Category: Long Distance Trails

Start: Rocky Run Shelter (AT mi 1041.5). Stop: Annapolis Rock Campground (AT mi 1050.7)
Today’s Mileage: 9.6mi.Total AT Mileage: 25.7 mi

Last night was a little rough.. the sun went down while I was still eating my dinner (I went with instant loaded potato soup, but kept it thick making more filling)so the task of hanging it was more daunting than it should have been. I got frustrated, and when it got stuck onto the slightly lower hook (the one intended for the metal bar you use to put it up there in the first place), I said to hell with it and left it there. In all fairness it was high, and hopefully the skinny metal pole will be too difficult for a bear to climb.. hopefully.
I honestly thought that I was just tired and in the dark last night, but today, I couldn’t get my bag up on top of the bear pole at this campsite either.. I’m just too short to get the bar to reach the top hooks, so I purposefully put it on the lower one again. Let’s all pray my food is there when I get up in the morning!

I didn’t sleep well last night. I don’t know if it was just achy legs or restless excitement, but I kept waking up every 1.5-2 hours. Throughout the entire night. And while it was frustrating, I was thankful that I wasn’t hearing anyone or anything else wandering around in the woods around me. Just the peaceful sound of the creek rushing beside me. As peaceful as it was, I still woke up for the last time around 7:30 irritable as can be. I really love my sleep.

Anyway, after realizing I better get a move on if I wanted to hike out before the rain came, I packed up the entirety of the inside of my tent, then stepped outside will full intentions to pee by the tree up a little ways away from the creek. However, as I go towards the tree, I see two other hikers coming down to get water, and realize that the tree isn’t going to block my butt from their view. So, we said our good mornings, they said they didn’t sleep well either, but that it was more because of the snoring man and the “really stinky guy that hasn’t showered in three weeks..” haha.. I’m officially thrilled with my campsite now lolThey filtered their water, I packed up my tent and went on a longer excursion to pee.Once I was back, they were gone. So much for making new friends. I got my food bag down, easier than I expected.. and then got to making breakfast: brown sugar oatmeal and coffee.I savored every bite and sip, checked my watch and realized I’ve taken waaaaaay too long this morning. It was already 8:45! Annoyed with myself I decided to wrap it up and hit the trail.

My mood perked up somewhere after the first mile and even considerably more when I kept passing people out walking their dogs. They all let me pet them, too. The first mile in anything active is always a little rough. You realize just where all the sore spots on your body are..
I passed 2 very nice bathrooms today. One was just a nice privy, the other was a regular bathhouse at a campground. Naturally, I stopped to use both, because why not. TMI, but I tried to do #2 as well.. while there was a nice toilet seat, running water to wash my hands, and no hole digging required. Also naturally, because I wanted to, my petty bowels decided we should wait. Utterly disrespectful.

Because I came father yesterday than originally intended, I knew my stop today would be too short. It was only like 6 miles total, so I pushed past very slowly, wondering how much I’d regret that. When I got to the next area, a little over 3 miles later, I was trying to decide to stay and set up camp or press on. I looked at the sky that had been spitting small rain drops off and on all day, and it looked about ready to burst. So, I decided to stay. I took the side trail down to Annapolis Rocks Campground. The little sign said there were 2 privies, a stream for water, and 14 campsites to choose from. I started looking around, and realized there was no one else here so I had free pick of the sites. I dropped my pack and walked around, up and down the little paths to the sites, checked out the stream and privies.. and then decided on campsite #9.

I was about to set up camp when the sky fell. Opening my tent now would do nothing but soak the inside, so I waited it out a bit. Around 4:30, I set up my tent and quickly got inside and into my dry clothes. I waited and waited, then at 5:45 I made the mad dash out from cover to do my chores for the night. Cook dinner, get and filter water, actually eat said dinner (chicken and dumplings), and hang that damn food bag. Honestly, I see how people get mauled by bears.. because it’s a pain in the ass to get that thing up there. There’s no branches low enough for me to throw to but that are also high enough to be away from animals. So, I trudged all the way down to where a group site is and hung my bag on the bear pole (in the wrong spot).

