The Unpolished Princess

Start: Pinefield Hut (AT mi 898.2). Stop: Stealth Site (AT 879.2). Today’s miles: 19 miles. Total AT mileage: 1313.9 miles

I’m surprising myself with these consistent 19-20 mile days. I’m also happy to report tomorrow will not be another one.. instead it will be a 15 mile day to get me to town, where hopefully I’ll have a hostel bed waiting for me. I was supposed to call today to reserve it and arrange a pick up, but I forgot.

So, I got up at 7.. completely unable to move a second before then. I packed up and headed down to the shelter picnic area, where I met the ridge runner I heard last night. We chatted while I ate breakfast, and he surprisingly has me considering his line of work someday. I was also telling Jerzy the other night that I just want to be a camp host at campgrounds across the country-so, there’s some wiggle room in my future plans. Lol

I got started hiking at exactly 8am. The trail was pristine beauty all morning, and I’m thinking the wind must have destroyed a good bit of the spider webs for me, because while I ran into no people during the morning, I didn’t run into very many webs, either. I was grateful. The sun was shining, the wind was blowing almost chilly air, and the mountains I was climbing had me nice and warm in spite of it. I was soaking it up!

I made it to the wayside campstore at Lookout Mountain Campground at 10:30. The ridge runner was there! He says, “wow, you’re fast this morning! Wasn’t that almost 7 miles?” And I reply, “says the man who somehow beat me here..” he laughed a minute, and when he saw my confused look, he tells me, “I have a car! I drove over.” Hahahaha I was thinking he passed me when I stepped off trail to dig a hole, both curious and mortified that he may have seen me but definitely saw my pack on the trail. I was suddenly glad he drove.

I laid out some stuff to dry, and then headed inside to get my resupply and snacks for lunch. It was technically too early for lunch, but if I was going to be taking this much time to do something, I might as well eat too. That way I could throw my trash out now, and not have to tote it anywhere. I got some more chips to eat with lunch, a dinner for tonight, a soda, a Gatorade, and some pickle slices. Weird, I know, but when I saw them, my mouth watered.

I sat outside at a picnic table eating my lunch and freezing! The sun was directly on me, but the wind was furious with its whipping though the grassy field. I had chill bumps everywhere and considered paying to take a hot shower and do some laundry, too.. just to warm up. But I knew if I did all of that, I wouldn’t make it to my destination today. That would have been fine too, but it would have caused tomorrow to be a longer day than I’d like, especially since I’ll be going to town then for sure, and getting that hot shower and laundry. No point in doing it 2 days in a row!

So, I ate quickly, repacked my things all strewn about, threw out my trash, and used their bathroom. I could care less about the flushing toilets, but maaaaaan that soap and water hand washing gets me excited. With hands mostly dry from the blower thing, I walked outside, got my pack and carried on. I started a new audiobook, “Ready Player One” and it’s already got me sucked in.

I walked and enjoyed, I saw deer, I saw views, and I saw people! I didn’t have to wear my bug net, and I never really struggled any. When I got to the 13 ish mile point for the day, I walked down to a stream to get more water. I had to carry 2 litters with me because I was planning on stealth camping before a trail junction mentioned on my app.. and there wouldn’t be water nearby. When I filtered, I realized my cnoc bag has 3 holes in it. Lovely. When I get to town I’ll try to remedy this, as they’re currently “sold out” on Amazon.

Either way, I messily managed to get my water, I just couldn’t tote extra in the bag, unless I wanted all of my stuff soaking wet from the leaks. I somehow made it to the stealth site by 5pm. That alone tells you the terrain is less challenging! I decided not to set up my tent immediately like I normally would, just in case people, rangers, ridge runners walked by. I don’t think it’s illegal to camp here, and if I do get questioned, my ignorance is valid. I haven’t seen the “no camping” signs like I’ve seen on other parts of the trail.

Either way, I scoped put my flat spot, left my trekking poles, hung my bear line for my food bag, and then sat down to eat dinner. As I was eating, a curious mama deer came walking through camp. She could care less about me! She walked through, came close enough that I considered petting her, but thought better about it. Then, a while later, her baby wandered up, too! It was much more skittish though.

A pair of day hikers came through and the baby ran one way and the mama ran the opposite, in front of them across the trail. They were so shocked by the deer that they almost didn’t even notice me! It took them having a whole conversation and then turning before seeing me eating. We all got a good laugh at that since I startled them more than the deer did.

I waited until 6:45pm to put up my tent, unpack it all, and then hang up my food bag. The food bag is what will more than likely get noticed first, the electric blue tends to glow. But hopefully it won’t be an issue with the park that I’m camped here tonight. At this point, all tucked in and ready for bed, all I think they’d do if it is a big deal is issue me a ticket or something. I wasn’t hiking 7 more miles to the next shelter either way, so, if it came down to that, I wouldn’t complain too much.

