Huffhike

Day 18 (Mile 344.6)

Throughout the night, you could hear the winds whistling through the shelter as well as the surrounding woods. Thankfully the rain had not begun when I woke up at 6am.

Knowing I had some open cut ridge walks in my day, I figured I would take advantage of the rain free start to my day, so I packed up my sleep system and headed up the trail. The initial mile of the day was immediately uphill so I immediately ate my 3 oatmeal cream pies, a good 1600 calories (If anyone knows someone at little Debbie’s Ill take a sponsorship Ive been speaking up your peoduct).

After pushing the hill I hiked for a few more miles, unfortunately I was anticipating rain so I was hiking in my rain gear. For those who have worked out in rain gear, you know that once you start sweating in it, you cook. So after 2 miles I took off all my rain gear and kept hiking.

After a bit I stopped made myself some electrolytes and took a corner and out of know where I saw a trash bag in the distance. Confused I kept walking towards the bag and came across 3 coolers. It then hit me, Trail Magic! I opened the first cooler and it was empty, so I nervously opened the second cooler and found girl scout cookies; massive win! As excited as I was, I had been craving real food for miles. I then opened the third cooler and found fruit! The greatest trail magic one can get (outside of booze of course… So many calories and carbs). I then snagged an apple and kept walking.

After an hour I started to make my way up Big Bald, a bald summit that is supposed to have phenomenal 360 views. As I got within a mile of the summit it started dumping rain, so  I quickly threw on my rain jacket and kept walking. As I approached the Bald the wind and rain picked up, to the point I was stuggling to walk. Naturally, I put on some Taylor Swift, recorded some cool videos and tried to get into the tree line. After a while I noticed her voice was going in and out, so I felt the bottom of my phone pounch, and noticed that my water proof phone pouch is not waterproof. So I quickly pulled out my phone and stuffed it into my cord pouch zip lock and kept walking.

After a bit of walking I made it to the 20 miles to the shelter. Instantly I scoffed down all my tuna packets and wraps, as I skipped lunch to avoid the rain. After a bit another thru hiker I knew came into camp and mentioned he was getting a hotel room and asked if I wanted to push the extra 7 and split it. Feeling a bit burnt out I declined and started to strech thinking I was done for the day.

After half an hour a hiker I was hiking the last 3 days with showed up. He was with a group who was pushing miles to the hostel. After a bit I asked if they minded if I joined, they didnt mind so I opted to tag along to avoid dealing with the rain, plus Tennessee doesnt have privys so naturally I didnt want to dig a cat whole.

So, I packed up and crushed the 7 miles to Uncle Johnnys. Seeing they were closed I set up a cowboyish (no tent) campsite in the hammock section as it was roofed. I then found my friend and asked if he was ordering food. He was so we then ordered Tacos to avoid double delivery fees. Naturally starving ftom the 27 miles I ordered an “American Burrito” which had steak, fries, and sauce in it. It was amzing. I then took a hot shower and crashed hard.

Day 19 (Mile 344.6)

After crashing, I woke up to the sound of pouring rain on the tin roof. The rain was nuts, I have a crazy video of it (but I cant post videos on this subscription). Anyways, after I woke up I started on my chores and did my laundry and started to wash my dishes (a re used mountian meal bag that I throw Ramen in).

While the laundry was going I went and grabbed my box I sent ahead. It had 5 days worth of food, black shorts (tan shorts were an awful idea), and a new Cnock bag. Knowing it was a zero (zero miles), I asked when the next shuttle into town would be as I missed the first one. The driver said 11, so I went and chilled for a bit, using my full battery and wifi to download so many podcasts and music.

Once 11 came, I went to the shuttle and made it to town. Starving I went to The Red Fork (which was recommended by the thru hikers yesterday), I had a killer sandwhich. I then wandered around the town, where I found a type writter, a post office cat, and saw the hurricane damage.

Afterwards, I headed to the grocery store where I purchased some lunches for the next 5 days (tuna, wraps and chips, and ceaser salad to pack out tomorrow) as well as dinner (french bread pizza, doughnuts) and fruit (canelope, and 2 apples) . I then devoured the apple and canelope and then Uber back to the hostel (no pack hitching is useless).

I called my folks, and then started to bag this out. Im hoping to strech, roll, and shower before bed tonight.

But all in all it was a successful zero day. Now time to keep pushing miles to make it to Damascus for Trail Days.

Happy Trails!