Make it count: Day #58

Saturday, May 9 - Day #58 - AT Hike

Miles Hiked Today - 20.8
Total Miles Hiked on AT - 773.4/2,193 (35.27%)

Maupin Field Shelter (843.5) to Waynesboro, VA (864.3) - Stanimals Hostal in Waynesboro, VA

Total ascent - 3,437’
Total descent - 4,296’

Total States Completed - 1/14

**Rain Day (overnight rain - clear and very cold all day. Highs in the low 40’s. Gusty winds)

Queue the Band:

“I thumbed my way from LA back to Knoxville
I found those bright lights ain’t where I belonged
From a phone booth in the rain I called to tell her
I’ve had a change of dreams, I’m com in’ home
But tears filled my eyes when I found out she was gone

Smokey Mountain rain. It keeps on fall in’
I keep on call in’ her name
Smokey Mountain rain, I’ll keep on search in’
I can’t go on hurt in’ this way
She’s somewhere in the Smokey Mountain rain”

**Smoky Mountain Rain —- Ronnie Milsap.

—————

I can’t believe it! I can’t believe it!! My buddy Derrick came through in a MONUMENTAL way this morning by securing my back country permit to hike the AT through the Smokey Mountain National Park!! With only 8 permits released per shelter - I thought we had little chance to make this happen. He was able to jump on-line at 8am EST when the permit system went live to get it done. I had no cell signal and wasn’t able to attempt this myself. I am very, very thankful.

Man - I’m so happy right now. This Smokey Section of the AT has been weighing on my mind for so long. Every night I continue to write: “Total States Completed - 1/14”. I’m so tired of this. Well - today was the first step in changing this up. This provides an opportunity to get back on track. I won’t have to do a calculation every night to find out how far I’ve walked. Now - whatever mile marker I’m at - that will be the total miles I’ve hiked on the AT.

After learning of the permit, I spent the better part of the morning calling around to get all the logistics setup for the next week. The plan is to drive down to Standing Bear (the end of the park where I started my bypass weeks ago) on Monday. I’ll stay in the Hostal there on Monday night, park my car at the Hostal for the week (at $5/day) and then they’ll shuttle me to Stecoah Gap on Tuesday morning. I’ll effectively walk the 90.9 miles back to my car. I got my rental car reserved from Enterprise leaving out of Waynesboro Monday morning.

Today was a big hiking day - 20.8 miles. I knew when I woke up that I was going for Waynesboro today. It was freezing cold last night. The wind was gusting all night. I got little sleep. When I went to take my tent down this morning - it actually started to blow away. I had to sprint 25 yards to snag it before it went into a creek. 15 miles and freeze again tonight OR 20.8 and sleep in a bed. This could be the biggest no-brainer I’ve ever had.

It was a tough morning because the terrain was rough and rocky. Plus - I kept stopping to make calls or send text messages - no consistency. I got focused in the afternoon and made good time. I’m staying at Stanimals Hostal. This is the same Hostal I stayed at in Glasgow (they have 2 locations). I met another hiker 5 miles out that was coming here tonight (Overboard). We hiked together and called the shuttle to transfer us into town

I got to the Hostal around 6pm. A shower and laundry followed. Then - I walked across the street to get a Subway sandwich - loaded with vegetables. I haven’t had a Subway in 2 months - it was just what the doctor ordered. I’m in the Hostal - but I have my own private room. $55 for my own room; whereas, it costs $30 for a bunk in a community room - the second no-brainer of the day for me.

It’s late now - 11:30pm. Just finishing watching the movie: “The Blindside”. I’ve seen it before - but a really good movie

I’m fading fast. Tomorrow is a Zero - a much needed Zero!!! No alarm. Only goal tomorrow is rest and resupply - I like the sound of that.