Huffhike

Day 5 (mile 81.2):
Before I fell asleep, I did my normal pre sleep ritual where I hang my bag on the pegs in the shelter. The reason you do that is to avoid the mice from crawling near your face while they are sniffing the bags for any food. However another hiker had a bag that did not fit on the pegs so he asked if he could place his bag next to me. Seeing there wasnt anywhere else to go I agreed.

When 2am rolled around, I heard some scurrying around the shelter. Knowing that mice are generally a problem I thought it was no big deal, just a minor nuance. However, I slowly realized when I looked to my right that the mice were scurrying around to make it to the hikers hip pocket. Effectively using my sleeping pad as a place to crawl over. Extremely frustrated I got out of the shelter and walked to the bench to look at the stars while I decompresed. I then zippered the hikers hip pocket and pulled my sleeping pad all the way down the shelter to the point my feet where hanging out.
I didnt sleep much afterwards, but I was awoken from my restless sleep at 5:30 to someone shifting. Knowing I had to cover 11 miles by 10am to make a free shutrle, I quickly packed up my gear and headed on the trail. Even when pumping out miles watching the sun slowy crest over the surrounding mountains and hilltops were amazing. At one point, I was so in the zone I accidentally spooked a fellow hiker in a cowboy hat.

But by 10am I was sitting in the shuttle, after a bit the same hiker I spooked came into the shuttle. After shooting the shit, I learned that he thru-hiked the AT last year and was hiking to trail days to get his legs ready for the PCT this year. On top of that he had the same plan as me to shuttle to Ingles in Hilloswasset and then hitch back to trail.

Once we got to Hilloswasset I did my normal food resupply where I dump out all my food and see what I needed / didnt need. I did the math and realized I needed only 3 days of food so I wrote down what exactly I would need food wise, which consisted mostly of snacks and bought a 3 pack of sandwiches for lunch. I then checked out, plugged in my phone and power bank to charge and repacked my food. After Oz wrapped up his food prepping we then threw the thumbs out and waited for a ride.

After 30 minutes of hitching an extremely nice pickup pulled over and asked us where we needed a ride to, after we explained the driver said hop in. After making it back to the trailhead I hiked a bit with Oz until we hit the split for my shelter, wanting to only do 15 miles I headed towards the shelter as he kept pushing on.

Once I made it to the shelter I eventually set up camp, made my dinner, and then started to look ahead to the next resupply. After sitting there I realized my next resupply was in 67 miles. Knowing I had only 3 days of food I realized I had two options, pack up camp at 5:30 push miles to make the average 20 a day, or push more than 20 for 3 days.

Feeling a tad motivated, I quickly packed up camp and headed off to Mustrack Shelter 7 miles away. While pushing miles I finished Georgia and crossed into North Carolina. Meaning I completed my first state. I then zoomed my way up one of the hardest climbs I’ve done on trail, and rolled into camp at 7:45. I then set up my tent and watched a beautiful sunset. After the sun set I wanted down by the shelters and hung my bear bag. I then slowly fell asleep to someone in camp playing the flute.

Day 6 (mile 99.6):
After falling alseep to the sounds of flutes, I woke up to the sounds of russelling outside of my tent. Having some experience hiking and backpacking I know that for the most part when you hear the russelling it is almost always smaller animals as bears will see the tent and bolt.

For some reason I had the intuition to look outside of my tent, after a quick glance I saw 4 black paws peaking under my vestibule. Trying to slightly spook the bear, I coughed and moved around in my tent. However, the bear did not move, meaning it was not afraid of humans. Knowing there wasnt much else I could do I sat in my tent until I eventually dozed back off.

Then I was awoken to the sound of a loud crash, then another, and another. Knowing it was the bears, I just stayed calm and kept trying to fall back asleep. Eventually, I feel back asleep and woke up at 7:30, which is extremely rare as normally, Im up closer to 6am. I then did some light streching and headed out.

On my way out I ran into Oz and he asked me about the bear last night. Come to find out he had his bear canister in the vestibule of his tent, and the bear walked straight up to his tent and sniffed it. Being freaked out he grabbed his canister and moved it away from his tent. Jokingly I told Oz I should probably go make sure my food bag was still there.

After arriving to the tree I noticed my bear hang was gone and all that remained was the string. Not knowing what to do next I walked around the woods looking for it or at least the trash. After about 15 minutes I realized it was gone. I then pulled out FarOut and started looking for the next place to hitch into Franklin (the next town). After a bit of looking I realized my only option was Winding Stair Gap. Which would be a 28 mile hike without any food or electrolytes.

The first thing I did was start looking fot a hostel so I could get a place to stay after I bought a new bear bag and resupplied. The first person to reachout was Willow from the Grove hostel. She was extremely quick and gave me a schedule for a free bus as well as the prices for a ride at various spots. I then started heading up the trail. After a bit I realized a few signs on the trees that said we were leaving a bear sanctuary. Which meant that the shelter was in the sanctuary.

After hiking a bit I finally ran into some day hikers, where I explained my situation and as politely as possible begged them for food. They kindly shared an oragane and gronla bar with me. It was amazingly kind of them, I then continued to hike throughout the day. At around the 18 mile mark my legs started to feel heavy, and I slowly started to realize that I was not going to make the 3:45 bus, so I texted the Grove and asked if they would be able to pick me up for the $70 shuttle fee.

After about 45 minutes they arrived and picked me up, and gave me a bag of cheeots and body armour free of charge. They then dropped me off at the hostel and let me know where the outfitters was as well as the grocery store. I then went to the outfitters and got the coolest bear bag of all time, and also recieved a code for $80 from Hilltop Packs as they felt bad about the situation. I then re bought my food supply and made myself at home at the hostel.

After a bit I ran back into Peter from day #2 at the hostel, and I explained why I was there and he gave me the trail name Bear Bait (BB). So from now until I finish there is no Jt or James just Bear Bait. Anyways, after a well deserved shower myself and a few other hikers went to a bar, got some food and drinks, and then called it for the night.