Make it count: Day #72

Saturday, May 23 - Day #72 - AT Hike

Miles Hiked Today - 17.5
Total Miles Hiked on AT - 958.7/2,193 (43.72%)

Byrd’s Nest #3 Hut (941.2) to Gravel Springs Hut (958.7) - tent at Gravel Springs Hut

Total ascent - 3,440’
Total descent - 4,147’

Total States Completed - 3/14

**No Rain - mostly sunny. First fully nice day in the Shenandoahs

——————-

Coming to you live from my tent at the Gravel Springs Hut. Really nice day today. Best weather day (by far) of the entire Shenny’s. The first 4 miles this morning - I walked along a ridge that offered me a chance to see this awesome sunrise. The clouds were packed tight to the valley floor. Super unique view - see pics.

A bunch of roller hills throughout the day. About 4 miles from camp, I ran into Jet. He’s a guy I had met several weeks ago at the Mountain Harbour Bed & Breakfast. He’s a cool guy who has been hiking with Empty Space. Those guys have the same schedule as me to get to Harpers Ferry. They are then going back to pickup the Smokey’s - which they had skipped similar to me. Bummer - these guys are pretty cool and walk at a similar rate to me. At least we can hang together for the next week or so. They’ll be going into Front Royal tomorrow as well after the 13.4 mile hike.

Lots of people in the park today. Shenandoah National Park is now open for day hikers. I must have passed over 50 people - It was good to see them out. No bear sightings - but I’m definitely on the look out. Empty Space jumped one yesterday.

I was able to make it to camp around 3:45pm today. The weather was still nice - so I was able to dry out all my gear (tent, tent footprint, rain fly, clothes, rain clothes, etc). This was huge - this was the first opportunity all week I had for this. Thankful - I was running short on clothes.

I’m so thankful to be able to go into town tomorrow. 7 days in the bush - that’s a lot of days. It’s safe to say that my gear after being wet for days - and me personally as well - are not going to win the best smelling competition. It’s ugly out here right now.

13.4 miles to US Route 522. That’s where we’ll get picked up by a shuttle. Hoping to be there by around 1pm - and in a shower by 1:30pm.

Here’s to a smooth hike tomorrow - followed by copious amounts of food and recovery. This has been an especially hard week for me - both physically and mentally. I’m looking forward to a reset.

Keep it strong out there!!