Day 180: Plumorchard Gap Shelter

Start: Stealth Site (AT mi 96). Stop: Plumorchard Gap Shelter (AT mi 73.7). Today’s miles: 22.3 miles. Total AT mileage: 2119.4 miles. States Completed: Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina

It was a cold cold night, and the wind was constant. I was able to sleep well, though, snuggled deep into my sleeping bag. I tried to make myself get up at 6am, it didn’t happen. I did finally get up to grab my food bag at 7, and marveled at the sun starting to rise.. all I could see was a deep orange glow meeting the inky darkness of the sky. The moon was just above it.

I ate in my tent, and watched the colors intensify, then packed up, pausing briefly to catch pictures of the sun itself making its appearance. I was on the trail by 8:04 and I loved all of it. Because I was cold, I started out in my rain gear, eventually shedding all of it, plus the fleece before noon.

The biggest climb of the day was Standing Indian Mountain, and I don’t recall feeling very strained by it. There seemed to be lots of ups and downs and signs for tons of “gaps” but I was engrossed in another audiobook, so I took everything as it came and never felt winded or worn out. The miles just seemed to pass by, not necessarily fast by the actual time, but by the distraction. I still soaked in all the beauty of the deep woods and the occasional picturesque viewpoints.

I ate lunch at a shelter, alone, not passing many people at all. I’m back to the bagels with salami, cheese, and spicy mustard. They just fill me up better and I don’t really care that it’s so much heavier. I actually sat and enjoyed my lunch at the picnic table, shocked that I had already gone 12 miles and only had 10 more to go. If I kept my pace I’d be in camp before sunset, which is always the goal. Now, looking back, I wish I could have paced myself better before the flip south-to get better miles then, but the terrain was so difficult I don’t think I could have made more miles than what I pushed. Anyway-easy to look back and say what you should have done. I know if I do another long distance hike, I’ll be more prepared for long hiking days and making the most of all the day light I have access to.

I started to get sore feet in the late afternoon and my pace slowed just a bit. I crossed the North Carolina/Georgia border and got so excited I cried! I knew it was coming, but seeing it just flooded me with emotion. I was in awe the rest of the day. Thinking things like “these are Georgia pines” and “this is Georgia trail” and “I’m basically already home.” It was an incredible feeling that I’m still floating on even now, laying in my tent.

I got to the shelter just before 6pm and scouted out a spot to put up my tent. A man, Jonathan, was already here, set up in the shelter.. he’s also a nurse and he attempted his thruhike this year and had to get off twice due to injury, and the 3rd time due to a heat stroke. He figured he didn’t have time to complete it all, so he quit while he was ahead and Is already planning his next attempt for next year. I hope he makes it.

After I sat up my tent, unpacked, put on warm clothes, and got water to filter, I went to the shelter picnic table to cook and eat dinner while talking with Jonathan. He said his trail name was almost Chatty Cathy, and I see why. Haha. Never was there a lull in conversation, mostly one sided conversation.. until Twig showed up. She’s a SOBO that started in July, and she gave CC a run for his money, because she’s quite chatty, too.

Then, her hiking buddy appeared-none other than MudLantern!! I met him back in Maine, in one of the shelters where we were all packed in like sardines.. Blubs, Scout, Steak, Proton, Texas, and so many others.. two days before we went into the Mahoosuc Notch and Blubs and MudLantern continued southbound! He’s literally been doing mostly 30 mile days this whole time! (CC said that’s his plan for next year, too.. hmmm..). We all four chatted a while about the trail and everything that’s happened since early August. It was fun reminiscing.

Then, sort of abruptly, I realized how cold I was and that I was shivering, so I put my food in the bear box and said my goodnights.. I was too cold to stay out there talking. It was time for me to get horizontal, warm, and write up this journal. All day today I had horrible service, so I couldn’t get pictures uploaded to post yesterday’s journal entry, but hey-at least im actually typing them all out instead of only notes to type out later! Lol

Tomorrow, I plan to get to Dicks Creek Gap and get picked up by TownLegs’ husband, Jon. He’s going to drop me off at Unicoi Gap and I’ll slack pack back to Dicks Creek Gap and get a hitch into Hiawasee, if he and TownLegs aren’t back that way yet. I’m going to stay with them tomorrow night at a hotel in town, so I can go to dinner with them to celebrate her finish!! Because.. SHE’S FINISHING TOMORROW! I’m so in awe with this group of people I’ve met and hiked with and kept in touch with.. so many of the people in my tramily and extended tramily have all completed the trail or will complete it soon.. much more than the average in my opinion.

Anyway, I think it’s bedtime. I would say I plan to get up early tomorrow, but we all know that’s a crock. Goodnight, y’all 🙂