Now I’m laying on my sleeping pad, in all my warm clothes (still a little cold actually, thanks rain) writing all this out. My plans for the night are to listen to an audiobook until I fall asleep.. much deeper than last night, fingers crossed. It’s supposed to start raining again around 4:30 in the morning, it looks like I’ll be getting to practice getting my tent down in a downpour.. but it should clear out in the afternoon and I’ll be able to dry it out when I set up tomorrow night. At least that’s one of my prayers being said tonight! I’ll play tomorrow by ear, if my body feels wrecked, I’ll stop at 8.8 miles.. If not I might push on to the next shelter with safe water, which would be a 15.6 mile day. We shall see!

Start: Raven Rock Shelter (AT mi 1061.1) Stop: Tumbling Run Shelters (AT mi 1075.3) Today’s miles: 14.2 mi. Total AT mileage: 50.3 mi. States completed: Maryland

I COMPLETED ONE STATE TODAY! More on this later, but please know I AM STOKED!

My watch yesterday said I went 12 miles instead of 10 that the trail apps and maps say I did, but then today my watch says 13.1 miles and the app/maps say 14.2.. SO, I’m only claiming what the maps say officially as what I’ve done.

Anyway. Last night was a sleepless night again. I was cold. So cold in fact that when I got up and moving this morning, I called mom and aunt Kathy to tell them happy Mother’s Day, and mentioned how cold I was-now they’ve Hatched a plan to overnight me my sleeping bag along with a few goodies, too. Aunt Kathy will send out my goodie box in the morning so that it’ll arrive on Tuesday morning. I plan to hike to town tomorrow (10 miles I believe) and then sleep in the hostel over night that they’re shipping the stuff to. I’m excited about a shower, bed, and to wash my clothes.. and the potential for restaurant food! I’m actually craving Dr. Pepper, which is weird.

Back to today: it was glorious. I slept awful, when I got up at 7:45 the whole camp was already gone except one dude and his dog, but by the time I packed and ate breakfast (and tried to make use of the privy 🤷‍♀️) they were gone too! I started to have feelings like there’s no way I’ll catch up, I’m starting too late and moving too slow, self doubt, self doubt, self doubt. But once I talked to my favorite ladies and we had a plan for at least warmer nights ahead, I started to get into my hiking grove and push the noise out of my head.

And then.. I passed the Mason-Dixon Line and headed into Pennsylvania! While I technically started in Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia, I only hiked one mile in WV before crossing into Maryland (when I come back to Harper’s Ferry to hike south, I’ll get to claim the state). I’m completely finished with a whole state! Now, only 13 more to go! LMAO

My original plan was for a 10 mile day to Deer Lick Shelter. I knew regardless I needed to be there before 6, because of impending downpours (it still rained off and on all day, but never for very long). I passed it at 1:45 and knew that it was too early in the day to stop. It would be one thing if it was warm outside, but this 45 degree weather with cloudy skies and occasional short showers makes for really cold hikers when they’re sitting still.

I pressed on. And now the “pressure” was on too, because now I needed to huff it several more miles (my app said 4.2) up and over mountains to make it to Tumbling Run Shelters before the rain came.

Even while “rushing” I still stopped to eat lunch, and two other times for hole digging excursions. I thought I’d be rolling in with the rain and all the tent spots would be gone. Not the case at all! I got here before 5pm and the couple I chatted with from last night, Adam and K, was already here! We’re all three still nameless. The solo lady from yesterday is here, too. Her name is Showtime and she’s section hiking a month at a time. There’s also Zen and No Water, along with some other guys that move too quick for me to catch their names.. surely they started in GA because they FLY down the trail.

I had dinner with Adam and K. I really enjoy them and hope we stay around the same pace for awhile. My dinner was Mac and cheese from backpacker pantry. Soooo good. For any of you wondering, all you do with these freeze dried meals is boil water (I have a jet boil-it’s a little gas stove with a “pot” on top.. put the water in and it boils it super fast), pour it in, stir, and let it sit for 10-20 minutes. WALAA- dinner is served! Uncle Keith and Aunt Kathy got these for me to start the trail with. Once I run out and resupply in towns, those will be hard to come by. So it’ll be things like ramen noodles with a packet of chicken put in, or pasta sides, instant potatoes.. that kinda deal.

I hope this night passes fast because I’m so ready to have a warm, restful night! Regardless of the future weather, tonight is my last overly cold one with this light weight quilt!