Make it count: Day #55

Day #55 - AT Hike

Wednesday, May 6 - Day #55 - AT Hike

Miles Hiked Today - 20.0
Total Miles Hiked on AT - 716.4/2,193 (32.67%)

Stanimals Hostel (787.3) to Brown Mountain Creek Shelter (807.3) - tent at Brown Mountain Creek Shelter

Total ascent - 5,155’
Total descent - 4,460’

Total States Completed - 1/14

Coming to you live from my tent at the Brown Mountain Creek Shelter. It’s 8:50pm. Big day today. 20-miler on the nose with 5,155’ vertical ascent. It took me right at 9 hours total with breaks - so 2.22 miles/hr. I’m starting to think actual trail conditions (clean vs technical) make more of a difference to me in terms of difficulty than the vertical ascent. Today’s hike wasn’t too bad even with all the climbs - because the trail was pretty smooth throughout. My heels are still hurting pretty bad at the end of these long days - but the other portions of my feet are doing better with the Superfeet inserts. I just have to get these heels to stop hurting - that was my only limiting factor coming into the shelter today.

I got up early at the Hostal today (6:30am). Only 1 other person was up already. The Hostal caretaker made pancakes for the whole crew. Really good way to start the day! After breakfast - the caretaker shuttled us back to the AT around 8:30am. $30 for the overnight - which included laundry, pancakes, brownies/ice cream, and shuttles to/from the AT trail and to/from the grocery store. Not a bad value package!

Today’s hike started with a huge 2,400’ climb right out of the gates. 75% of the total vertical was in the first 10 miles of the hike. It was slow going - but I was able to make up some time in the afternoon. Chickweed, Cambyr (not Amber - I’m really bad at names) and 2 Cans went on ahead of me today. When we all start at the same time (especially up a big climb) - I’m just not nearly as fast as them - I always encourage them to go ahead. Somehow through the day - Chickweed and Cambyr got behind me when they stopped at a shelter (I didn’t know it). I actually didn’t see them all day after the first 30 minutes of hiking. 2 Can and I passed each other a couple times throughout the day. He and I are here at the same shelter - we’re actually not sure where Chickweed and Cambyr stopped for the night. (Hopefully everything is ok there)

Tomorrow the goal is 15.8 miles - with huge vertical again. This is a tricky few days with all the climbing. I wanted a lesser day after the 20-miler today. It’s really nice when you feel 16 miles is a very reasonable day. If I could just get the feet feeling better - the rest of the body is bouncing back from a few rough days there. I think the three 20-milers in a row wasn’t the smartest move a couple weeks back. I’m training my body to go longer - but I still need to be careful.

It’s cold again today. Upper 30’s to low 40’s tonight. I have my puffy jacket with sockcap on - with liner and sleeping bag zipped up to my head. I’m sleeping by a flowing stream - hopefully I’ll get a good night’s rest. Last night I was in a room with 3 other guys (didn’t know them) - 2 bunk beds. One of the guys snored like a grizzly bear. I didn’t get much sleep. I still haven’t had that sound sleeping performance in my tent yet. It’s Day #55 - still waking up several times throughout the night in the tent. I’m getting a number of hours of restful sleep - but it’s not close to how I can sleep in my own house/bed.

Here’s to feeling relaxed, safe, and getting that award winning sleep performance tonight! Goodnight from a winter evening in the spring woods of central Virginia.