My deer mama came back through a few minutes ago. I don’t have anything for her to chew on, so hopefully she doesn’t mess with the tent any, and keeps the other critters away. It’s getting colder at night, so I’m thinking about swapping back out for my warmer sleeping bag in the next couple of weeks. We’ll see.

Anyway, I’m off to sleep, my eyes are heavy and my feet are achy. Goodnight y’all. Sweet dreams.

Start: Stealth Site (AT 879.2). Stop: Waynesboro, VA (AT mi 864.2) Today’s miles: 15 miles. Total AT mileage: 1328.9 miles

As I have all week, I got up at 7. It just seems like a good time these days, although I did have to fight myself to not push the dismiss button on my watch and roll the other way. I packed and ate breakfast. While doing so, I saw 2 hikers and a trail runner go by! I was giddy thinking about the possibility of no spider webs this early in the day!

I started hiking a little before 8, and immediately turned on the audiobook I had been listening to. If anyone has any recommendations for books to read or listen to, I’m all ears. I clearly like all genres. The terrain being so much more gentle had me thinking maybe I should be doing something a bit more educational while hiking, like somehow working on my Spanish or start back up with Italian.. but I’m a visual learner, so I’m afraid id break an ankle or something if it wasn’t just something to listen to.

With all this “ease” I’m sure the trail will smack me in the face with some humbling difficulty soon anyway! Haha. Anywho-the trail was-dare I say it-easy today. I listened to my book, I waved and smiled and said “hi” to passers by.. I thanked the heavens for the sunshine. At 10 I called to reserve a bunk at the hostel and was told when to call for the shuttle. Before I even realized it, it was almost 2pm and time to call them.

I was sitting at the road junction, outside of Shenandoah National Park, awaiting my ride by 2:15. I hiked 15 miles in 6 and a half hours. For someone usually on par for 2 miles an hour, this was pretty good! Not to mention I did stop for a hole digging experience, to get water, and to sit on a rock and eat a snack-when the book was getting so good I couldn’t focus while walking AND being hungry. Lol

I saw several cute bunnies, bigger than I expected.. brown with perfectly white cotton tails. I saw 3 deer bounding away from me at some point, and tons of people out hiking or running the trails. It honestly went by quicker than I expected!

Rumble picked me up at the road and drove me back to the hostel. Once I checked in, I quickly claimed my bed, grabbed loaner clothes, and hopped in the shower. That first shower feels so damn glorious! My goodness I could have stood there all day-if the hot water had cooperated. I, like most normal women, prefer my water scalding hot, and it just didn’t last all that long here, in an older house with 3 showers and 2 washing machines going. It was still quite nice though.

Once I dressed in my borrowed clothes (some really comfy purple shorts and a 2x tank top that hangs off me and required a tie on the side to keep it from turning into a dress), I unpacked all my dirty clothes and promptly claimed a washer.

I waited long enough for the wash to cycle and to get everything in the dryer, before darting out the door to a restaurant in walking distance to eat. I was going to go with the tramily here, 2 section hikers and 2 flip floppers, plus the lady that’s working the hostel, to a Mexican restaurant, but I couldn’t determine how long they were going to wait before going and my snack had definitely worn all the way off. I wanted food now.

So, out I went. I ended up getting jalapeño poppers (with cream cheese-my fav filling!) with a chili ranch sauce to dip, a goat cheese burger with a side of house made chips and a pickle. I ate ALL OF IT. Not one bite left! And had 2 beers and 2 waters. I sat on a patio and loved every second of it.

Once I paid, I walked over to Walmart-conveniently located between the hostel and the restaurant.. I got my resupply stuff and headed back. Somehow, during that time, they all went to Mexican and made it back before me! I was gone maybe 2 hours, max. They were sitting out back having some beer, and invited me to join.. I did. These girls had me cackling! They are hysterical, and I was entertained for hours! Even when I finished my beer and decided to drink a Dr. Pepper instead!

At almost 9, I had to depart the fun. They’re all zeroing tomorrow and I’ve decided I don’t want to zero yet. So, I came up to my bunk and organized my belongings to make the morning easier on me. It’s almost 10pm and I’m so worn out! I hope I sleep well, although it’s a little stuffy up here.

Today was such a good, productive day! If I can keep on track with these 15 mile days, I should be in a good place to finish mid November, although I feel like it’s way too early to make assumptions like that. In all honesty, I’d love to finish before November 11th, so I’d have the trail completed before my best friend, Lauren’s wedding.. mainly so I don’t have to worry about getting back on trail after it. However I look at it though, there’s too many unknowns to stress about that now. I’ll just keep doing what I can between now and then and see how it all plays out.

