Category: Long Distance Trails

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: 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: Tom Leonard Shelter (AT mi 1530.3). Stop: Shaker Campsite (AT mi 1541.6). Today’s miles: 11.3 miles. Total AT mileage: 516.9 miles

Oh, last night was a night. My tent inside the bunk thing worked well, until some time after 3am. An owl started hooting, and then mice or some other type of rodents started going bananas in the shelter. I could hear them scurrying all over the place-and apparently over and through my shoes, which they knocked off the top bunk, then making my trekking pole fall and causing my tent to fall onto my face. Not that I was getting any decent sleep before that, but still. Holy hell.
I got up after 7, still frustrated that I couldn’t sleep. I packed and took my breakfast over by where Lizard, Sauce, FarOut, and Towely had camped. I ate while chatting with them and then we slowly got out of camp sometime around 9ish.. maybe a little later.

I was able to keep up with the 4 of them for a few miles, on the easy terrain, but once it went uphill I wasn’t able to maintain their pace. They are quick! Within the first mile or so, we ran into Tie-Dye, TownLegs, TBird, and DoubleDecker coming the opposite way! They were slack packing today. They all looked so light and carefree. I need to slack pack soon! Who wants to drive up here and be at my beck and call? Haha

On the uphill, which was nothing like the terrible climbs the other day, I was getting a little hard on myself. I hike so slow in comparison to my friends (I really always hike slow, this isn’t new, ask Andrea lol). I was complaining to myself that I’m overweight and I shouldn’t have let this happen.. if I had taken better care of myself last year I would be able to keep pace.. bla bla bla. And then I remembered a friend’s FB post the other day. She posted about body positivity, and honestly it resonated with me. I’m always so hateful to myself over this body-the one that’s done almost 40 half marathons, several 200-550 mile hikes, 2 sprint triathlons, so many other running races I couldn’t keep count, climbed Kilimanjaro.. like seriously?! I need to learn how to have some grace and be thankful as hell that this body I’m in keeps waking up (well, I’ll learn some grace over the whole lack of sleep thing, too) everyday and allowing me to hike this hike. Even if it is at a slower pace than I’d prefer. I’m still freaking doing it.

I got to the picnic area we were meeting at to eat lunch and go swimming. Which is exactly what we did! We ate, Sauce let a guy borrow his lighter to start their grill, so he gave him some beer. We had blue moons and hiker tortilla food.. and then we swam. In all of our hiker glory! The day people are probably like who are these dirty people swarming our beach in their undies? Weekends can get awkward at times.

We sat out in the sun to dry out, then started hiking again.. FarOut and Lizard hiked in their “bathing suits” I hiked in my mine too, just with my shirt over my top.. mainly because my pack would rub me raw on bare skin. But, hiking in just undies was very freeing, and helped me dry out my horrible returning heat rash quite well. I’ve been doing all the things to help prevent this heat rash, it doesn’t seem to matter. Lizard even shares her special face wipes with me-haha maybe they will start helping soon. Something eventually has to give? Right?

I actually hiked decently fast (for me) to the campsite we were aiming for. I started thinking about all the reasons I was choosing to be out here. And how, as absolutely difficult as this is, it doesn’t compare even a smidge to how difficult work was this last year. Out here I’m struggling physically and mentally with my personal strengths and weaknesses, but I’m not holding the hands of someone taking their last breath, or catching a 26 year old daughter as she starts to collapse after she realizes her mom is no longer alive, or any of the multitude of heart-wrenchingly sad things I’ve witnessed this last year. So, in comparison, I’ll take this type of “hard” over the actual “hard” stuff I’m used to doing.

Once at the campsite, I set up my tent. I think this is the key to better sleep, actually being inside my tent, bug and hopefully critter free. On the way here we were worried that there wouldn’t be enough room for us all.. kinda like what happened to those NOBO hikers we met way back when that were pissed there weren’t any spots for their 7 tents.. haha now our tramily is like theirs.. we need space! And if the campsite was full, we (I specifically lol) would have to keep hiking until a decent enough stealth spot was found. Sometimes that’s easy to do, sometimes you’re miles up on a mountainside and nothing is even semi flat for a really long time. The next shelter is another 10 miles from here.. let’s just say we were all quite thankful we fit 🙂 FarOut and Sauce got their tent on one of the wooden platforms, Towely got the other, I found a flat spot for my tent (I have to stake my tent regardless, it isn’t free standing). Lizard hung her hammock and there were 3 other tents and another hammocker already set up.

Our group ate dinner together, and then Wizard, Killer, Sweeps, and Lilo came back from their dinner (family picked them up at the road and took them to a restaurant). They brought back stuff for s’mores! So, they all set to make the fire-which was a challenge at first. I think Lizard and FarOut had the magic touch, along with the fresh cut shavings from Sweeps. After the fire got going, Lizard walked over and got the other hammocker, I’m blanking on his name now, to join! And he did 🙂 Before we went our separate ways, Wizard did a few magic tricks for us. He’s damn good with a deck of cards! I never once saw how he did the tricky things he did! It was pretty impressive!

Tonight was the almost perfect summer solstice party! The only way it could have been any better is if the rest of our tramily was here, too. Cholula and Curmudgeon had taken a zero in the last town, and I don’t know if Derby did, too.. Beaver is a day behind after he took a zero in Salisbury, and Costa left trail from Kent, because he has a surfing trip in Costa Rica to get to (can we say jealous?). It seems like after I got my phone in Kent everyone has dispersed. I know we’ll eventually reconnect or split more, it’s the nature of the trail and timing. It truly made that last river party that much more epic.

Sorry I’m so long winded today. I’ve had a lot on my mind. I’m thinking I’m in a better headspace now, I guess time will tell on that one. Sweet dreams, y’all. Let’s pray I fall asleep to these frogs and crickets chirping and sleep soundly all night! Tomorrow is a big mile day!