Day 49: Mark Noepel Shelter

Start: EconoLodge, Pittman, MA (AT mi 1572.4). Stop: Mark Noepel Shelter (AT mi 1585.9) Today’s miles: 13.5 miles Total AT mileage: 561.2 miles

I was able to sleep well in the motel, although when I woke up in a tangle of blankets and sheets, it was clear I definitely didn’t stay still while sleeping. Hopefully I didn’t disrupt Lizard’s sleep any. I woke up sometime around 8am, which felt incredible.. the only reason I actually got up was to use the bathroom.

We made a slow morning of things. I walked over to McDonald’s to get us some breakfast to bring back to the motel room. We ate and then slowly packed. After realizing there were no Uber’s or Lyfts to be had, and shuttles were charging astronomical prices to drive us 2 miles, we made the decision to start the road walk back to trail.
It was just after 10am. So many cars and trucks drove by us, but not a single one stopped to give us the lift that would take them 5 minutes in the direction they were already going-and took us 35 minutes to walk. Oh well, some days you get lucky, some days you don’t. As we got close to trail, Lizard said her foot was bothering her. I had given her some ibuprofen but it hadn’t kicked in yet. It’s not like her to walk slower than me, so I know it must have been pretty painful.

The trail itself was absolutely beautiful today. It was cool and damp making for soft, spongy steps on pine needles and smooshy mud-but not so mushy that your feet got wet. The trail had gradual ups and downs, but nothing that felt like any type of exertion at all, really. I made it the 9 miles to Cheshire right around 2:30pm, just in time for the post office to open back up after its lunch break.

Towely was coming out of the post office as I was dropping my pack out front and finding my wallet. He told me my package was there (we have the same last name so when they were looking for his, he found out mine had arrived), but his new shoes weren’t. They had done the same thing to him-somehow his order got canceled or returned without his knowledge. God getting shoes out here shouldn’t be so difficult.

He walked across the street to an area with an ice cream and sandwich shop that had a ton of picnic tables. I went inside and then brought my goodies back to my pack, unloaded everything and repacked with the new stuff. I had my mom send my quilt back to me, as I’ve been so hot in my sleeping bag that I haven’t actually used it in a long while. She also sent me new socks, which I promptly took off my current pair, fresh with a hole at my ankle and now a bloody spot on my shoe from said hole and now a new blister. I also had her send me a new headlamp as my good one for literally the last 6 years decided to die out here on me.

I sent home my warm sleeping bag, my coffee cup, a shirt, a long pair of socks, some “just in case” medicine that I haven’t needed, some insoles and a buff headband. The weight difference wasn’t dramatic by any means, but the space the bigger sleeping bag took up was vastly more than the quilt. It looks like I have so much more room in my pack now, and with it being less bulky, it definitely feels lighter.

I went over and ate lunch where Towely had just finished his. I got a tuna melt of all things. How weird? Lol it was what I wanted though. I sat and ate while he contemplated how to get new shoes today. He found an outfitter 3 miles away, and decided to go for it. He left his stuff and hightailed it out of town. I sat for awhile trying to decide if I should stay put until FarOut, Sauce, and Lizard appeared, or just go ahead and head to the next shelter. It was 5 miles away, uphill. I was worried that if I waited for them I’d get to camp super late (they hike fast), so I finally gave in and started hiking.

For some reason, maybe the new socks and less bulky pack, I felt great today. The incline was tough to the shelter, but not unbearable. I even held conversation with a NOBO named Mr. Darcy that I met back at the picnic tables. While hiking up a mountain! Maybe I am getting stronger than I’ve been giving myself credit for. Although, I have learned, for me temperature is everything. It was a cooler day so therefore so much easier on me. I never felt like I was sucking wind. I was also listening to a great audiobook (The Midnight Library, definitely recommend). Just like before, it seemed to transport me completely.. I forgot I was hiking all together.

I got to camp maybe 20-30 minutes after Mr. Darcy. I had stopped to get some water on the way up because I was so into my book I forgot to get any before leaving town and now I was parched. There was a tent platform open, but i needed to stake my tent out, so I walked around until I found a suitable flat spot near 2 guys that are section hiking. They were already getting into their Tents for the night when I was just setting mine up.

By the time I got it standing, Sauce appeared, followed by FarOut. They got the platform site and I was happy to see them. I went to get more water to filter for dinner and then finished setting up my sleep stuff, and put on warm clothes. Of COURSE the day I send my warm sleeping bag home I’m actually cold at camp. Haha, we plan, God gets a real good laugh.

Towely made it to camp not long after the other 2, in his new shoes! He was able to get something suitable although not exactly what he wanted. I’m still impressed he hiked 5 miles in those bad boys the day he got them. We all had dinner together, including Mr. Darcy. We chatted about what’s to come and what we’ve learned, how far we’ve come and how far we have left to go. 49 days in and we’re just over a quarter of the way done. It’s crazy to think about.

Now I’m laying in my tent, a little cold, and considering putting on my warm jacket. Once I get cozy, I bet I’ll sleep like a baby. I hope so, anyway. Sweet dreams.