A night at Mountain Crossings proved to be just what the doctor ordered...we woke at 7:30am, started repacking our packs, pulling a few more things to be mailed back home, made some oatmeal and tea, Milli took another shower for good measure and we lined up 8:30am...waiting for MC to open their doors.
As we sat on the stone terrace with our gear, there was a weird phenomena, hikers started appearing out of no where, they were coming from both the NOBO and SOBO trails, solo hikers, families, church groups and pairs, some we had seen the day before, others we would see later on and then others we probably would never see again. There also was a large contingency of cyclists pulling in to take a morning break.
We said our goodbyes to Joel and Damon and when the MC doors opened we were off to find inserts for Milli's shoes, more candy for the road and a number for a "ride" to the Hogpen Trailhead. Unlike our trail angel Sara, this morning we had to pay $30 for a ride...
The gang at Mountain Crossings was awesome --- thank you again to Carley, Tyler, Mike & Bill --- you and your positive energy were sights for sore eyes and humbled spirits.
We heard from a few hikers early in the day to stay away from Blue Mtn. shelter because of mice and Barred owls...thanks for the heads up...gladly we will!
Milli and I were both thrilled today would be an "easier" day because we didn't have any "big" climbs...as we paid up for the lift and were adjusting our packs, an elderly woman was watching us. As we started to walk into the woods she leapt from her car, asked us if we were hiking the AT. I said yes a section. And with tears in her eyes she said, "its so nice to see a girl this age not glued to her phone and to see a mother & daughter spending time like this together, enjoy your journey together"...well I am a big baby, I said thank you, off we went, now I had tears in my eyes.
As we walked I thought, I AM lucky to have such an awesome kid, to have good health and to be out in this beautiful wilderness in our country.
Today I feel like we can make it to NOC...feeling inspired. A trail angel of inspiration sent us on our way today.
DAY 5 SUMMARY:
From/To: Hogpen Gap to Rocky Mtn. Trail (had to pit stop at Blue Mtn. shelter bc of severe thunder/lightening storm)
15.2 miles (our longest day yet!)
Weather: Started sunny...then thunder/lightening...ended sunny. Often times we felt like we were in the jungle.
Food: Well today we started with oatmeal, hoarded candy and feasted on a mountain house meal for dinner.
Water: Damon works for the military and gave us some electrolight powered. I think this helped us go so far especially in bad/jungle weather conditions.
People we met: We met Grant, we saw him the day before but didn't catch his name. He told us of another hiker we met yesterday whom took out her shirt at camp and it was riddled with holes. Turns out she was hiking with a mouse in her pack! "Zipper up your tent" he advised us. Gross!! Milli and I snickered a little because when we get in our tent...we don't come out again until morning. Met a thru hiker completing his thru hike from last year because this section was shut down due to fires.
Highlights: Blue Mtn. Shelter...here is the scene --- we have been warned not to stay there bc of mice, we pull in because the rain was so bad we couldn't see, there were seven people and a dog already there. They nicely made room for us to sit. We grabbed tortillas out our bag to eat, took a seat, ate them and tried to get warm. Within minutes of finishing our tortillas there was talk of someone having "chiggers", someone else spearing a tick with a knife within six inches of where we sat, a lively comparison of the size of the shelter mice vs. rats and "said" trail magic at Unicoi Gap (candy bars, fuel, water and granola bars)! Well thats all it took for me...as soon as the rain let up enough for us to see 10 ft ahead, we ran!!!
Musts: Know when to keep on truckin' !! :) and bring a waterproof case for your phone...
AND for all you northern folk here some info on--- chiggers ... YUCK!
People we met: Grant
We heard from a few hikers early in the day to stay away from Blue Mtn. shelter because of mice and Barred owls...thanks for the heads up...gladly we will!
Milli and I were both thrilled today would be an "easier" day because we didn't have any "big" climbs...as we paid up for the lift and were adjusting our packs, an elderly woman was watching us. As we started to walk into the woods she leapt from her car, asked us if we were hiking the AT. I said yes a section. And with tears in her eyes she said, "its so nice to see a girl this age not glued to her phone and to see a mother & daughter spending time like this together, enjoy your journey together"...well I am a big baby, I said thank you, off we went, now I had tears in my eyes.
As we walked I thought, I AM lucky to have such an awesome kid, to have good health and to be out in this beautiful wilderness in our country.
Today I feel like we can make it to NOC...feeling inspired. A trail angel of inspiration sent us on our way today.
DAY 5 SUMMARY:
From/To: Hogpen Gap to Rocky Mtn. Trail (had to pit stop at Blue Mtn. shelter bc of severe thunder/lightening storm)
15.2 miles (our longest day yet!)
Weather: Started sunny...then thunder/lightening...ended sunny. Often times we felt like we were in the jungle.
Food: Well today we started with oatmeal, hoarded candy and feasted on a mountain house meal for dinner.
Water: Damon works for the military and gave us some electrolight powered. I think this helped us go so far especially in bad/jungle weather conditions.
People we met: We met Grant, we saw him the day before but didn't catch his name. He told us of another hiker we met yesterday whom took out her shirt at camp and it was riddled with holes. Turns out she was hiking with a mouse in her pack! "Zipper up your tent" he advised us. Gross!! Milli and I snickered a little because when we get in our tent...we don't come out again until morning. Met a thru hiker completing his thru hike from last year because this section was shut down due to fires.
Highlights: Blue Mtn. Shelter...here is the scene --- we have been warned not to stay there bc of mice, we pull in because the rain was so bad we couldn't see, there were seven people and a dog already there. They nicely made room for us to sit. We grabbed tortillas out our bag to eat, took a seat, ate them and tried to get warm. Within minutes of finishing our tortillas there was talk of someone having "chiggers", someone else spearing a tick with a knife within six inches of where we sat, a lively comparison of the size of the shelter mice vs. rats and "said" trail magic at Unicoi Gap (candy bars, fuel, water and granola bars)! Well thats all it took for me...as soon as the rain let up enough for us to see 10 ft ahead, we ran!!!
Musts: Know when to keep on truckin' !! :) and bring a waterproof case for your phone...
AND for all you northern folk here some info on--- chiggers ... YUCK!
People we met: Grant
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| Mountain Crossings terrace |
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| MC parking lot waiting for our ride |
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| Not sure what this is...but we hope we don't see it on the trail! |
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| Smiles and candy...ready to go! |
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| Hmmm, I thought today was supposed to be "easier"...not! |
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| Heard there was some trail magic at Unicoi Gap...cookies, raisins, fuel... |
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| Clothing line, Eno disco lights, headlamp chandelier...home is where your heart is & our tent is our castle! |
