Month: June 2021

Start: Shaker Campsite (AT mi 1541.6). Stop: October Mountain Shelter (AT mi 1560.4). Today’s miles: 18.8 miles. Total AT mileage: 535.7 miles

Y’all! I slept! It may not have been the best sleep, but I did in fact.. SLEEP! I was so happy that when I heard birds chirping at 6am, I just went ahead and got up. I also had to pee, so there’s that.

I packed up and ate my breakfast with the intent to get out “well ahead” of my fast as hell hiking tramily. So, later when I finally roll into camp, it’ll only be like 30 minutes after everyone, not 3 hours. Even still, Towely beat me out. I caught up to him at a road crossing.. this farmhouse had an “AT Stand” with a picnic table out front. You could buy sodas, popsicles, candy, etc.. so I only caught him bc he was taking a break lol

I got a Mountain Dew and then a Dr Pepper. I filled my water bottle and before I got ready to leave, the rest of the group showed up for some goodies, too. I sat and chatted a bit, then decided to hike on, although I knew my attempts at having a semi ok lead on the rest was useless. I decided to hike in my sportsbra, because it was just so dang hot today. I put my bandana over my hip belt strap so it wouldn’t cut into my skin, and it seemed to work out well enough.

I passed through farmland with cows and pastures with gorgeous views. The trail winded through some pine forests and went up and over a few small peaks. Don’t get me wrong, they still had me gasping for air, but it did seem to go better than previous days, even with the heat.
What isn’t doing better is my dang heat rash. It’s enough to make you want to quit hiking and lay up in a hotel until every bump disappears. It’s so unbelievably uncomfortable. The sweat alone had my shorts dripping wet, literally only making things worse.

Sometime before 1pm, I was passing Upper Goose Pond, and looking for somewhere to get in. I saw a little path down to the water, and Lizard was already there! She just finished swimming, but stayed to dry out and eat her lunch.. so I swam and then did the same. By swim, I mean I just submerged myself and sat in the water for a little while. We had a lot of miles to crank out today, and as much as I wanted to stay in that water all day, there simply wasn’t enough time.

After lunch, I decided to hike in just my sports bra and undies. My stupid rash would have only been that much worse if I put those sweat filled shorts back on. It was a little awkward at first, but I quickly quit caring. My body is wrecked and I can’t have it getting worse!

I made it to camp around 6:15. I found an ok enough spot for my tent, although one side is against a log, so it might get weird when it rains later. Hopefully not. Killer let me have some hydrocortisone cream for my rash, and I could kick myself for getting rid of the cream I threw out in Kent because everything was looking better. Hindsight is definitely 20/20.

I got water, bathed, ate dinner and now I’m in bed with my body all creamed up. It’s a big group camping tonight.. some folks in the shelter I don’t know and a man in a hammock very close to Lizard’s that I can literally hear snoring right now (the sun is still out and it’s 8:03pm.. I’m fast behind ya buddy!).

I’m praying for more good sleep like last night 🙂 I feel like I rushed this post, but honestly, after almost 19 miles of hiking, I’m slap worn out. Goodnight, y’all.

Start: October Mountain Shelter (AT mi 1560.4). Stop: EconoLodge, Pittsfield, MA (AT mi 1572.4). Today’s miles: 12 miles Total AT mileage: 547.7 miles

I fell fast asleep the second I finished typing out my day last night. Around 10:30pm, I felt thunder rumble through (felt, not heard.. my earplugs are a nighttime saving grace!). I popped up real fast to go to the bathroom before the rain came. I made it out and back in just in time! There was a lightening show, but I was back to sleep within seconds of the rain tapping on my tent.

Sometime after midnight, I felt the presence of something near my head.. I couldn’t figure out what was happening, so I scrounged around for my headlamp. Once the light was on and I was sitting up in my tent, I could see a huge collection of rain water on my tent, bulging in just where my head is when I’m laying down! How that water didn’t start seeping through the material is beyond me! I knew I’d run into some trouble due to not having enough space to properly stake out my tent.

I carefully tipped the material back, making the water slide off the tent, while trying to also not let it flood the underside. It seemed to work fine, but I needed to find something to prop that part of the tent up so water couldn’t pool there again.. eventually that luck will run out and the water will get inside! I looked for sticks outside the tent but in the vestibules (still covered and dry), but for once I actually did a good job clearing the tent site so there weren’t any. I decided to use my water bottle, and it held up perfectly! I used the other one on the opposite side by my feet, just in case there was an issue there, too. Once I saw that I was staying dry, I laid back down and closed my eyes.

