Day 63-I Didn’t Think it Was Possible...

May 20-12.6 miles-Laurel Creek Shelter to Niday Shelter-AT mile 687.8

...but I was wrong. I didn’t think anything the AT could throw anything at me that was worse than the three days of bushwhacking on the White River Non-trail Trail. Today surpassed that awfulness. 

We had 2.6 miles we had to do by 9:00 to pick up our next three days of food (oops, turns out we need 4). We left with plenty of time to spare...so we thought. But then...due to the massive amount of rain, the creek was running pretty high. I got there, and Dusty and Sure Foot were already across the raging creek. They said to walk across the log hanging onto the branches. Then, thankfully, Dusty said to hand her my pack. It was much easier to walk on the log without my pack (no duh). I still had to do a big step onto a rock that had me a bit (okay, a lot) nervous. I was so glad to get across that water. However, my joy was short lived. We had to cross it again! This time, Biscuit was ahead of me. The way she was going looked too iffy to me. There was a big rock about a leg’s length in the middle of the creek, and another big rock on my side. I opted to sit down, slide out to the rock, then I had to squat on my hands and knees (in the bit of water that was running over the rock) to stand up. Then I was able to get to the other side. 

Needless to say, that water crossing adventure ate up a bit of that “plenty of time”. We ended up making it to the road with just 15 minutes to spare. I had to stop at one point to take this photo. 

I didn’t want to take my mitten off because I didn’t want to get my glove wet. But, I thought, I’ll forget that my glove got wet, but I’ll have the photo forever. In the center of the photo is a little silver dot. That’s Dusty with her umbrella. Sure Foot is just ahead of her. Biscuit had already gone around the corner. 

We picked up our food, and I got my new rain pants. I gave my others to Biscuit. Biscuit and Roo Dog got Broccoli Rob to shuttle them to Four Pines Hostel. That was a good idea considering what was to come. 

We continued on in the rain. As I went through a stile, I saw the Keefer Oak sign. It was this huge old Oak Tree. It’s the oldest tree on the AT. This was the best photo I could get. 

Trust me...it’s a big ol’ tree. 

I walked up the path that was a creek through the cow pasture. Then I climbed back up to the ridge in Virginia’s typical way of steep up with very few switchbacks, and rocks (of course). But, the best was yet to come (and by that, I mean the worst).

On the ridge, the trail proceeded to traverse a number of rock slabs that were precariously angled at about 45 degrees. Did I mention it was raining? Did I mention the wind was blowing? Yeah, both of those. It was pretty scary. Luckily, I managed to not slip or fall. I would look ahead, thinking this can’t possibly be the trail, but there would be one of those blasted white blazes. 

This was actually an “easy” bunch. Periodically, I could see my life flashing before my eyes. 

My hands were freezing cold, and even though my new rain pants were good, my rain jacket was soaked, and so was my hoody. The hoody was tucked into my rain pants, and due to, you know...gravity, my pants ended up getting soaked too. With my hands being cold (and no opposable thumbs), it was very difficult to hang onto my poles. I was so cold. The only thing that was fairly warm was my feet. 

I finally checked Guthook to see how far I had to go. It was 1.9 miles. It ended up being mostly rocks, and creeks running on the trail. However, I did come to this view. 

This photo does not do justice to how pretty it was with the Mountain Laurel just starting to pop. 

I finally made it to Niday Shelter. Atlas, Ghost, and Rafiki were already here with Dusty. They made room for me. I stripped off my wet stuff, and set up. 

We have made a grievous error in our calculations to Daleville. Instead of 3 days, it will take us 4. So, instead of doing 10.1 tomorrow, we are going to do 16 to Four Pines Hostel. That way we’ll be able to get more food, and wash and dry our stuff. I really really hope tomorrow is not just more of today! Today was the hardest 12.6 miles so far.