Make it count: Day #12

Day #12 - AT Hike

Tuesday, March 24 - Day#12 - AT Hike

Miles Hiked Today - 11
Total Miles Hikes on AT - 120.4/2,193 (5.49%)
Winding Stairs Gap to Wayah Shelter (tent at Wayah Shelter)
Total ascent - 3,021’
Total descent - 1,943’
Total States Completed - 1/14

It will not stop raining. I think the Arc should start being built. It’s 5:25 pm on Tuesday, March 24th. I’ve been laying in my tent at Wayah Shelter (after I put it up in the pouring rain) for 1-1/2 hours hoping it will stop raining so I can get water, go to the privy, and put out my bear bag before I call it a night

It’s upper 40’s temperature. I’m at around 4,500’ elevation. So - these are the conditions hypothermia sets in. It rained from the minute the shuttle dropped us off at 9:15am at Winding Stairs Gap to right now. I was soaked to the bone so I’ve put all new clothes on. The floor of my tent cannot handle all the wet ground. My tent pad can’t keep up. (I need to re-evaluate the tent pad I’m using). Therefore - anything not on my AirPad will be getting wet tonight. I do have my 2 trash compactor bags I can use and my rain pants to surround my pad. I don’t want my sleeping bag getting wet - it’s my lifeline out here. I haven’t brought it out yet - waiting until I’m officially going to sleep.

Trust me - I won’t care so much about rain in the summer. It’ll probably feel good. But constant rain in these conditions (40 degrees) is not so good. It would 100% be better if this was snow. It could be controlled a bit better.

The goal for me today was to do 15.8 miles. With the conditions, I decided to stop at an earlier shelter (Wayah Shelter). I hiked 11 miles today. My decision was made about 7 miles into the hike when I took a pretty bad spill. I came around a corner - hit a mudslide, tried to save it with my trekking pole, and ended up nosediving into the woods. See picture of my trekking pole - not so good. This scared me big time. I thought for sure I had broken my arm. My wrist was caught up in the trekking pole loop. Luckily - my arm was able to twist with the fall. I’m OK - all good. I landed on my left shoulder - the same shoulder that’s currently giving me a little trouble. No more damage however. I am super lucky and very thankful. A broken arm or broken collarbone could have easily resulted. I tried to capture a couple pics of the trail - I was basically walking in water over my shoes much of the day. Again - not a deal breaker in the summer. But — 40-something degrees gets your attention.

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7:15pm —. Things are better. Short window of small rain gave me a chance to hang the bear bag and get water. I ate peanut butter tortillas for dinner - I didn’t have water so I couldn’t fix my mash potatoes I had planned on having for dinner.

There’s about 9 people sleeping in the shelter. It’s a small shelter (it’s completely maxed out). I could (and probably should have) stayed up there. This Covid-19 thing. Yes - I did have 3 arbitrary dudes stay in my room last night. But - I know these guys since the start of the trail. They’ve been on trail for 12+ days. The shelters have random people stay in them everyday. I’m risking hypothermia to try to remain socially responsible. Oh-boy.

With all this going down - I really was pretty inspired today. So much happening around me. People getting off trail from injury, people getting off trail because of Covid-19, people going 20+ miles, people only going 7-8 miles, a girl nearly crying because she can’t keep up with her Tramily, people changing shoes, people switching gear, etc. What I’ve learned in life from my travels and experiences is: JUST DO YOU. Simply - block out all the noise around you and just do what YOU have to do to be the best version of yourself. Hopefully you’re a good person and the road you’ve taken means something. Maybe you can inspire others - maybe the world is better with you in it. Blocking out the noise can be really, REALLY hard at times. And you can’t be oblivious to noise and disregard everything- it doesn’t work that way. Take it in - let it marinate- then do what’s best.

I just spoke to an older guy down getting water. He looked at me and said: “It’s all about the experience- that’s why we’re out here”. I needed that. Tomorrow afternoon the rain should stop — opening up to some sunshine. If this holds true - I just need to make it through tonight. I’m going to dream that I’m on a raft in the ocean. I can’t fall off - bad things are in the ocean. Maybe that keeps me on this baby (air mattress) tonight - because falling off would not be a good situation.

Stay safe, stay well - and JUST DO YOU!