Friday – 5 June

This hike was originally planned for last year. An Achilles tendon issue caused me to postpone until this year. I attempted to rest a little and see if it improved. The tendinitis never really got better but it wasn’t getting any worse. The orthopedic doc said if I kept running and hiking, I would not do any permanent damage. That was good enough for me to schedule this section and manage the discomfort.

At home I was able to ice my Achilles and take days off each week. Hiking did not allow those luxuries. The discomfort I originally felt only on the climbs became noticable with each and every step. After 70 miles I decided that overall I was not enjoying my hike.

I was able to arrange a shuttle back to my truck today. I will make a stop in Pennsylvania overnight and return to Virginia on Saturday. Time to explore what it takes to really rehab this injury.