Here’s to towns, showers, good food, and good folks! Goodnight y’all!

Start: Waynesboro, VA (AT mi 864.2) Stop: Rock Point (AT mi 848.7) Today’s miles: 15.5 miles Total AT mileage: 1344.4 miles

I decided to sleep in a little this morning, since I slept horribly.. it was stuffy and hot and sticky.. and I didn’t get a top sheet, just a thick cover that was too much most of the time. So, I didn’t get up until 7:30. I felt so gross from sweating in my sleep, that I took another shower before packing everything up.

Once packed, I took everything downstairs and then walked down the street to Burger King for an egg and cheese biscuit, or two. I got it to go and then ate it at the kitchen table at the hostel. The girls ended up being awake by the time I got back, and invited me to breakfast, before realizing I already got mine. Whoops! I snagged a Gatorade to pour into my water bottle, and then got my shuttle to the trail head.

It was windy at Rockfish Gap, but sunny and so comfortable temperature wise. I sat in the grass and put my shoes on, then loaded up my heavy, food full pack onto my back and started down the trail. It’s definitely got the feeling of less trail maintenance than while in the Shenandoahs, but it was still quite nice. Being a Sunday meant lots of day hikers and trail runners taking care of my spider web wreckage for me. I was grateful.

I basically climbed most of the day, slow uphills with switchbacks and smooth trail. There wasn’t anything treacherous or that had me huffing and puffing so hard I couldn’t breathe. I did stop for lunch at a perfect sitting rock with a blocked view, but it was more about the food than the view. I had issues with water this afternoon.. the streams are slow slow moving, little trickles that I had to finagle leaves in to make them “pour” into my water bag. It was a 15 minute ordeal to get water at one point.

I got to the top of Humpback Mountain without much struggle. The rest of the terrain was a rocky downward slope that meandered into deep woods and then out to rocky view points and back again. Originally I was aiming for a stream ahead less than a mile from where I decided to camp. I had already passed one rocky outcropped area with tentsites that were gorgeous, but since it technically was in a “no camping” zone, I didn’t push my luck and carried on. When I saw this spot, with its gorgeous view point and perfect campsite-and no signs saying not to, I claimed it for my own before anyone else could show up!

I did end up having a stand off with a huge black snake.. I lost, of course. Half of its body was in the middle of the trail, the half with its head! Obviously, I did my scream and jump routine.. that thing just looked at me. Didn’t budge. I’m not brave enough to touch a snake, even with my trekking pole, so after talking to it for 2-3 minutes in a panic, hoping it would hear me out and move.. I ended up going through briars, probably more than necessary, to give it a very wide birth.

Back to now, I technically need more water, but I have enough to drink a small bit in the morning to get my breakfast down.. and then I’ll just have to fill up at the steam within the mile. I couldn’t pass up a sunset at these views. I would say “and sunrise” but, we all know if I see it, it’ll be through the tent because I probably won’t get up to watch from the rocky point. Ha. I had a feeling the stream would be deeply wooded and less spectacular to watch the sunset at any rate, so, I’m ok with missing the water a little bit.

Once I got my tent up, stuff unpacked, and bear line thrown (this proved to be quite the annoying challenge tonight), I ate dinner while watching the sunset from a perfect sitting rock on a beautiful ledge. It was stunning! The sun was a big orange ball that I got to see sink down below the mountains ahead of me. Man, it was special.

While sitting there, after I ate, I started working on a little itinerary for the next couple of weeks. I don’t know how realistic it is, but mom wants to drive up to bring me some stuff and swap out gear, now that she’s roughly 6-7 hours away, and only getting closer the farther south I get.. so I attempted to make a “plan” to give a rough estimate of where I should be on a weekend she might be able to make the drive up. She knows it’s a guess and she may be having to pick me up at a random road crossing way off from expected, but I don’t think she minds that any. I’m not planning on taking a zero until then.

Tomorrow, my goal is to hike the 19 miles to the Priest Shelter, which is located at the top of Priest mountain.. so the last 4 miles of my hike will be straight up a steep ascent. Usually I prefer knocking out behemoths first thing in the morning, but to keep my mileage goals in check, it looks like that booger should happen tomorrow.. if I don’t make it to the top, there’s a place to camp at the bottom before the climb.. so, it could work out that way anyway. But I’m going to sleep with intentions of summiting that thing tomorrow.

Speaking of sleep, I think that’s what my plan is now.. to get some and catch up on my lack there of from last night. The wind is whipping through here pretty strong, I’m slightly concerned with the tree limbs around.. but I think I’ll be fine. I’m sure I’ll fall asleep soon and won’t care what happens around me tonight! Lol- Sweet dreams, y’all!