The rain poured all night, but I slept through most of it. I love thunderstorm sleep. I ended up sleeping until just after 6:30. Instead of immediately hopping out to pee and whatnot, I methodically packed my entire pack inside the tent. All but my food bag and the tent itself. That way, at least everything besides the tent will be dry.

Once out, I zipped back up the tent, praying for some miracle sunshine to dry it out while I ate my breakfast, but that was unlikely to happen. The sky was practically grey and very angry looking. I wanted to check the weather, I just didn’t have any service. Oh well.

I ate breakfast with Towely and then packed my wet tent and hit the trail. I didn’t see a single soul until after 2+ miles. I was going to see the “cookie lady” but she didn’t appear to be awake yet.. it was only 8:30 in the morning and her stand looked closed. Later, someone said I should have knocked on her door, but that felt rude. On my way walking back from her stand, I ran into Lilo and Sweeps. We hiked out together and then at the next road crossing we were greeted with trail magic! I had a Gatorade and piece of cake.
I left before them, and minutes after I did, the sky broke open and started dumping buckets. Lovely. I was so happy I had already put my rain cover on my pack as a precaution. Once that rain started, it didn’t stop or slow until way late into the afternoon. I had decided when I woke up that I wanted to consider getting a motel for the night, just to dry out my tent and do laundry.. soon after I was drenched head to toe, I knew for a fact I would be getting a motel.

I didn’t stop for lunch or snacks, I only paused briefly to put my phone in a ziplock bag inside a deeper pocket, and to get out my umbrella. People think it’s nuts, but I’m here to tell you, an umbrella can totally change your mood! LOL I rigged it between my chest strap and front pocket of my shirt, so it mostly held itself in place. I kept my left arm swinging or holding the umbrella while the right held a trekking pole and navigated. It worked nicely and kept my face dry.

When I got to a sign saying I was 2.5 miles from town, I went off on a side trail to dig a hole. Heaven forbid my body let me get to town and use a flushing toilet. While I had my pack off, I dug out my phone, booked the hotel room, and messaged Lizard and FarOut to tell them my plan. I packed it all back in, and then when I got back to the main trail, Lizard was there! She caught up to me and agreed to split the room with me. I felt a little guilty because I know everyone was planning on hiking farther, but I was sick of the rain.. and apparently so was she.

Almost to the road, I get a call from Sauce. I can’t answer because it’s buried in my pack, but Lizard called him back and said we were hiking out together. Sauce and FarOut decided they were going to stay at the hotel, too! Sweet! And then here’s the kicker: while I was off digging holes and booking a room (all of 10 minutes, seriously, because it was pouring down rain), Sauce and FarOut passed me! So did Wizard, Killer, Lilo, AND Sweeps. Like how is that possible for 7 people to have been so close but so completely out of site ALL DAY LONG? Craziness. The only one that didn’t pass me during my bathroom break was Towely. He had a rough day, too, and stayed in the town closer to the trail.

Once Lizard and I got to the part of the road walk that the AT goes away from our hotel, we started trying to hitch. It was 2 miles from the trail to the motel. We ended up getting a ride within a few minutes.. and then passed Sauce and FarOut not having any luck getting a ride. Our lady barely had room for the 2 of us in her Lexus, But I still felt bad as we drove past them.

At the hotel, we checked in and then quickly got down to business: showers, laundry, drying out all the wet things, cleaning all the dirty things, ate McDonald’s from across the street.. then we walked to Walmart with Sauce (FarOut stayed behind to do their laundry). We resupplied our food, I got more rash cream that will probably stay with me until I get home in November.. and then on our walk back to the motel, as any hiker should, we stopped at Taco Bell. LOL.. yes, that’s 2 fast food chains we ate at within like 4 hours. Mind your business! LMAO!

Back at the room, we ate and continued all the chores. Repacking and attempting to dry this and that.. doing any and everything we can to make tomorrow morning go smoothly, although we both still have so much stuff everywhere. I’m completely worn out, and morning will be here soon.

Before I forget, FarOut is also blogging about their experience on trail, too! (FarOut and Sauce are married). If you enjoy reading my blog, I guarantee you’ll like hers (probably more in my opinion).. she’s so very eloquent with her wording.. I find it poetic. Anyway, go follow them, too! Www.wanderinggs.Wordpress.com

I think it’s time for some shut eye. Sweet dreams!

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.