Day Two and Three



Wrong Way Mountain

The second day was wet. After I stopped the first day, it rained incessantly for a few hours. There was a chill that night, so I was happy to be up and walking at daybreak. After two hours, I had covered four miles. This was not bad time, all things considered. The path in this area was strewn with rock. Thankfully it was also level. I reached a meadow. Sadly, there was still a remnant of fog and again, I missed my blaze. The meadow opened into rolling green hills to the left, steep, dramatic descents to the right, and a dead end ahead. I walked back to the beginning point and took out the map. It said pipeline and then a descent, a BIG descent. So, I followed the pipeline.  When I reached a stream at the bottom, I realized that I had gone the wrong way...again. Thankfully this was my last turn around!  

Rocky Path

 On the way back up the mountain two rattlesnakes appeared. Thankfully, they did not persue because I think they could have beaten me to the top. The picture again only shows half the mountain. This was taken at the very bottom from the stream. Once I reached the top the other half of the mountain was left to traverse. By the time I was at the top, the fog had burned off and a white blaze appeared, diagonally across the meadow. I picked it up and continued on my way. The toughest thing about the trip was the time lapse. I would walk and walk, thinking I made much more progress than what I really had. The trail had its own mileage system. This especially became disheartening when the end of the day approached and I thought I was close to a shelter, except there was no shelter to be seen. At the end of day two I was seriously questioning why I thought I could attempt such an adventure.
        Thru-hikers are excellent people. There was only time to talk to a few, but they were a great group. One that stayed at the second shelter the same night as me, came lumbering in with 65 lbs on his back! I could only stare in disbelief. He explained there was a job waiting for him in Maine this winter, so he packed extra things he wouldn't normally. His pack made my pack look like a featherweight. All I could think about were rocks. He assured me the rocks did end, and after the descent I should have a nice clear path for the next day. I was thankful! I never could understand how he made it down that rock mountain with 65 lbs.
       The third day was clear and I left early, again. This time the descent went fairly quickly but I couldn't help but dwell on what I could be accomplishing back home. I looked at my eight to ten-inch path and decided that was it. If I made it off the mountain, I would come home and regroup. I could also get in shape for the NEXT time I want to walk a section of the AT. Again the AT played its trick and the more I kept walking, the farther the trail seemed to extend. After about ten miles, I made it to a place I could call for a shuttle and made my way back to the bus station.

       It was quite the experience and I learned I do enjoy camping and hiking quite a bit. However to be immersed in nature means I have to give up a watch and schedule, which I dearly love. Next time I know how to adjust gear to make it a little lighter and give myself more time without interruption or deadlines. I also need to know the terrain. Had I stayed on the trail, I would have been stuck somewhere for a week to allow my feet to heal. They were in bad shape after all of those rocks!Thanks for your interest and prayers family and friends and I will see most all of you very soon!
                                                                                                                            God Bless,
                                                                                                                              S