problems but after staying at Standing Bear for a few days she jumped back on the trail and I saw her and Thin Mint last night here in Erwin.
Those are just some examples of people having to bail out due to injuries. I'm not sure whether there is truth to my initial observation, but it seems like at this point, it's not about the gear, conditioning or focus but it's about the luck of the draw.
What's the next phase?
I remember a lot of people suffering from shin-splints and knee problems by Irwin too. Lots of climbing between Springer and there. It helps once you get beyond Damascus and do not have as much in the way of constant steep climbs and decents to deal with. However, as you might have heard. Virginia Is Not Flat! Also, most of the hill tops are rocky (just annoying). You have not had much of that yet. You don't hear much about it because it does not compare in the least to PA. The trail is rocky most of the time through MD, PA, and NJ. It is also mostly flat. Most people make better milage through there than VA. All people seem to talk about are the rocks though. You will have to get used to climbing again.
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